Situated in the heart of the Hautes-Pyrénées, at the entrance to the Pyrenees National Park, the village of Cauterets is easily accessible by car, train, bus and even bike.
Whether you’re coming for a skiing holiday, a spa treatment or a mountain hike, here’s all the information you need to organise your arrival.
come by car
Find all the information you need to plan your journey by car to Cauterets
Getting to Cauterets
To reach Cauterets by car, you can take :
- From Tarbes: take the A64 motorway, then the Lourdes/Argelès-Gazost exit , continue on the D821 towards Argelès-Gazost, then follow the D920 to Cauterets.
- From Pau: take the D938 to Lourdes , then continue as above.
- From Toulouse: take the A64 to Tarbes, then follow the same route via Lourdes and Argelès-Gazost.
Special equipment
From 1 November 2021, chains and winter tyres will be compulsory in mountainous areas.
So, to come to Cauterets, light vehicles, commercial vehicles and motor homes must :
- either be fitted with removable anti-skid devices to equip at least two driven wheels (metal snow chains, hybrid chains, textile chains, snow socks)
- be fitted with four tyres suitable for winter driving (winter tyres); or
Please note: since1 November 2024, tyres bearing only the M+S (Mud + Snow) marking are no longer accepted. Only 3PMSF tyres are accepted as equivalent to chains (3PMSF stands for “Three peak mountain snow flake”). Other “snow tyres” can still be bought and used, but users must also have chains. The 3PMSF marking is the only guarantee of winter performance in all conditions, as it is based on a standardised European test of tyre traction performance.
4-season tyres with the 3PMSF marking are therefore accepted.
Before you set off, please check the weather forecast and road conditions.
Parking
Covered municipal parking is available in the village centre.
2 parking areas for campers are available in the village.
Parking is free in most of the car parks in the village.
The Clavanté car park, at the entrance to the village, is ideal for day-long parking in winter. A free shuttle service runs to the car park every 20 minutes.
Charging stations for electric vehicles
Recharge your electric vehicle in Cauterets thanks to the 6 charging points available at 3 different locations in the heart of the village:
- Place de la Féria, opposite the school: 2 charging points
- Avenue du Docteur Domer, in front of the thermal baths: 2 charging points, 160 metres from the Tourist Office
- Place de la Gare, next to the bus station: 2 pay stations
Order your Chargemap Pass recharge card online for €19.90, suitable for the recharge points in Cauterets.
come by train
The nearest station is Lourdes SNCF station, served by :
From Paris
Direct TGV services from Paris Montparnasse to Lourdes take around 5? hours.
Consult the timetables for direct TGV trains and connections
We invite you to book your train journey on the SNCF website
From Bordeaux – Bayonne – Pau
Regional lines (TER) allow you to reach Lourdes quickly from Bordeaux, Bayonne or Pau. These routes offer a practical solution for accessing the heart of the Pyrenees without a car.
We invite you to book your train journey on the SNCF website
From Toulouse – Tarbes
From Toulouse Matabiau, regular trains link Tarbes and Lourdes in around 2 hours.
We invite you to book your train journey on the SNCF website
Transport from the station to Cauterets
To get to Cauterets from Lourdes station, take Line 965 (Lourdes ↔ Cauterets regional coach service).
- Journey time: approximately 45 minutes
- Frequency: several departures a day
- Tickets: to be purchased from the driver or at the usual points of sale
For detailed timetables and stops click here
come by Bus – Ski Bus – Taxis
Route 965: Lourdes ↔ Cauterets
To get to Cauterets from Lourdes, you can take Line 965, a regional coach that runs all year round.
- The journey takes around 45 minutes.
- The bus leaves several times a day.
- The fare is €2 per journey.
Departures are from Lourdes SNCF or bus station.
Find the Lio 965 bus timetable here
Skibus (winter only)
Cauterets offers the Ski Bus, a special shuttle service for skiers. It offers an all-in-one package including transport and a day’s ski pass.
- It links Cauterets to several major towns: Bordeaux, Bayonne, Pau, San Sebastian, etc.
- Departures take place in the morning and the return is scheduled for the end of the day, immediately after the slopes have closed.
- Find all the timetables and prices
Taxis
Find the list of taxis able to make a journey to Cauterets :
come by bike
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Voie Verte: From Lourdes to Pierrefitte-Nestalas, via Argelès-Gazost: a 17km stretch, fully accessible to pedestrians, cyclists, mountain bikers, rollerbladers and people with reduced mobility.
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Chemin des Voyageurs: From Pierrefitte-Nestalas to Cauterets, the route is known as the Chemin des Voyageurs. Approximately 10 km long, it features a gentle climb(565 m D+) through unspoilt countryside. It takes 2 hours 30 minutes to cycle up from Pierrefitte. This medium-level route is mainly reserved for pedestrians and mountain bikers.
come by plane
Local airports
Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées (TLS) – ~30 min from Cauterets
Pau Pyrénées (PUF) – ~1h30 from Cauterets
Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) – ~2h30 from Cauterets
Bordeaux-Mérignac (BOD) – ~4h30 from Cauterets
