Gourette

Gourette is located in the high Béarn in the French Pyrenees, in the {{ill|Valentin (river)|lt=Valentin Valley|fr|Valentin (rivière)}} which extends east from the Ossau Valley. The Valentin stream has its source above {{ill|Lake Uzious|lt=Lake Uzious|fr|Lac d'Uzious}}, a tarn near the France–Spain border, and joins the Gave d'Ossau at Laruns. Gourette is located on the D 918, about {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of the Col d'Aubisque on its western side. This is the road through the Col d'Aubisque and the Col du Soulor.{{cite web|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/faits-divers-justice/la-route-entre-gourette-et-les-eaux-bonnes-sera-retablie-pour-l-ete-et-le-tour-de-france-1529661425|title=Tour de France : la route entre Gourette et les Eaux-bonnes sera rétablie pour l'été|language=French|trans-title=Tour de France: the road between Gourette and Les Eaux-bonnes will be restored for the summer|first=Marie-Line |last=Napias|work=France Bleu|date=22 June 2018|accessdate=23 August 2024}} The ski area of Artouste is {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the southwest of Gourette.

Gourette is one of the few resorts in the Pyrenees to offer a difference in altitude of more than {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}}, having an altitude of between {{convert|1350|and|2450|m|ft|abbr=on}}, which is regularly covered in snow from November to April. The Atlantic climate of this western part of the Pyrenees is very often snowy when the north-westerly winds are blocked by the mountains of the high Pyrenees. While the Spanish Pyrenees, a few kilometres further south, suffer from dry winters, the northern French side is buried by heavy snowfall. Thaws, accompanied by foehns, can erode the surface snow for a few days. However, snowfall usually resumes quickly and the resort regains its winter aspect, even late in the winter season.

Gourette is located on the {{ill|Route thermale des Pyrénées|lt=Route thermale des Pyrénées|fr|Route thermale des Pyrénées}}, opened at the instigation of Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie from 1859 to link Eaux-Bonnes and Bagnères-de-Bigorre via the Col d'Aubisque and Col du Soulor.

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In 1881, the municipal council of Eaux-Bonnes, foreseeing a new source of income for the commune, authorised mining in the mountains above Gourette. The exploitation of the gold and silver ore discovered was entrusted to the Société des Mines d'Arre. During the winter of 1882–83, 33 workers wintered at an altitude of {{convert|2100|m|ft|abbr=on}} while mining. On 18 November 1882,{{cite journal|title=Bulletin|language=French|work=Société des sciences, lettres et arts de Pau|location=Pau|year=1960|page=61}} an avalanche swept away their barracks, killing sixteen people, including thirteen Italians. The Arre deposit was abandoned three years later in favour of the {{ill|Lake Anglas|lt=Lake Anglas|fr|Lac d'Anglas}} deposit.

In 1890, about a hundred miners were working on mining the various deposits. A railway was built to remove the ore and an elevated railway descended for {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} along the upper Valentin valley to the Cirque de Gourette. About forty tonnes of ore were sorted and crushed every day at the Gourette site, before being transferred to Laruns by wagon. From there, the ore went by rail to Bayonne, England and Spain. During 1888, 3,720 tons of ore were exported, which remained the best year by far. The mines continued to be exploited episodically until 1916.{{cite book|title=Gourette d’hier et d’aujourd’hui|language=French|trans-title=Gourette of yesterday and today|first=René|last=Arripe|year=1994}}

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In November 1903, {{ill|Henri Sallenave|fr}}, brother of the future mayor of Pau, bought skis from the Manufacture de Saint-Étienne. After a trial on the slopes of the Benou plateau in nearby Bilhères, he climbed the Pic de Ger above Gourette.

