Lac Des Moines and snow on Aubrac.
Lac Des Moines and snow on Aubrac.
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We tested out a day out on the sublime Aubrac plateau. This Grand Site is an ideal playground for winter sports enthusiasts(cross-country skiing, tobogganing, snowshoeing…) and discovery enthusiasts like us! We opted for one of the classics, a day combining sporting activities, leisure and family fun …
Winter landscape, Aubrac.
Winter landscape, Aubrac.
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10h30
It snowed last night onAubrac. It’s an opportunity for our little family to explore the landscapes we’ve been told about since we arrived in Lozère. This morning, the website of the Aubrac Sud Lozère resort shows that all the pistes are open, and their webcam confirms this: the plateau is covered in a thick blanket of white. It’s decided, everyone dons their snow gear, and we’re off in the direction of the Col de Bonnecombe. The thin layer of snow in the valley gradually gives way to a thick layer, and even though the road is clear we are reassured to be driving equipped vehicles, as the mountain law applies here. The sun has already risen over the plateau, reflecting off the white expanses: a radiant day ahead!
“There’s joy in danger and danger in joy”, an American proverb.
Landscapes 4 Seasons (5)© B. Colomb Lozere Sauvage Pour Pact Aubrac © B. Colomb Lozère Sauvage Pour Pact Aubrac
Snow-covered road in Aubrac.
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South Lozère aubrac cross-country ski resort at Col de Bonnecombe.
South Lozère aubrac cross-country ski resort at Col de Bonnecombe.
11h00
Arriving at Bonnecombe, we park in the parking lot and head for the chalet, where we’re greeted by Julie. A native of the region and in love with her plateau, she explains not only how the resort works, but also what we can do in the area. In particular, she points us to a buron located near the resort, where we can go and eat an aligot to regain our strength for lunch. “You don’t know theAubrac until you’ve been there in winter”, she says… and here we are! Julie suggests several activities for the day: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing… After some sound advice, Julie gets us all set up: this morning, it’s cross-country skiing, and this afternoon, sledging for the kids. And off we go to hit the slopes! As a family, we start with thebeginners’ workshop, right next to the toboggan runs the kids will be racing down in a few hours’ time.
“Energy is eternal joy”, William Blake.
11h30
We decide to take the Baronte circuit, named after the woods that border the resort. The snow is fresh and the trails are well groomed: ideal conditions! The wooded landscape is utterly charming and takes on the air of a Canadian forest. The sound of skis gliding along the piste is disturbed only by the wind in the pine foliage, which occasionally blows snow off the branches. The bright sun attenuates the wind that whips our cheeks and makes the immaculate snow cover of the plateau sparkle: our sunglasses are not too much! The 6.9 kilometers or so of the marked route pass in a flash.
“Sonia Lahsaini: “A smile brings joy to the depths of your being, with a gentle voice, take me with you.
Cross-country skiing Bonnecombe Aubrac.
Cross-country skiing Bonnecombe Aubrac.
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12h30
At midday, we headed for the Relais des Lacs to regain our strength. So we all sit down together at the old buron converted into a restaurant. After devouring the famous aligot, we feel our strength returning, and we prefer not to linger too long in the buron, even if thewarm atmosphere makes us want to, as we want to enjoy the toboggan runs with the kids before the sun goes down…
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19288510932 6da322cd31 K
Paysages 4 Saisons (19)© B. Colomb Lozere Sauvage Pour Pact Aubrac © B. Colomb Lozère Sauvage Pour Pact Aubrac
Snow-covered stretches of Aubrac.
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15H00
Back at the resort, the kids are off for an afternoon of tobogganing ! Our children’s laughter and squeals of delight can be heard, and they’re soon making friends to race down the slopes… For our part, we sit comfortably at the bottom of the sledging run, keeping an eye on our children, as do the other parents with whom we chat. This afternoon in the heart of the Aubrac plateau is going wonderfully well.
“If you love your life, everyone will love you too”, Paul McCartney.
17h00
Back at the chalet, tired from the fresh air but recharged by a day out in the wilderness, everyone returns their gear and we decide to take a short break before setting off again. Then it’s time to hit the road again. The return to our accommodation in La Canourgue takes place under a radiant sunset, which covers the white expanses with gradations of pink to great effect.
“What counts in life is not to be perfect, but to be happy”, Daniel Martin.
Paysages 4 Saisons (19)© B. Colomb Lozere Sauvage Pour Pact Aubrac © B. Colomb Lozère Sauvage Pour Pact Aubrac
Snow-covered stretches of Aubrac.
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For a day of winter sports on the Aubrac, it’s best to be well equipped! What should you take with you?
On theLozere Aubrac, we recommend skiing, tobogganing or snowshoeing at the Bonnecombe ski resort.
There’s also the Fer à Cheval ski resort near Nasbinals.
