Bequeira – Beret ski resort
Nestled in the middle of the Leridan Pyrenees is the ski resort of Bequeira - Beret. This purpose-built resort has good facilities and is also ideally placed for exploring the delights of Alguestortes National Park.
Bequeira - Beret is the largest resort in the Spanish Pyrenees and is popular with the well-heeled members of society; the Spanish Royal Family is in regular attendance here. Many of the ski resort’s visitors are Spanish, although this is largely due to its inaccessibility, as its mountains and gorges render travel by plane or train impossible. However, flights can be taken to Barcelona; from there, the journey can be completed by road.
The resort of Bequeira has the capacity to accommodate 3,500 people in lodgings which vary from government-owned paradors to luxury hotels, chalets and pensions. Montarto and Tuc Blanc are two of the oldest and most popular hotels. The resort's relative isolation also makes for a lively après-ski scene with numerous restaurants, bars and discos.
Dining options are plentiful, with Catalan cuisine featuring at the top of the list. The Aran Valley, where the resorts are located, is famed for the excellence of its food, which combines French and Spanish influences. Also an added bonus is that the prices compare favourably with other parts of Spain and are much friendlier on the wallet than Alpine equivalents. A renowned restaurant which is frequented by the King and Queen is Casa Irene in Arties, but a cheaper and recommended place is Bar Saburedo in nearby Tredos.
The resort’s slopes cater for skiers and snowboarders, but are geared more towards the former. Bequeira - Beret resort has 57 runs catering for all abilities; additionally, there is a varied off-piste choice with many experts trying their hand at the infamous Escornacrabes run from the top of Cap Bequeira - a steep and narrow downhill plunge with a name which translates as ‘the place where the goats die’.
For those wanting a change from skiing and snowboarding, there is the nearby town of Vielha, which has an indoor sports centre. Farther afield is the vibrant city of Barcelona, with a fascinating history, good nightlife and clean beaches; while to the north is the French city of Toulouse, with its famed culture and artistic heritage.
The cheapest time to go to the resort is late February and March, and it is best reached by car from Lerida. Alternatively, you can fly into Barcelona or Toulouse in France, which although not on the doorstep, are the closest international airports.
