Font-Romeu is one of the most popular ski resorts situated on the French side of the Pyrenees mountain range and, naturally, buying a property in Font-Romeu is something that many people consider. Situated between the Principality of Andorra and the southwestern French city of Perpignan, the resort has long been popular with French and Spanish visitors looking to hit the slopes during the winter season.
More recently, it has also become popular with visitors from abroad and summer tourists looking to visit the spectacular local landscapes and ride the famous Yellow Train narrow gauge railway line that serves the resort and several surrounding villages.
There is a total of 58km of ski slopes in the resort. These are divided between 30km of runs that are classed as easy, 19km which are classed as intermediate and 9km which make it into the difficult classification. This is a lower quantity of runs than some ski resorts offer but this resort's location means that it tends to be quieter than some of its Alpine rivals.
Living in Font-Romeu and Things To Do
Font-Romeu and its neighbouring villages make up a relatively small settlement with a total population of just under 2,000. Naturally, this population expands significantly during the skiing season when thousands of visitors descend on the resort over the course of the season, but it's still a fairly quiet resort by local standards.
However, it is keen to upgrade its offering to both locals and tourists alike by investing in a new wellness centre and civic facilities including a renovated city hall, new police station and school. Nearby ski resorts include Bolquère Pyrénées 2000, Les Angles and Cambre d'Aze in Eyne.
Generally, the ski season in the resort runs from early December to late March. This is slightly shorter than the season that operates in French Alpine resorts, which tends to run from November through to April. On the other hand, Pyrenean resorts tend to make up for this slightly shorter ski season by offering facilities that appeal to year-round visitors, meaning that property owners in the area enjoy a steady stream of tourists visiting the area all year.
Snow can be somewhat less reliable in this area than in other ski resorts and as a consequence, 100% of the ski slopes in the resort are fitted with snow cannons to ensure that skiing can continue even when the white stuff is not falling. For up-to-date snow and weather reports, make sure to take a look at our Font-Romeu resort guide here.
Culture and Things To Do in Font-Romeu
The rural location of Font-Romeu makes it a peaceful and secluded area outside of the ski season where one can reconnect with nature and enjoy everything the local landscape has to offer. The Pyrenees is popular with hikers and ramblers, however, which provides a year-round flow of tourists into the area. The village is also home to a popular local restaurant which serves up popular French fare alongside a range of traditional Catalan dishes.
A ski school facility is also available which operates depending on demand. French school holidays are generally covered but at other times of the year, a minimum number of children will need to register for classes at the ski school before they can be run. The nearest hospital is located around 12km from the resort while the nearest school is only 10km away.
The nearest major town is the Andorran capital Andorra La Vella, which offers duty-free shopping and a number of bars and restaurants. The closest major city is Perpignan on the Mediterranean coast - which is accessed by a network of rural roads with spectacular views down the mountains.
The resort prides itself on its family-friendly atmosphere and catering to children and adults equally. Beautifully designed and stunning through all seasons, this traditionally alpine hamlet makes for a perfect escape from the world for a few weeks. There are activities a-plenty to suit the needs of everyone and plenty of chances for parents to relax sans enfants during their holiday too.
Moreover, the hamlet has a strong grasp on its own heritage and offers activities that can help you envelop yourself in the history of the area. You can take a self-guided tour called the Secrets of Font-Romeu or visit one of the local dairy farms and see how the famous alpine cows make some of the delicious foods and drinks that are enjoyed across the Alps. Or, you can tour the famous Baroque-style church settled into the middle of the mountains, a stunning addition to the gorgeous landscape of the mountain.
Investment Opportunities in Font-Romeu
The resort has welcomed a number of key investments thanks to a 35 million euro cash injection to ensure it provides top-of-the-range ski facilities. These include several fixed-grip and high-speed detachable chairlifts, as well as J-bars to minimise queues and speed skiers up to the summit. But it's not resting on its laurels, it also has plans to build a cable car to access the chairlifts.
Transport to Font-Romeu
The two nearest major airports to the resort are Barcelona Airport in Spain and Toulouse Airport in southern France - both of these airports have regular services to a wide range of European cities. Barcelona Airport also enjoys an increasing number of flights to cities in other continents including Dubai, New York, Miami, Seoul and Hong Kong. Closer to the resort, Girona Airport in Northern Catalonia and Perpignan Airport in the extreme southwest of France have a smaller number of more irregular flights to some European cities. Direct bus transfers run from these airports during the ski season.
Access by train is a little trickier. The Yellow Line train service is renowned for its beauty and offers a scheduled train service between the resort and major towns. Interchange is available at Villefranche de Conflent with services to Perpignan where further onward connections can be made to Paris, Barcelona, Lyon and other major cities.
The road network in the area is beautiful but slow and winding and can become very busy on changeover days. This is less of a problem outside of the ski season, but it can take a significant amount of time to drive from the resort to a major city such as Perpignan.
Jan 02, 2024
