This town high in France’s Pyrénées Mountains is known for its ski resorts, scenic train ride, wildlife and spectacular scenery.
Adventure sports and breathtaking landscapes beckon visitors to Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via. Ski down rugged mountains, hike through alpine forests, enjoy a picturesque train ride and visit one of the world’s biggest solar furnaces. The town lies amid southern France’s Pyrénées Mountains, close to the borders of Andorra and Spain.
A major draw of the destination is the Font-Romeu Pyrénées 2000 ski resort, a 15-minute drive from the town centre. Enjoy more than 25 miles (40 kilometres) of downhill and 68 miles (110 kilometres) of cross-country skiing. Take ski lessons, ride toboggan runs, experience the thrill of a dogsled ride and explore snowshoeing trails. Relax in the resort’s bars and restaurants while admiring the surrounding Pyrenean scenery.
The town’s sunny climate permits year-round adventure. Walk to Mont Louis, a fortified town within a 17th-century stronghold established by the revered military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. Hike through forests to the serene mountain lake, Lac des Bouillouses. Spot wild horses, vultures and other birds of prey. Follow a trail to a lookout and the chance to take postcard-perfect photos.
Visit the Parc Aventure Font Romeu for family-friendly entertainment. Travel high above the forest treetops on zip lines and slides. Test your agility on log bridges and rope swings. Join a team for a game of paintball. Golfers might like to play a round at Golf de Font Romeu.
Go to the Odeillo district of the town to see the impressive Four Solaire d’Odeillo. Resembling a giant mirror, the 177-foot-tall (54-metre) structure is one of the world’s largest solar furnaces. Watch demonstrations of how the furnace’s thousands of mirrors turn the sun’s rays into energy and find exhibitions on solar energy in the visitor’s centre.
Reach Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via by catching the historic Little Yellow Train. It runs between Latour de Carol, on the French-Spanish border, and Villefranche de Conflet, a 40-minute drive from Perpignan. Travel through tunnels and across tall viaducts as you weave through pretty mountain villages and the captivating Pyrenean countryside.
