Amazing scenery and our ticket included the cable car to the train station, the return trip to the lake and plenty of time to walk to the lake, dam, still leaving time for food. Great value and would highly recommend. Cafe/restaurant at the upper station and a snack bar at the lake itself. It is a mountain, bring layers and a rain jacket!

Amazing train tour! Better to plan a day for this mountain adventure. Large parking area right in front of the cable car. Few coffee shops there. Take the lift for 10-15 min ride and you end up at the train station, decent cafeteria there with breathtaking views, nice terrace, good food and beer, normal prices. The train raid after that takes almost 1h. Spectacular views all along to the last stop. Then you have more than 1h to explore the area, nice lake, then you can come back, another 1h. I cannot recommend this for children under 5. The train raid is ok, but the 15min walk to the lake wouldn’t be suitable for families with babies or very young children.

Stunning & slightly hair-raising adventure on the highest train in Europe! No snow when we visited but an amazing experience in the Pyrenees. Wonderful views on the way up to the train via cable car, watch the marmots play, & listen out for the cowbells.

Good fun. Take a warm jacket as the return journey is much in the shade in the afternoon and gets chilly. In September there is only a lake at the top. I was hoping for coffee and a toilet. The walk from the train to the lake is not for anyone with mobility or breathing problems. The only toilet is where you get off the train.

Loved it, saw marmots and the views were spectacular even when it was in the clouds. Wish we could do more hiking around there but we would have been late to catch the last train. Plan accordingly if you wish to do extra hikes.

Nice activity if you like mountains (also for families and elders). There are multiple trains and you get there by ski-lift (gondola). The train travels slowly to a station where you can get a drink, snack/ice cream and there are toilets. You can walk to a lake/dam on a mountain passage with rocks. It's easy to take pictures in the train. If you get back with the lift there are souvenirs and places to eat.

I would give the cable car and train journey 5 stars, where you have spectacular views. Although it's expensive, you are on the train for over an hour, plus the time you have for exploring. The area at the bottom is a different story. The people in the town are very unwelcoming to tourists, which I see other reviews confirm. The staff who work in the shops and restaurants are very rude, which I appreciate is a generalisation however this seemed to be the way. We were in a campervan and the locals like to drive along the road blasting their horn. Probably the worst attitudes I've ever experienced in France. My advice would be to experience the train ride and then leave.

This is my favourite place on Earth and I love it so much. It makes me so sad that year after year I come back and I find more and more prohibition and privatization… The land should be free for humans.

Absolutely magnificent views!! Fresh air, a small Café with good crêpes and nice beer just by the parking lot with a relaxed atmosphere and great surroundings.

There are toilets at the parking. Pretty lake but dame makes it look a little industrial. Swimming is possible but the water is at some places hard to access. We didn’t have problems with the parking but we also came quite late at around 4pm. There’s a good creperie and you can rent canoes (1hours for 2 people on one canoe = 15€).

Wooow 😍 à crazy place, becarefull if you take your car through the mountain.. The roads are very narrow... But it worth it... Wonderful place that I highly recommend

Nice scenery, beautiful lakes and awesome hikes.

Lovely swimming. Good reward after the climb we made.

Paradisiac

I really would not suggest this trail in summmer. The overall experience was good with fantastic views and lots of animals, but with this comes the problems. On lake gentau just down the refuge there were more than 50 tents of unrespectful people. They come up with tents of fortune alcol and music acting like they were in campings or an holidays village. Untill late in the night ppl were climbing up the road to the refuge back and forth to buy alcohol at the refuge with lamps on their heads and speaking outloud. Garbage and litter everywhere, someone even left tampons behind the refuge where using the toilet was not allowed. Speaking about not allowed things I would like to remember that the bivouac on the lake is not allowed, i cannot understand how is possible that the ppl at the refuge allow 50 tents per night. I guess money come first that the respect for the mountains. That part of the experience was an huge disappointment The hike was good anyway with the last descent pretty aggressive on the legs. Enjoy the mountains and always be respectful

A cottage in one of the most amazing places in the Pyrenees. Very pleasant and helpful people. A delicious dinner and a wonderful evening storm with lots of lightning lighting up the Midi d'Ossau mountain - a par excellent experience.

Too small facilities, too many people, very crowded. And the helicopter flying around people for enjoyment all day is making the site unbearable, as dust is flying all over the Refuge and there is too much noise to enjoy nature.

