The Col de Portet-d'Aspet was first crossed by the Tour de France in 1910, with Oscar Lapize.
Nature and Trails
The official circular hiking trail Col de Portet d'Aspet–Pic de Paloumère begins and ends in Portet-d'Aspet. It is classified as a moderate 6.7-kilometre hike lasting 3 hours, with 531 metres of positive elevation gain, and provides access to the 1,608-metre-high Pic de Paloumère. The trail passes through a beech forest and then over steep meadows.
The ascent to the Col de Portet-d'Aspet from Aspet reaches 1,069 metres over 14.30 kilometres, with 594 metres of elevation gain and a maximum gradient of 13 per cent.
Culture
Inside the Église Saint-Roch are carved baptismal fonts from the 15th century, a polychrome wooden altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and a tabernacle carved from a tree trunk. The Église Saint-Roch also has a massive tower with loopholes; this fortified element may be older than the church itself.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Pomès was built from 1630 onwards. It features a remarkable floor and an 18th-century altarpiece.
Pilgrimage Routes
In Haute-Garonne, the GR 78 connects Portet-d'Aspet with Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges. The GR 78 is classified as a difficult 48-kilometre hike with red-and-white markings. In Haute-Garonne, it passes through Portet-d'Aspet as a pilgrimage route on the northern side of the Pyrenees towards Santiago de Compostela.
Those wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Portet-d'Aspet can include this in their own travel plans.
