The Oueil valley, an unspoilt
of the Haut-Garonne Pyrenees

A valley off the beaten track

Unlike the busier valleys of Luchon and Larboust, the Oueil valley is more discreet. Access is via a winding road through a landscape alternating between forests and meadows. This relative isolation has preserved a rural setting where pastoral activity remains dominant.

The valley is bordered by several peaks, including Mont Né, which rises to an altitude of 2,139 metres. This easily accessible summit offers a wide panoramic view of the Pyrenees and the surrounding valleys. The gentle slopes that characterise the valley contrast with the steeper slopes of other parts of the Pyrenees.

The mountain villages of the Oueil valley

The Oueil valley is made up of eight villages: Benqué-Dessous-et-Dessus, Bourg-d’Oueil, Cirès, Caubous, Mayrègne, Saccourvielle, Saint-Paul-d’Oueil and Jurvielle. Each of these villages retains typical Pyrenean architectural features, such as stone houses with slate roofs, ancient churches and wooden barns once used for hay storage and livestock farming.

Bourg-d’Oueil is the highest village in the valley, at an altitude of over 1,300 metres. It is also the starting point for a number of hiking trails. Mayrègne, meanwhile, boasts a 12th-century church whose Romanesque architecture bears witness to the region’s religious history. Each village, with its narrow streets and ancient buildings, is a reminder of mountain life as it once was.

Hiking and discovering nature

The Vallée d’Oueil offers a number of hiking trails for all abilities. One of the most popular is the ascent to Mont Né. The summit is relatively easy to get to and offers uninterrupted views over the valley and neighbouring peaks.

Other, shorter routes allow you to explore the area around the villages, following old transhumance paths or forest tracks. These routes are particularly pleasant in spring and summer, when the meadows are in bloom and the valley is covered in lush green vegetation.

In winter, the valley also lends itself to Nordic activities. Snow conditions permitting, you can enjoy snowshoeing or ski touring, particularly around Bourg-d’Oueil and on the crests of Mont Né.

An authentic valley, far from mass tourism

Although the Oueil valley attracts visitors in search of nature and tranquillity, it remains an area with few facilities for mass tourism. Accommodation is scarce, mainly consisting of gîtes and chambres d’hôtes, often set in renovated farmhouses. This helps to preserve the environment while promoting the local heritage.

Initiatives to promote sustainable tourism are on the increase, with interpretation panels set up along footpaths and local products promoted through markets and special events. Local residents and stakeholders are working to maintain a balance between tourist numbers and respect for the natural environment.