What a beautiful location and well managed refuge, I can highly recommend. Dinner was delicious and plentiful.

We felt rather unwelcome, every question felt like it was 'too much' and staff was uninterested. The maize galettes were a letdown. Location is special.

had a magnificent view at Pic du Midi d'Osseau, dinner was great!

Amazing views and the staff was really nice and friendly!

Very beautiful and easily accessible place on the border between Spain and France. We were traveling by car in the area in June and stopped for a leg stretch. You are met by a fascinating panoramic view similar to a postcard.

Oh my..one of the most beautiful drives I've ever done in my life.

Top

If you need scenic views of the Pyrenees it is well worth the journey.

Cycled up from laruns. Leave at dawn gets hot on way if you leave later also no one around when I reached the col at 9am

beautiful mountain pass, very good for bikers.

A challenging climb on the road bike

(Translated by Google) A resort on a human scale, ideal for a day of skiing with family or friends. The scenery is absolutely magnificent, with breathtaking views of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau. The slopes are well-groomed, there are almost never any queues at the lifts, and the atmosphere is very peaceful, far from the crowded big resorts. Special mention to the staff: very friendly and welcoming. The area is rather small, so perfect for beginners or a relaxing outing—very sporty skiers might quickly get used to it. Very good value for money, we had a great day! I recommend it. (Original) Une station à taille humaine, idéale pour une journée de ski en famille ou entre amis. Les paysages sont absolument magnifiques, avec une vue imprenable sur le Pic du Midi d’Ossau. Les pistes sont bien entretenues, il n’y a presque jamais d’attente aux remontées, et l’ambiance est très tranquille, loin des grosses stations bondées. Mention spéciale au personnel : très sympa et accueillant. Le domaine est plutôt petit, donc parfait pour les débutants ou une sortie relax — les skieurs très sportifs risquent de faire vite le tour. Très bon rapport qualité-prix, on a passé une super journée ! Je recommande.

(Translated by Google) Great place for hiking (Original) Superbe endroit pour faire des randonnées

(Translated by Google) It's a beautiful, great starting point for lots of hikes. The Pic du Midi de l'Ossaou is impressive. A must-see, without a doubt. (Original) C'est très beau super point de départ pour plein de randonnées. Une vie impressionnante sur le pic du midi de l'ossaou. A voir sans aucun doute.

(Translated by Google) Wonderful, the train, the views, the route, everything, it is definitely something that has to be done. (Original) Maravilloso, el tren las vistas el recorrido todo, sin duda es algo q se tiene q hacer

(Translated by Google) The Artouste Train is one of the most spectacular attractions in the French Pyrenees, offering an unforgettable experience that combines history, nature, and breathtaking landscapes. Known as Europe's highest narrow-gauge tourist train, it takes you to almost 2,000 meters above sea level, offering breathtaking panoramic views. An Immersive Journey to the High Mountains The adventure begins at Fabrèges Lake, where you take a cable car to the train departure station, at approximately 1,950 meters. This 15-minute journey already offers spectacular views of the Ossau Valley. Once at the top, the iconic Artouste Train awaits you, with its red and yellow carriages, ready to begin a journey of approximately 50 minutes through tunnels, bridges, and steep slopes. The train was originally built in the early 20th century to transport materials and workers during the construction of a dam, adding a historical touch to this impressive feat of engineering. Today, it is a tourist attraction that allows visitors to delve into the heart of the Pyrenees National Park. (Original) El Tren de Artouste es una de las atracciones más espectaculares de los Pirineos franceses, ofreciendo una experiencia inolvidable que combina historia, naturaleza y paisajes de infarto. Conocido como el tren turístico más alto de Europa sobre vía estrecha, te lleva a casi 2.000 metros de altitud, ofreciendo vistas panorámicas impresionantes. Un Viaje Inmersivo a la Alta Montaña La aventura comienza en el lago de Fabrèges, donde debes tomar una telecabina que te asciende hasta la estación de salida del tren, a unos 1.950 metros. Este trayecto de 15 minutos ya te regala unas vistas espectaculares del Valle de Ossau. Una vez en la cima, te espera el icónico tren de Artouste, con sus vagones rojos y amarillos, listo para iniciar un recorrido de aproximadamente 50 minutos a través de túneles, puentes y laderas escarpadas. El tren fue construido originalmente a principios del siglo XX para el transporte de materiales y trabajadores durante la construcción de una presa, lo que añade un toque histórico a esta impresionante obra de ingeniería. Hoy en día, es una atracción turística que permite a los visitantes adentrarse en el corazón del Parque Nacional de los Pirineos.

