Ferrières-Soulor-Aubisque-Home, 2,451 m

The breathtaking Cirque du Litor connects Aubisque to Soulor

Since the 11th century, the Cirque du Litor in the Ouzom Valley has been shared between Val d'Azur in Bigorre and the Ossau Valley in Béarn.

In 1860, under Napoleon III, a road link was created between Eaux-Bonnes and Argelès-Gazost as part of the Pyrenees' thermal road. This route, from Col d'Aubisque (1,709 m) to Col du Soulor (1,474 m), was designed to maintain a steady incline, avoiding a descent to the Litor huts (1,131 m) and a subsequent 300 m ascent. This required building a ledge road along the Cirque du Litor cliffs, resulting in the two Bazen tunnels, a feat that established the Cirque du Litor's reputation.

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The Col du Soulor, from the north via Ferrières

The valley roads of the Pyrenees are narrower and less congested with traffic, and the villages you pass through are filled with authentic boulangeries and épiciers instead of tourist shops. This atmosphere helps to calm the mind and creates a feeling of ease.

Climb Profile: Departing from Ferrières: Length 12 km, altitude at departure: 574 m, altitude at the end: 1,474 m, average gradient: 7.5%, maximum gradient: 9%. The climb can be completed in under an hour, depending on your strength and ability.

The journey begins distinctly with a sharp bend out of the village of Ferrières. As you start the ascent, the road narrows, and you wind through the alpine forest. The forest provides refreshing shade, which helps to ease my nervous energy on a hot day. The slope is consistent, with some steep sections, but overall it is a steady climb without any surprises.

As you ascend further, the trees gradually give way to grassy meadows and open expanses. The higher you climb, the smaller you seem to feel. You become a part of the pristine beauty of the Pyrenees. This particular stretch of the road is renowned by the BBC as having 'the most stunning view in Europe', a sentiment I wholeheartedly share. On this occasion, we cycled 25 km to reach the starting point of the ascent. Upon reaching the Col du Soulor at 1,474 m, we found ourselves 1,100 m above our initial location.

With 1,274 m left to conquer, my mind shifts into survival mode, avoiding the overwhelming scale of the challenge ahead. The awe-inspiring landscape helps distract from the pain in your legs, making it the most picturesque of the three climbs. The Laruns ascent comes in second, being the most demanding. It provides a unique perspective as you ascend the north face of the Col du Soulor before veering right at the summit and following the stunning Cirque du Litor - a deceptive flat section that offers truly magnificent views down into the valley you ascended from.

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At the peak of the Soulor, there is a mandatory café where we could stop for refuelling. The Col du Soulor follows the cliffs in the Cirque du Litor, featuring two brief, narrow tunnels. Eventually, you will arrive at the peak of the Col d'Aubisque (1,709 m) and experience a feeling of relief and great accomplishment. The only thing left is to descend directly 1,200 m to Laruns.

Cycling up to the Col d'Aubisque to watch the sunset over high mountains, often with a sea of clouds, is a unique experience that we cherish. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to do this frequently, given that the ascent from Laruns is conveniently close to our home.