THE SMALL TRAIN OF ARTOUSTE

WELCOME !
Welcome to the Small Train of Artouste. We achieved this «instructions for use «to facilitate your visit and to permit you to fully enjoy this marvellous site. Read it attentively to enjoy the excursion more. If you have suggestions on this «instructions for use» don't hesitate to make us part of it and if you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask our collaborators.

To the discovery of the Nature
From 2000 meters of altitude, the panorama is rather mineral. But it gives the opportunity to discover species rare enough of plants and animals that you will observe again better with your binoculars. You will also discover the entire valley and the high tops.
LANDSCAPES
Impressive drifts of rocks and blocks of granite stained by green lichens, lakes of altitude often framed by high tops covered with plates of snow and colours,: bluish tops and mines of red iron, dark green or beige of forests, granite grey and intense blue of the sky and lakes.
FLORA
In altitude, hook pines of venerable age, until 400 years, and of sorbier trees. The yellow and blue flowers, according to seasons, anemones, red rhododendrons, gentians, wild licorice...
FAUNA
Isards, they look like very thin chamoises and are far visible on the steep slopes far enough from the way. Birds of prey: the bearded gypaète often flies above the train. Marmots very near the way. The desman or rat trumpet lives in rivers of the tray of Soussouéou and in the season of reproduction one hears the rooster of heather... Open eyes wide, ears and nostrils…
From the small jaunt to the BIG HIKE
Getting out from the Small Train, in station of the lake, an arrowed trail invites you to make a walk of 15 on to 20 minutes until the magnificent lake of Artouste.
From there, you will discover the wild beauty of the panorama and the big dam constructed in the 1920's.
In Artouste, you are in direct contact with the mountain, at 2 000 meters of altitude. Without having worked hard to climb until there, you can have a hike for the day toward the lakes of Arrious or Arrémoulit or you can exercise the climbing to the assault of 3 000 meter picks. And for other sensations, why not a coming down in VTT, (all terrain bike) or a flight over the slope? And what about one night in a shelter to share our shepherd's pastoral life?
The small train was born for A BIG DAM
It was in 1924 that the line of railroad has been constructed by the Company of railroads of the South of France, to route men, the material, the fuel and the necessary restocking in the yard of the dam on the lake of Artouste.
Its construction was bound to the search of sources of new energy. To transform the strength of water into electricity, it was necessary to create reserves of water and pipelines joining the altitude lakes to power stations of , the Ossau valley.
This big dam of 150 meters of length elevated between 2 lines of crests, incraesed the level of the lake of Artouste by 25 meter. Thousands of people worked in the construction of the dam and subterranean canals during 8 years.
. Every day, teams took the cable car then the Small Train to rejoin the yard, at 2 000 meters of altitude. Actually, the lake of Artouste constitutes a reserve of 24 millions cube meter of water and the hydroelectric power stations of the Ossau valley produce electricity for EDF.
THE STATION OF THE SAGETTE...
Arrival of the cable car and station of departure of the Small Train
A magnificent view on the valley of Ossau and the Pick of the Midi d' Ossau. Enjoy your waiting to stroll, to idle about, to buy, to contemplate, to go to a restaurant... You will find a store of souvenirs memories, bar, restoration,
The table of orientation.
Numerous possibilities of calm jaunts and sites of picnic in the surroundings. A few farther, the departure of the chair lift, in july/Augut we propose it to you in double way to" over fly " the magnefic valley of the Soussouéou !.
By car!
That is, it is yours! Take room in the train, the journey immediately starts with the tunnel of the bear.
Tunnel of the bear
314 ms of length and 2 strong sensation minutes, in the black and in the noise of the loco. This tunnel, dating from the construction of the train, has been dug to the exact size of the loco and wagons: so keep arms and legs imperatively inside the wagon and remain well attached. As an initiatic rite passage the tunnel takes you to the other side…of the mountain, to the collar of the Bear. The discovery and the beauty of the landscape to the exit will make you immediately forget the small discomforts of this journey beginning
ARRIVAL TO THE DAM OF ARTOUSTE
It is your turn now to walk!
During few minutes (10/15mn), you will be able to reach the lake of Artouste and the big dam. An exceptional view over the chain, and a magic vision of a mountain lake. All the palette of the green, blue, turquoises...
For your tranquillity in July / August: Verify the return time registered on the back of your ticket.