The accommodation is very Scando-chic; minimalist, with just a bed, washbasin and mirror, but still warm and cosy, and from your window you have a panorama across the Pyrenees that is absolutely sensational.
The separate bathrooms continue the minimalist approach but the showers are large, modern and piping hot, which is useful in a place where it’s been known to get down to minus 32.9C in the past.
An excellent three-course dinner and buffet breakfast are also provided, along with a tour of the observatory (it’s in French, mind) and a chance to watch both a spectacular sunset and sunrise as well as viewing the stars through one of the observatories telescopes (which amongst other things were used to assist with the Apollo space missions).
After breakfast you have the option to either take the cable car back down to the ski resort of La Mongie, or ski down; the freeriding opportunities on the Pic du Midi are amongst the best in the Pyrenees, although it’s pretty much expert-only terrain.
Whichever way you head back down though you’re unlikely to spend a night in a more spectacular location than the Pic du Midi Observatory…
For pricing see www.picdumidi.com
