France’s highest hotel, the Hôtellerie des Laquets, reopened in late September following renovation work. Located in the French Pyrenees at 2,620 metres above sea level, it had been closed for more than 30 years. The hotel dates from the early 1930s, and its original building has been kept.
There are 16 double rooms, all with wide views of the surrounding mountains. The journey to the hotel involves two cable cars. Guests first travel from La Mongie to the summit of Pic du Midi. From there, a private cable car takes them down to the property below. The mountain views are therefore part of both the journey and the stay.
The hotel is within the Pic du Midi International Dark Sky Reserve, an area protected from light pollution. This makes it a good place to watch the stars and see the Milky Way without artificial light spoiling the view. A spa, where guests can relax in a sauna and steam rooms, is due to open in December.
