La Mousquère

La Mousquère is in Bourisp, in the Aure valley, at about 800 m altitude and 1 km from the Saint-Lary-Soulan resort. A supermarket is 200 m away on foot, which makes shopping easy during a stay. The site, rated 3 stars, is run by a couple of managers and focuses on a calm, family atmosphere, away from road noise.

It has 47 grassy pitches of about 80 m², separated by trees, flower beds and flower boxes, with the option of electric hook-up and waste water drainage. Caravans and motorhomes are limited to 5.5 m; beyond that you need to call reception. On the rental side, the offer consists of mobile homes for 2 to 5 people divided into ranges (Découverte, Confort, Évasion and Lodge), with a fitted kitchen.

The calendar distinguishes two modes of accommodation. According to the website, the mobile homes are available from about 1 December to 11 October (the home page also cites 15 December), so in the depths of winter as well as in summer. They are insulated and heated, and have a ski locker. The pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, by contrast, open only from early May to the end of summer, around 30 September or 3 October depending on the page. The campsite therefore closes for about two months, from mid-October to early December.

This formula is aimed mainly at skiers, who benefit from a free shuttle to the ski lifts in winter, as well as hikers and spa guests, with a spa-cure package offered in May, June and September.

Skiing at Saint-Lary-Soulan with a free shuttle from the stop 100 m from the campsite, Fête du cochon in winter, torchlight descent on 25 December.

The campsite is deliberately simple and human-scale. The washrooms are comfortable, accessible to guests with reduced mobility, with unlimited hot showers. Wifi is free across the whole site. A washing machine (€4 per cycle, detergent €1) and a tumble dryer (€5 per cycle) are available, as well as a service for freezing ice packs for cool boxes. The website mentions neither a restaurant nor a grocery store: the neighbouring supermarket, 200 m away, helps out for shopping.

For leisure on site, there is a children’s play area, a petanque court, table tennis tables and a room with a television, DVD player, games console and board games. Table tennis and badminton rackets, petanque balls, a table and an iron, and a safe are provided. Mountain bikes can be rented by the half-day for €10.

There is no pool at the campsite: during the summer school holidays, entry to the Saint-Lary municipal pool is free for guests, and the resort also has a thermal spa, the Sensoria centre. What works off-season: the insulated, heated rental accommodation, and the free winter shuttle, whose stop is 100 m from the campsite and which runs every 30 minutes to the village and the foot of the slopes. The activities, for their part, are reserved for summer, from 14 July to 21 August.

The Aure valley is a mountain playground, in summer as in winter. Hikes lead to the Néouvielle nature reserve and its lakes, the Pic du Midi or, through the Aragnouet-Bielsa tunnel, the Spanish side with the Ordesa and Monte Perdido park. Cycle touring is very popular in the Pyrenees, and the valley’s rivers allow fishing, rafting, kayaking or hydrospeed.

On site, children have the play area, table tennis and the games room; activities are offered from 14 July to 21 August, and petanque brings the adults together. The campsite also relays regional events, such as the Pyrenees triathlon at the end of June and the Tour de France passing through.

In winter, the Saint-Lary-Soulan resort is a few minutes away thanks to the free shuttle to the ski lifts. The village holds its Fête du cochon (pig festival) every winter, and a torchlight descent is announced on 25 December. The Sensoria thermal baths offer a relaxing break after a day’s skiing, and spring and autumn spa guests will find a dedicated package in May, June and September. Lourdes and its sanctuary add to the possible visits around the valley.