(Translated by Google) I found it incredibly impressive to see the mountains🗻 so far away and to cross the mountains with the little train🚂 (Original) J'ai trouvé ça ultra impressionnant de voir les montagnes🗻 aussi loin et de traverser les montagnes avec le petit train🚂

(Translated by Google) There was no snow in June, ideal for taking the open-top train (Original) No había nieve en junio, ideal para coger el tren descubierto

A 7 euro crepe came out that was completely different from the picture on the menu. I just think this restaurant is crazy. don't go never

Made up opening times. Shame when people travel according to the times and you close up. Equally bad when the manager basically shrugs her shoulders and instead complains about the fact you can't speak French. Sorry my French isn't perfect despite me trying. Thank you to the chef who at least tried to help. Looks like it's crisps for dinner. P.S. €4.50 for a bag of crisps! 😳 c'est ridicule!

Lamb chops with almost no meat and tough and tasteless - re-fried old meat with a lot of fat and tendons. Accompanying bread was old and dry. returned the whole plate but had to pay anyway. the waitress defended the dry bread with restaurants located high altitude. Stay away anddont wast money on this restaurant. If possible I had given 0 star

Service was so bad. We were seated for 20 minutes and none of the serving staff greeted us. I had to go inside to ask for someone to come to our table. When they finally did come, they could only offer a quarter of the items on the menu and even then we had to wait an extra 45 minutes for the meals to arrive.

Not very nice and not friendly. Takes a lot of time to get any kind of service

Decent food spot in laidback atmosphere

(Translated by Google) Excellent! The staff was lovely, the food was very good and reasonably priced. We really enjoyed both the daily special and the crepes. The coffee was also very good. (Original) Excelente! El personal encantador, la comida muy buena y con un precio razonable. Nos ha gustado mucho, tanto el plato del día como los crepes, el café también estaba muy bueno

Awesome restaurant to sit down and and have some snacks AND enjoy the awesome view at the same time... cool weather to be seated outside the patio.

the view is beautiful! staff super friendly, helpful, multilingual. But the food is quite poor in taste and expensive. not very friendly with gluten intolerance

The pros : beautiful terrace, not too crowded early morning The cons : service was a bit slow, quality of products average

Lovely staff, beautiful view! The food is classic diner food but there is a decent variety. The staff is very friendly and helpful. And the view is absolutely stunning! And a shout-out to the person who played the amazing classic salsa music while we were there! English and Spanish are also spoken.

Amazing experience to visit this unique Restaurant d'altitude at Artouste Fabrèges. You take the Telecabine (cable car) up the mountain slope to reach the restaurant, where you can sit on the terrace and admire the stunning views of Pyrenees mountains and valley below. We enjoyed the best Cappuccino coffees that we've had, sitting at a table equipped with a jolie blue parasol shading the hot sun. Highly recommended.

Nice coffee but a bit windy on the terrace. Amazing views.

Super place just before the train

Had a lovely ice cream here after cycling to the top, served by a lovely lady who spoke english to save my poor attempt at speaking French! Could imagine this is a spectacular place in the colder winter months with a nice lounge and fire place

We stopped to have a coffee while crossing the border into Spain. Very friendly staff and nice restrooms. I'd consider going there again.

I had lunch here, good food but they charged me 10 euros for a bottle of water and told me it was for the altitude. At least they made me smile.

Simply the best place in pyrenees you want to be, beatiful pastures and rocky mountains within a reach of hand. Have your breakfast or dinner in panoramatic restaurant, comfort yourself in large bed and prepare for another day in blooming nature that surrounds you. Third visit and we are still hoping for another one...

fantastic place, exceptional location, great history, extremely welcoming managers

Amazing location, beautiful room

Good place to rest.

Plan was slightly different for dinner, but unfortunately the desired place was closed and this one was opened :-) Good and tasty food, good wine and friendly staff. On the cons side - some food could be served with less oil around, nevertheless all was very tasty.

Perfect bunk house/lodge for a cyclist, walker, climber or just anyone wanting simple accommodation and food done really well.

Fantastic evening meal The staff were great as well as the price

Excellent

Great value for money 👍

The room is very small.

Total unfriendly service 😠