Hautacam

The Hautacam campsite is set in the heart of Préchac, a small mountain village above Argelès-Gazost, in the Hautes-Pyrénées. The site, rated 2 stars, is shaded and quiet; it is run by Maïté and Jean-Pierre Cazenavette. It has 26 pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, making it a very human-scale address.

It stands just below the Hautacam, known for its Tour de France stage finishes and its ski resort, which has a rail-mounted toboggan run (Mountain Luge). Argelès-Gazost is 3.5 km away, with its shops, casino, cinema, a swimming pool and tennis courts; Lourdes is about 13 km away.

The campsite welcomes campers, motorhome owners and caravanners all year round, and the owners are also on site during the summer period. Hot water in the washrooms is free all year round. For a sheltered stay, it also offers a fully equipped apartment for 4 to 5 people, available all year round, and a 4-berth caravan rented out in summer.

Off-season, the offer is aimed first and foremost at skiers who come to park their caravan or motorhome for a snow holiday, and at walkers setting out from Préchac for the great mountain hikes.

Skiing and rail-mounted tobogganing at the Hautacam resort, below the campsite; Beaucens and Argelès-Gazost thermal baths.

Services remain simple, in keeping with the spirit of the place. The washrooms have eight washbasins, four of them in cubicles, six WCs, one of them accessible to guests with reduced mobility, and four showers. Three dishwashing sinks and two laundry sinks are spread around the site, and a coin-operated washing machine is available. Hot water is provided at no extra charge all year round, a valuable asset for winter stays.

The electric hook-up can be chosen at 2 or 6 amps, depending on the rate displayed by the campsite. Wifi is used with an access card. Pets are accepted provided they are kept on a lead and up to date with their vaccinations, with a daily supplement.

For food and drink, the bar and its terrace open in summer from 7:30am for breakfast: cold or hot drinks are served, along with ice creams to enjoy on site or take away for cool boxes. Bread and pastries are delivered in season. There is neither a swimming pool nor a water area at the campsite: swimming is done at the Argelès-Gazost pool, 3.5 km away, and the Beaucens and Argelès-Gazost thermal baths are nearby for wellness. Off-season, it is mainly the hot water and the apartment, open all year round, that are available.

Préchac is a starting point for the mountains. The Pyrenees National Park is very close, with its cirques of Gavarnie and Troumouse, Cauterets and the Lac de Gaube. In the Val d’Azun, the Lac d’Estaing is well suited to family walks on foot or on horseback. Thrill-seekers can also go paragliding and rafting in the area.

For children and the curious, you can visit the Colline aux Marmottes, an animal park, the Donjon des Aigles in Beaucens and the Pierrefitte aquarium. Lourdes and the Bétharram caves are very close; the Argelès-Gazost market is held on Tuesday mornings, and the Beaucens and Argelès-Gazost thermal baths welcome spa guests. At 3.5 km, the town has a swimming pool, tennis and a cinema.

In winter, the Hautacam resort, below which the campsite lies, serves as a ground for skiing and rail-mounted tobogganing. Caravans and motorhomes park there for a snow holiday. The bar, which opens at 7:30am in season, lets you have breakfast before a day of sport.