The snow has returned for the Christmas holidays in the ski resorts of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. In Gourette, his arrival encouraged many last-minute tourists to put on skis.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “Today’s essentials: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
It’s a timely Christmas gift for ski resorts. In recent days, the Pyrenean massif has taken on a white coat dear to skiers. Arriving earlier than previous editions, the snow bodes well this year for a good season for resorts like Gourette, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
On the slopes, many are already experiencing the joys of skiing. Around 4,000 tourists were present on the weekend of December 14 and 15. A figure up this pre-Christmas weekend, boosted by last minute reservations. “We hesitated between going to Brittany or going down to the Pyrenees. When we saw that the snow had fallen, we decided to come,” explains a tourist from Vendée.
Like her, many of them are visiting the Gourette resort this weekend and going to the ski rental shops, which have found the smile of the beautiful seasons. “We have snow, so we are very happy, smiles Nanou Létoile, owner of a store in the station. People wait until the last minute to book. Last year there was nothing, so this is perfect.”
Nearly 4,000 tourists visited the Gourette station last week.
•
© France 3 Aquitaine
In the shops and on the slopes, skiers are there. The sector's tourist office even suggests a occupancy rate of 50% for this Christmas week and nearly 72% for the New Year week, which could continue to rise. These reservations bode well for the resort, which has invested 22 million to install new equipment, such as a gondola which now connects the Cotch sector, to the Gourette area. “It will allow tourists to rediscover this sector,” rejoices Jean-François Esquerre, the station director.
With a meter of snow at the top of the Béarnaise resort, the director does not hide his satisfaction either, after a catastrophic last season and the return and four years of absence of Christmas snow. “We continue in good conditions despite an episode of mild weather. This is a key period with school holidays, slips Jean-François Esquerre. The weather forecast is calling for good rain again, so we are optimistic.”
This Sunday, December 22 again, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques prefecture warned of new snow showers in the area. “From Sunday evening, snowfall affects the Pyrenees with a gradual drop in the rain/snow limit until Monday morning, indicates the prefecture. The highest intensities are expected during the night from Sunday to Monday with locally up to 5 cm per hour from 1000 m.”
The Gourette station has a reservation rate of 50% this week.
•
© France 3 Aquitaine
“A sprinkling” is therefore expected from 800 m, up to 50 cm from 1500 m. However, vigilance remains essential with the arrival of significant gusts on the crests, which could cause “drift formation”. Nothing to taint the morale of the Béarnaise resorts. This year again, they will not close their doors until next March.
Related News :