Barèges

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Coordinates: 42°53′52″N 0°03′57″E / 42.8978°N 0.06583°E / 42.8978; 0.06583

Commune of Barèges

Barèges.jpg
Main street, thermal baths (left)
Location
Barèges is located in France
Barèges
Administration
Country France
Region Midi-Pyrénées
Department Hautes-Pyrénées
Arrondissement Argelès-Gazost
Canton Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Mayor Emmanuel Corret
(2008-2014)
Statistics
Elevation 1,070–3,087 m (3,500–10,100 ft)
(avg. 1,250 m/4,100 ft)
Land area1 45.84 km2 (17.70 sq mi)
Population2 245  (2006)
 - Density 5 /km2 (13 /sq mi)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 65481/ 65120
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Barèges is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in south-western France. It is situated in the valley of the stream Bastan on the former Route nationale 618, the "Route of the Pyrénées."

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Its warm sulphurous waters first became generally known in 1675 when they were visited by Madame de Maintenon and the duke of Maine, son of Louis XIV. A military hospital was founded in 1760.

Barèges is situated at the perimeter of the National Parc of the Pyrénées. In and around the village all mountain sports are practiced, such as paragliding, walking, cycling, canyoning/caving, mountain climbing, mountain biking, and more.

Barèges is also the second oldest ski resort in France, and when the funicular was opened in 1936 the resort became a tourist destination. The resort, now linked with La Mongie, is the largest ski area in the French Pyrénées.

The light silk and wool fabric called barège takes its name from the place, where it was first made.

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