Has anyone here done a crossing of the Pyrenees, Spain to France?
Looking to cross about midway. Looking for recommendations for good routes.
I did the crossing via the Túnel de Bielsa-Aragnouet on the A138 to the D173 (French side) last spring, but I wouldn’t want to use that route at this time of the year. It’s very high and quite vertinous on the French side.
This time of year I’d go N135/D933.
Alex
Went via Andorra but many years ago now , and it was September, beautiful scenery
Back in the time of Francs and Pesetas I rode from Atlanitic to Med’ Sea on the Pyrenees. I did it in April and had to re-plan my route to avoid going over a certain altitude to avoid closed roads due to snow caps.
Have fun!
Thanks Cabernet, useful information. As I suspected, I need to watch out for the higher passes in April.
And sunstroke in the summer, it was 40’+ when me and the missus last rode across there… our open jackets blowing in the wind, great
June in the Alps can still see iffy conditions, doubtless the Pyrenees are the same, recall R’Kid recounting as he climbed on a fully loaded Blackbird the roads turned from dry, to wet, to snow-covered, not impassable on the way up, but utterly terrifying on the way down t’other side.!
And even when the roads are clear, it’s usually blummin chilly up there.
Keep a close eye on the weather, an app handy on ya phone helps.
I’ve rode the Túnel de Aragnouet-Bielsa crossing (France to Spain) on a Falcone in 2003. From the Spanish side it’ll be a long steady fairly straight climb, including the tunnel itself, followed by pretty steep and bendy descent on the French side. Can be some serious traffic at times. Definitely a two/three-season route, not one for the winter when it may be closed. There is a webcam.
I took a trip to Southern France via ferry to Santander on my late Ducati a couple of years ago. The N260 running along the south side of the Pyrenees is fun and beautiful. La Seu d’Urgell has a lovely medieval centre. Crossed up through Andorra but the capital was snarled up with traffic.
The ride down the other side towards Quillan and then Carcassone was packed with fabulous twisty country roads. After visiting family I returned via Lourdes and then the D934 south through the mountains to Spain and a night in Jaca.
The above picture was taken from the D934 looking north.
Honestly that whole part of the world is so beautiful you can’t go wrong. Highly recommended.
Thanks Barney, that’s really useful. We plan to stop at Jaca then north across the mountains. What time of year were you there?
End of September.