16 August 2021 | Holidays, Nature , Tourism, Sports and leisure
Lac des Bouillouses in the Pyrenees-Orientales
If you like hiking, a short getaway in the Eastern Pyrenees ensures a real change of scenery less than 2 hours from Perpignan. In Occitania, the massifs of the Pyrenees Orientales are essential: The Pic du Carlit, Canigou and many others. Some hikes can be done on foot, running, mountain biking or on horseback. Discover a site which is an idea for a walk in itself but also the starting point for several hikes:
Bouillouses lake
The Lac des Bouillouses located not far from Font Romeu, at the foot of the Carlit massif, is one of the largest lakes in the French Pyrenees. The site is classified Natura 2000 and offers several hiking trails. No need to be a high-level athlete, several paths are accessible for an occasional hiker. The landscapes are of great beauty. You will always find a place to picnic or rest in peace and feel alone in the world if you wish.
A hotel bar restaurant LES BONES HORES welcomes you at the foot of the lake. Ideal for having a coffee before your hike.
Hiking ideas
Four routes are signposted (excerpt https://www.ledepartement66.fr/dossier/le-lac-des-bouillouses/ ): – Loop of the Pradella (1h30) – The Esquits ponds (1h50) – Loop of the Carlit ponds (2h20 variant 9 lakes or 3h30 variant 12 lakes) – Aude lake loop (3h35) – The paths of the Borde – Loop of the Têt (2h)
On the paths, you will surely meet horses and cows.
Access the site
You can access the site in several ways: By car: you can access the site by car until 7am. Then, in order to avoid too much traffic and preserve the site, between June and the beginning of September you have to park at Pla de Barrès and take a shuttle that operates from 7am to 7pm. The price is 5 euros per adult, 2 euros young children and free for children under 5 years old. Possibility of family packages. Font Romeu chairlifts: two chairlifts then a half-hour walk. The fare is 10.40 euros round trip for an adult, 7 euros youth/children and free for children under 5 years old. The chairlifts are equipped with boxes for transporting dogs.