Gîte d' étape la Maison de la Montagne — Hotel in Oloron-Sainte-Marie

The only downside to this gite was that we arrived around 15:00 and were told we would have to wait until 16:30 for this gite to open its doors. After a long, wet and muddy day we were looking forward to taking a shower, so this was disappointing. But after going for a drink in a nearby bar we could enter the gite and it turned out to be one of our best stops on the GR10. The rooms were clean and so were the showers. Soon we were greated by some great smells coming from the kitchen. The chef had made us a tajine with fresh vegetables and couscous; a very welcome variation to the usual 'omelette du fromage' that was served to us vegetarians in not very veggie-friendly France. The meat-eaters at our table were similarly happy with their food that was definitely a step up from the usual meals served at...

Avoid! When I stayed there in August 2017 it was being run by 2 young lads, who clearly had no empathy and patience to run the place. Dinner was just plain pasta (just cooked on water! Not even a super basic tomato source!) and chicken legs baked in the oven. You could see the lads were just offering whatever was the easiest way to cook and would took the least work for them. Picnic lunches were also quite tasteless and lame. You would do better going to the local supermarket and cooking yourself something (and much cheaper!). Overpriced for what it offers (and I know it's just a gîte!). When you see that some refuges in more remote places that need to be replenished by helicopter in the mountains charge the same but offer better service and better meals, you know that something...

One of the few Gîte d’étapes that focus on serving delicious, locally grown vegetables to hungry hikers. The place has a great atmosphere and wonderfully helpful staff. There are lots of plants inside and outdoors and they focus on reusing water, and sharing leftover supplies from other hikers. In the morning freshly baked croissants of great quality are served and this at the same price as Gîtes with a lot lower quality. They also offer to ash and dry your clothes. Jeanne even makes her own herbal balms etc that you can acquire, and they did wonders to my feet. The location is central in Lescun, right next to an Épicerie. I loved everything...