From Peyresourde-Balestas to Lake Génos-Loudenvielle

Park in the car parks in the centre of the Peyresourde-Balestas resort.

(S/E) Head for the large roundabout. Turn left to cross the resort, following the D619 road until you reach the hairpin bend to the right, after the Peyresourde-Balestas Altiport track.

(1) Leave the road and take a small path heading due west. Join a track and follow it downhill to the left.

(2) When the track turns right, take a path on the left (east). Cross a stream and pass a ski lift on your left. Pass Les Granges de Mouliou, then descend in wide bends to Les Granges de Bédérèdes.

(3) Join the^GR®10and head right towards Germ. Pass the stopover lodge and continue north on the^GR®10. Enter Germ, turn left and walk past the town hall. Continue straight on to the church and the cemetery.

(4) Leave the road and carry on straight ahead along a path, still following the^GR®10towards Génos. The descent is steep in this part of the route and very shaded.

(5) You’ll come out onto a road; follow it to the right to enter Loudenvielle. Ignore a street on the right, walk past the town hall and you’ll reach a T-junction (post office and church on the left).

(6) Then turn right. Stay on the main road following the^GR®10. You’ll come out onto the D25; follow it to the left towards Génos.

(7) Before the bridge, turn right onto a small road. Shortly afterwards, cross the river via a footbridge. Turn right immediately. At the Fork in the road just past the tennis courts, turn left. Go round the swimming pool on the left and reach the southern shore of the lake. Walk along the lake on your right until you reach the Génos picnic area.

(8) Take the same path in the opposite direction to return to the Peyresourde-Balestas resort (S/E).

The Skyval cable car takes you down to Loudenvielle and/or back up to the resort directly (journey time approx. 15 minutes).

You can walk around the lake, which is 3 km long.
The ruined castle at Génos is well worth a visit and offers a beautiful view.