Le Train d’Artouste

 I decided to make this little day trip its own separate post because it was such an unexpectedly wonderful experience.

We rented a car in Pau and took a short drive down to the OssauValley in the Pyrenees to ride Le Train d’Artouste.  Talk about an experience!  Especially for someone who is not at all a fan of heights.  This little open air train is marketed as the highest train in Europe at 2000 meters above sea level.  I don’t know if it really is the highest train, I can’t imagine it is, but let me tell you something, it was high enough for me!  

The adventure starts with a gondola ride up the mountain where you then hop on a little yellow, open air train and out you go on a 55-minute cliff-hugging adventure over to Lake Artouste.  

This is the face of someone who knows she’s about to go higher up than she wants.

Here we go…

The train ride was equal parts stunningly beautiful and shockingly terrifying.  I’m sure only terrifying for someone like me who does not handle heights well.  But, even someone like me could tell that what we were doing something pretty special and that I should appreciate it.  

Once the train stopped we were off for a hike over to Lac d’Artouste.  I’m sure the hike was really fun for Paul and Nora with me constantly saying things like, “Wait,” “Hold my hand, “Be careful,” and “Don’t go that far ahead!”  It is official, Nora absolutely does not share in any of my heights issues.  She kept running up ahead and climbing over boulders with zero hesitation.  I was simultaneously scared and really proud of her.  

I have to say though, it was absolutely worth it. What a beautiful view.

We spent the afternoon hiking around, building rock sculptures, and really just enjoying the gorgeous views.  

It was honestly such a good day. Even if it was a little (read: lot) out of my comfort zone.  The only pro tips I have to share about this trip are:

1. Pack some layers.  No matter how warm you feel when you park your car, by the time you get up to the lake, it’s real cold.  Like shivering cold.  

2. Pack some snacks.  We learned the hard way that the restaurant at the train station is just like every other restaurant and France, open for lunchtime and then closed promptly at 2:00.  There is no late lunch here just as there is no early dinner.  You eat between 12:00 and 2:00 or you go hungry.  We made the amateur move of saying “oh, we can grab a bite on the way back.”  Umm, no, you can’t.  And you’re in France, you ain’t getting anything again until 7:00.  Not gonna lie, we were all a little desperate and borderline hangry before getting back home.

Oh, also this happened on our way back to Pau.

Houston, you thought you had a traffic problem!