The municipality of Eaux-Bonnes saw the development of winter sports as an opportunity. On 15 and 16 February 1908, the first international ski competition in the Pyrenees was organised there. On 20 and 21 February 1909, King Alfonso XIII of Spain attended. In 1910, the commune shared the France ski championship with Cauterets. A ski slope, an ice rink and a ski jumping hill were built for the occasion.{{cite web|url=https://www.skisprungschanzen.com/DE/Schanzen/FRA-Frankreich/B-Aquitanien/Eaux-Bonnes/0298/|title=Eaux-Bonnes|language=German|work=Skisprungschanzen Archiv|accessdate=23 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/pyrenees-atlantiques/gourette/c-etait-comment-gourette-aux-debuts-du-ski-dans-les-pyrenees-14063077.php|title=C’était comment Gourette, aux débuts du ski dans les Pyrénées ?|language=French|trans-title=What was Gourette like, at the beginning of skiing in the Pyrenees?|first=Cathy|last=Lafon|work=Sud Ouest|date=16 February 2023|accessdate=23 August 2024}}This ski jumping hill no longer exists today. It was the only one in the Pyrenees.

With the road being surfaced in 1930, electricity and telephone began the development of the resort. The first avalanche barriers were built, securing access and the first regular coach lines linked Gourette to Laruns, Pau and even Bordeaux. The opening of the first hotel with central heating was a significant moment. This removed the need for skiers to go to Eaux-Bonnes or Pau for accommodation. The hotel was quickly monopolised by a wealthy Bordeaux clientele who gave the resort a high profile. The Hotel de l'Aubisque, the Edelweiss and the Chalet de l'Amoulat followed.

File:Gourette la station des Pyrénées aux pistes de 1000m de dénivellation.jpg

From the end of the 1960s, the resort was urbanised.{{cite web|url=https://en.valleedossau.com/gourette-resort.html|title=Station de Gourette|work=Vallée d'Ossau Pyrénées|accessdate=23 August 2024}}

On 1 February 2015, the resort experienced a major avalanche that swept away the departure station of the Fontaines de Cotch ski lift{{cite web|url=https://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/culture-et-loisirs/gourette/gourette-une-avalanche-exceptionnelle-sur-le-domaine-skiable-4926517.php|title=Gourette : une "avalanche exceptionnelle" sur le domaine skiable|work=La République des Pyrénées|date=1 February 2015|accessdate=23 August 2024}} as well as an electric generator.{{cite web|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/sport/ski/en-images-avalanche-a-gourette-un-telesiege-detruit-la-station-toujours-fermee-7931648.php|title=[EN IMAGES] Avalanche à Gourette : un télésiège détruit, la station toujours fermée|language=French|trans-title=[In Pictures] Avalanche in Gourette: a chairlift destroyed, the resort still closed|work=Sud Ouest|date=2 February 2015|accessdate=24 August 2024}} As a result, three-quarters of the resort's lifts were without electricity. The disappearance of this lift, in a general context where there was a sharp fall the number of tourists to Gourette{{cite web|url=https://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/culture-et-loisirs/la-pierre-saint-martin/pyrenees-la-frequentation-de-gourette-s-effondre-celle-de-la-pierre-grimpe-4927431.php|title=Pyrénées : la fréquentation de Gourette s'effondre, celle de La Pierre grimpe|language=French|trans-title=Pyrenees: Gourette attendance plummets, La Pierre climbs|work=La République des Pyrénées|date=28 April 2015|accessdate=23 August 2024}} has caused new consideration about the future of the resort and the development of current and new areas, such as the Anglas sector{{cite web|url=https://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/economie/tourisme/gourette-le-departement-a-presente-son-plan-pour-relancer-la-station-5068004.php|title=Gourette : le Département a présenté son plan pour relancer la station|language=French|trans-title=Gourette: the Department has presented its plan to revive the resort|first=Pierre-Olivier|last=Julien|work=La République des Pyrénées|date=23 March 2018|accessdate=23 August 2024}} and even the link with the neighbouring resort of Artouste, supported in particular by a local association.{{cite web|url=https://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/pyrenees-atlantiques/eaux-bonnes/liaison-gourette-artouste-un-projet-pour-sauver-la-vallee-d-ossau-5147530.php|title=Liaison Gourette-Artouste : un projet pour sauver la vallée d’Ossau|language=French|trans-title=Gourette-Artouste link: a project to save the Ossau valley|work=La République des Pyrénées|date=26 May 2019|accessdate=23 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/economie-social/un-collectif-de-la-liaison-artouste-gourette-lance-une-petition-pour-la-construction-de-la-1527008721|title=Un collectif de la liaison Artouste-Gourette lance une pétition pour relier les deux domaines|language=French|trans-title=A collective of the Artouste-Gourette link launches a petition to link the two areas|first=Axelle|last=Labbé|work=France Bleu|date=23 May 2018|accessdate=23 August 2024}} In the heart of the village, the resort was also subject to concerns due to its ageing infrastructure. The buildings of the Valentin residences were renovated, while the tourist centre of the resort experienced rapid deterioration due to a lack of maintenance.{{cite web|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/societe/gourette-de-nouvelles-inquietudes-sur-la-solidite-de-la-plateforme-du-valentin-1571070567|title=Gourette : de nouvelles inquiétudes sur la solidité de la plateforme du Valentin|language=French|trans-title=Gourette: new concerns about the solidity of the Valentin platform|first=Marie-Line|last=Napias|work=France Bleu|date=15 October 2019|accessdate=23 August 2024}}

