{"id":28958,"date":"2026-10-25T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=28958"},"modified":"2026-11-02T09:46:48","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T09:46:48","slug":"huttopia-font-romeu-is-a-top-sports-holiday-tip-for-the-whole-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/frankrijk\/huttopia-font-romeu-een-tip-topsport-vakantie-voor-het-hele-gezin","title":{"rendered":"Huttopia Font-Romeu: an active holiday for the whole family at France's high-altitude training centre"},"content":{"rendered":"

Font-Romeu<\/a> Do you know it as a real top-class sports venue? It is almost the Papendal of French top sports. But that doesn\u2019t mean everything here is just for athletes. There is plenty to do for people who want to enjoy an active outdoor holiday. And you can do that here with the whole family!
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French top sports environment provides more than just a boring training camp<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We are staying in a chalet, which they call a Cabane. We easily settle down for our first night at this campsite. But not before we have explored the village. Font-Romeu is not only a ski resort, but also a village that focuses entirely on (top)sport in the summer. Several French sports federations have training camps here and that is noticeable. There are many sports shops and in addition, the village often sees a stage of a major race pass through. You are reminded of this everywhere. So worth a walk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Wooden
Welcome to Font-Romeu: the Huttopia sign is already at the entrance to the village.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Large
The solar oven of Odeillo, just below Font-Romeu. It is not for nothing that it is here: this is one of the sunniest places in France.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But the lively center, which is within walking distance of the campsite, has plenty to offer after your workout. The inner self is also taken care of. There are plenty of local and delicious restaurants. There are a few small supermarkets, but also bike rental, or ski rental in the winter. In addition, there are plenty of providers of fun outdoor activities, such as a climbing course next to the campsite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relax on the campsite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you prefer to proceed more calmly, you can do so at Huttopia Font-Romeu<\/a> And rightly so. Of course there is a swimming pool. But in addition there is also table tennis, a game room, playgrounds and of course p\u00e9tanque!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Wooden
Our Cabane on Huttopia Font-Romeu<\/a>: wood, a porch and the pines around you.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A wonderful bike day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Waking up to a beautiful view with mist is how we start our first day of cycling. Here the percentages are less erratic, but the views don\u2019t really compare to that. After a few short climbs and descents, we want to make up for the missed climb from the recent Vuelta. To do this, we first descend over the long course. After a stretch of flat road plus a bit of downhill, we reach a dam. We decide to ride up and down it. Great in the sun, we had gotten a bit cold from the early start. But soon as we\u2019re back on the route, we start climbing, initially the last of the real climb of the day. And here the fun begins, almost immediately we\u2019re in the forest. And we swing slowly up. Once we\u2019re up, it gets even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Concrete
The dam of Lac de Matemale. We drive up and down it for a while, wonderful in the morning sun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Cyclist
After the cold start, the sun is shining nicely on the dam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Cyclist
And then into the forest: this is where the party begins, swinging upwards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Cyclist
Once you get up there, it just gets more beautiful.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beautiful turns towards the climb<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We descend beautifully along the mountain wall and through a landscape that would not look out of place on a postcard. Beautiful vistas alternate. But sometimes you\u2019re also back in a small world, due to the many beautiful curves. We drive down wonderfully and take in the view. Once we\u2019re down, the long climb to the Font-Romeu<\/a>. With some descents, the climb is almost 30 kilometers long. So it\u2019s definitely not just climbing all the time, and the descents are long enough to really break the climb. This is a climb like you expect in the Tour and therefore over the main road. But we spent 30 kilometers enjoying it. It\u2019s so beautiful that we didn\u2019t immediately head to the campsite, but completed the stage to the \u201creal\u201d finish. Complete with finish arch. Or whether that will still be there soon, I can\u2019t guarantee\u2026
We already have dinner inside, but we\u2019ll drive by the boulangerie for a post-ride snack on the porch in the sun. After all, it\u2019s vacation time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Bike
Stop for a moment to enjoy the view: a landscape that would not look out of place on a postcard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"View
Bending after bend, the road winds down.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Cyclist
Under the Pont S\u00e9journ\u00e9, the stone viaduct of the Train Jaune.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Cyclist
The Vuelta was just here: the name is still in large letters on the road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Two
Selfie under the finish arch. Or whether it will still be there later, we dare not promise.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Wooden
A regular stop after the ride: past the boulangerie for a post-ride snack.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Day two: car-free to the Lac des Bouillouses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On day two we approach things differently. There is a dam lake at 2000 meters altitude, with a beautiful road leading there. And the bonus? It is car-free! On a bus that drives the tourists up there afterwards. It is a 7 kilometer drive to the exit, but that is not a punishment, descending over the big track. So with fresh legs we arrive. The percentages of the climb are slowly increasing, with one % every kilometer or so. The first \u201cflat\u201d kilometers are not car-free yet; only after 2 kilometers is the parking lot. After that, it is 10 kilometers of car-free enjoyment. At first you drive up along a babbling stream, and as the percentage increases things get more erratic. There are more rocks, but also more views. Once you\u2019re above, there\u2019s some food and drink, before you descend again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gravels to the reservoir<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you still have other plans, you can still cycle over to the dam via gravel. That's always nice, because you're racing for bonus points and beautiful views. We take it easy on the descent. Even though the road is car-free, the bus can only get around the corner so easily and there are plenty of blind turns. And besides, it's vacation time. So this time too, we stop at the boulangerie, head to the veranda and enjoy the view!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Cyclist
Above about 2,000 meters: the dam of the Lac des Bouillouses.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Cyclist
We\u2019ll take it easy on the descent: the shuttle bus could just turn around the corner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Cyclist
Back down between the pines, with the tops still visible.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Cyclist
Even a break between the trees on the way back.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The routes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Both routes are available with GPX download, map and elevation profile in our route database:<\/p>\n\n\n\n