Plateau du Lienz & the Belvédère de Barèges
A short but rewarding hike above Barèges leads to the Plateau du Lienz, a broad grassy shoulder that gives a sweeping, unobstructed view back down the valley and across to the snow-streaked ridgeline of the Néouvielle massif. This is the viewpoint the village's own photographs are taken from, and it earns its reputation.
The Hike Up
The trail departs from the upper end of the village near the ski lifts and climbs through a mix of dwarf pine and open scree for roughly 45 minutes to reach the plateau at around 1,900 metres. The path is well-signed and moderate in difficulty — appropriate for anyone with reasonable fitness and proper footwear.
As you gain height, the village of Barèges shrinks below you and the full sweep of the valley opens up: the Bastan torrent glinting silver, the thermal baths rooftops, and the Col du Tourmalet road snaking up the far side.
What You See at the Top
From the plateau, the Néouvielle massif — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — fills the southern horizon with a wall of granite and permanent snowfields. On the clearest days (typically early morning in July), the Pic Long (3,192 m) and Pic de Néouvielle (3,091 m) are visible without any optical aid.
The plateau itself is grazed by flocks of sheep in summer, their bells providing the only soundtrack alongside the wind. Pyrenean marmots are abundant here and will often approach within a few metres of patient walkers.
Best Time to Visit
Early morning visits in July and August reward you with the sharpest visibility and the best light on the peaks — by midday convective cloud often builds around the summits. Sunset visits are equally beautiful but check the descent route before the light fades.
In winter, the same terrain becomes part of the Barèges-La Mongie ski domain (Grand Tourmalet), the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees, so the plateau is accessible by ski lift, transforming the view into a snowscape.
More of Barèges
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Barèges →
