There's none of the usual spa-town fustiness about BAGNÈRES-DE-LUCHON, long one of the focuses of Pyrenean exploration. The main street, allée d'Étigny, lined with cafés and snack bars, has a distinctly metropolitan elegance and bustle. There is not, however, anything specific to see, apart from the slightly moth-eaten Musée du Pays de Luchon (daily 9am–noon & 2–6pm; group tour only) by the tourist office, which has an extraordinarily eclectic collection of archeological finds, old skis, art and natural history displays on the Pyrenees, and the nineteenth-century baths (guided tours Tues & Thurs 2pm; €5; bathing daily 4–8pm; €12) at the end of allée d'Étigny in the Parc des Quinconces. Luchon is best seen as a comfortable base for exploring the surrounding mountains in summer, and for skiing at the nearby centres of Superbagnères and Peyragudes in winter. Because of the peculiar local topography, the valley here is also one of the major French centres for paragliding and light aviation.
Pages in section ‘Bagnères-de-Luchon’: Practicalities, Hiking and skiing around Luchon.
Alternate spellings:: France, Bagnères-de-Luchon, Bagnères-de-Luchon, Bagneres-de-Luchon
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