La Vélosud opens 658‑km easy cycling corridor along the French Pyrenees

The Vélosud véloroute, inaugurated in May 2024, stretches 658 kilometres from Biarritz on the Atlantic coast to Barcarès on the Mediterranean. It follows the French foothills of the Pyrenees, linking regions such as the Basque Country, Comminges, Béarn, and Ariège while avoiding the high mountain passes. The route gains 4 720 metres of positive elevation, with its highest point at Col de Linas (667 m).

Designed as a gentler alternative to traditional high‑altitude Pyrenean crossings, the Vélosud highlights cultural heritage sites and villages—including Lourdes, Pau, Foix, and Saint‑Bertrand‑de‑Comminges—providing cyclists of varying abilities a scenic and accessible long‑distance experience.

The project aims to boost tourism and outdoor recreation along the French side of the range, offering a continuous, low‑impact path between the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas.