Grandvalira Ski Station - Funicamp
By Regina Winkle-Bryan
Granted, fluffy snow is not what most of us think of when we imagine Spain. However, the Northern Spain is separated from France and Andorra by the Pyrenees, and in those mountains snowflakes tend to tumble. I went on my first ever Spanish ‘winter wonderland’ excursion over the New Year. I went with A, and we drove northwest towards Andorra. A tiny Catalan-speaking country in the furthest corner of Northwestern Catalonia, Andorra is famous for cheap shopping (less tax) and ski holidays.
I did not ski, nor did A. We didn’t have the gear, the know-how, or the will. We did see other people skiing though when we took the ‘cable pod’ up to the Grandvalira Ski Station from Encamps. I really recommend doing this little ride, which will only set you back $10.00. Once at the top of the mountain you can either ski or go to the lodge and have drink by the fire and watch other people ski. We did the latter and it was a blast. All the fun of a ski holiday without the bruises and broken bones…
Grandvalira Ski Station - Cable Pods
Still not sure? Take a look at the photos below snapped while in Andorra, they’ll give you an idea of what sort of slopes and snow levels are available. While Andorra is a big draw for skiers, similar ski resorts thread the Pyrenees on the French and Spanish sides of the border. Skiing in Spain and Andorra is cheaper than skiing in many northern European countries.
Here go the photos!:
Grandvalira Ski Station Ride Up
Grandvalira Ski Station Views
Grandvalira Ski Station - Scoopette in the Snow
Grandvalira Ski Station - Walking through virgin snow
Grandvalira Ski Station Lodge
Grandvalira Ski Station
Grandvalira Ski Station Mnts
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4 Comments
Fun post of another side of Spain!
Next time you come, we’ll have to explore!
If you enjoy cross-skiing (esquí nòrdic), may I also recommend Lles de la Cerdanya, less than 2 hours’ drive from Barcelona. Though smaller, it’s much more economical than many of the other, more popular ski stations and far less crowded. You can actually enjoy total silence in the alpine forests as you make your way through beautiful scenery. You can hire equipment of course (they even have size 50 boots for big-footed people like me!) and for the less experienced cross-skier there are classes available which are very reasonably priced. There is also a restaurant which serves some pretty decent carne a la brassa, though it’s a bit pricey. Personally I prefer to take sandwiches and eat them in the solitude of the forest. All in all, the exercise, silence and numerous health benefits of crisp mountain air make it well worthwhile. If you want more info – http://www.lles.net/
Thanks for the tip! I’d like to try cross-country skiing sometime.
Regina