To deal with the problems of declining attendance and the ageing of the resort, as well as those linked to climate change, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department embarked on a restructuring project for Gourette in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/pyrenees-atlantiques/oloron-sainte-marie/gourette-2025-un-projet-de-restructuration-de-la-station-a-27-millions-d-euros-6104551.php|title=« Gourette 2025 »: un projet de restructuration de la station à 27 millions d’euros|language=French|trans-title="Gourette 2025": a €27 million restructuring project for the resort|first=Étienne|last=Czernecka|work=Sud Ouest|date=22 September 2021|accessdate=23 August 2024}} This began with the redevelopment and reprofiling of the beginner sector of Bézou, and the dismantling of a gondola lift to open up the panorama of the meeting area at the centre of the resort. The project, which has been increased to €27 million, will restructure the resort by installing a second meeting area at an altitude of between {{convert|1500|and|1600|m|ft|abbr=on}} in order to take into account the hazards linked to climate change, and thus allow Gourette to continue to operate with little snow. Thus, several lifts were planned to be dismantled to comply with the project, which is scheduled to end in 2025. However, in particular, the dismantling of the Cotch detachable chairlift was not unanimously accepted, as this links Gourette with the top of the resort.{{cite web|url=https://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/culture-et-loisirs/gourette/gourette-la-campagne-des-travaux-pour-2023-et-2024-se-prepare-12669393.php|title=Gourette : la campagne des travaux pour 2023 et 2024 se prépare|language=French|trans-title=Gourette: the work campaign for 2023 and 2024 is being prepared|first=Pierre-Olivier|last=Julien|work=La République des Pyrénées|date=19 October 2022|accessdate=23 August 2024}}

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In winter, the resort offers one of the largest skiable areas in the Pyrenean chain with thirty marked trails, and extending between {{convert|1350|and|2450|m|ft|abbr=on}} in altitude, covering about {{convert|140|ha|acres|abbr=on}} of mostly north-facing slopes. The area also hosts snowboarding and snowshoe trails. In 2005 the region spent over 50 million euros to improve its winter resort facilities, including trails, lifts, accommodation and other infrastructure.

The resort is organized into four sectors and a meeting area.{{cite web|url=https://www.ski-planet.com/fr/station-ski/plan-pistes-ski-gourette.html|title=Découvrez le plan des pistes de Gourette |language=French|trans-title=Discover the map of the slopes of Gourette|work=Ski Planet|accessdate=23 August 2024}}

The Pène Blanque sector is at the top of the resort at {{convert|2450|m|ft|abbr=on}} of altitude. The Cotch sector is the second highest sector and was located at {{convert|2124|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level before the destruction of the chairlift due to the 2015 avalanche. Since then, it has been located at an altitude of {{convert|2060|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The Plateau sector is in a wooded area and located at intermediate altitude in the resort. The sector has a mountain restaurant and a snowpark. This sector is also one of the junction points of most of the ski slopes, receiving those of the Bézou, Cotch and Pène Blanque sectors. The Bézou sector is dedicated to beginners. In addition to beginner and easy slopes, there is a mountain restaurant, a sledging area, and a Nordic skiing circuit linked to the bottom of the resort.

The meeting area and the return slopes are located on the lower part of the resort, in a very wooded area where Nordic skiing and snowshoeing is possible. A beginners' route, "La balade", runs through the woods slightly away from the main routes of the resort. All the sectors of the resort converge on the main meeting area, a wide space leading to the Esplanade du Valentin and the Place Sarrière, in the centre of the resort of Gourette.

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In summer, tourists visit the valley of the Gave d'Ossau and its lakes for sightseeing, hiking, biking, rock climbing, and mountaineering, including the ascent of Pic du Midi d'Ossau ({{convert|2884|m|ft|abbr=on}}). The French GR 10 hiking trail, which covers over {{convert|800|km|mi|abbr=on}} from one end of the Pyrenees to the other, passes through the village.

From Gourette, short hiking routes go via the GR 10 to Lake Anglas, Lake Uzious, {{ill|Lake Lavedan|lt=Lake Lavedan|fr|Lac du Lavedan}}, {{ill|Lakes of Louesque|lt=Lakes of Louesque|fr|Lacs de Louesque}}, and the {{ill|Soussouéou Valley|lt=Soussouéou Valley|fr|Vallée du Soussouéou}} to the south, and to the Col de Tortes, Col d'Aubisque, Col du Soulor, and the {{ill|Ouzom Valley|lt=Ouzom Valley|fr|Vallée de l'Ouzom}} to the north and east. Other secondary trails lead in the direction of Eaux-Bonnes, or to the ski area leading to the Col d'Anglas via the {{ill|Lakes of Plaa Ségouné|lt=Lakes of Plaa Ségouné|fr|Lacs du Plaa Ségouné}} and the {{ill|Lake Cinda Blanque|lt=Lake Cinda Blanque|fr|Lac de la Cinda Blanque}}. The remains of the mining facilities are visible in the Lake Anglas area.

The resort has had many amateur and professional cycling events pass through. Whenever the Tour de France uses the western side of the Col d'Aubisque, either as an ascent or descent, the race passes through Gourette. The road through the Col d'Aubisque, cresting at an altitude of {{convert|1710|m|ft|abbr=on}}, has gradients from 7.5 to 10% and is considered a Hors Catégorie climb in Union Cycliste Internationale race classifications. The race first passed through Gourette during the 1910 Tour de France, on a stage from Luchon to Bayonne. The finishes of Stage 16a of the 1971 Tour de France and Stage 16 of the 2007 Tour de France took place at Gourette. The finish of Stage 14 of the 2016 Vuelta a Espana was also hosted by Gourette.

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• {{cite web|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/pyrenees-atlantiques/gourette/gourette-nouvelle-telecabine-meilleure-accessibilite-des-travaux-a-20-millions-dans-la-station-bearnaise-21269193.php|title=Gourette : nouvelle télécabine, meilleure accessibilité… des travaux à 20 millions dans la station béarnaise|language=French|trans-title=Gourette: new gondola, better accessibility... 20 million euros worth of work in the Béarn resort|first=Thibault|last=Seurin|work=Sud Ouest|date=6 September 2024}}

{{Commons category|Gourette}}

• [http://www.gourette.com Official website of the resort] {{in lang|fr}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080921172324/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/eta_tdf_1903_1913/tdf1910.php Mémoire du Cyclisme website] {{in lang|fr}}

Category:Ski stations in France

Category:Tourist attractions in Pyrénées-Atlantiques