FRANCE – The Pyrénées, Peyresourde Airfield // Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Never has a filthy smuggler hub had a more beautiful location in real life: Peyresourde Airfield from “Tomorrow Never Dies” is a Pyrénées gem. Maybe not the landing strip itself – but definitely the villages and lakes along the way!
Why Bond was here
An arms bazaar at the Russian border, lots of terrorists, lots of dangerous goods: James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) infiltrates the hub to confirm intel on the bazaar, before the navy is set to send the illegal market ablaze. Just this one problem, the smugglers don’t only deal with guns and missiles, but have a fighter jet equipped with nuclear warheads around as well. Now 007 has to hijack the jet and fly it out of harm, before the missile hits.
How you gonna get there
In reality, the illegal bazaar is not in Russia, but France. More specific: at the Aérodrome de Peyragudes-Peyresourde, a tiny, yet spectacular airfield high in the Pyrénées mountains. There are no public transportation options, so you have to get there by car. From both Toulouse or Biarritz it is two hour ride to the Pyrénées. Then it is another half hour scenic drive into the mountains. The airfield is directly at the beginning of little Peyresourde village. You can’t miss it: The little hangar has a big “007” on its wall. People here know of their attraction.
Good to know
In winter the Pyrénées are covered in snow and Peyresourde becomes a ski resort with a little fame to it. During July and August the region is a biker and hiker paradise. Only the shoulder months can be dull, then shops, cafés and hotels are closed or staffed-down.
But that doesn’t mean, that you cannot find pleasure in visiting the Pyrénées. Check out the beautiful mountain villages Sarrancolin and Arreau on your way up. Rest for a Café Noisette or Gâteau Basque, a tender shortcrust pastry filled with vanilla creams. Another beautiful place close to Peyresourde is Loudenvielle. The small village nestles between mountains and has Lac du Génos just around the corner. Take a sunbath at its shore or walk around the lake, with the mountains reflecting in the mirror-like waters.
Don’t want to drive up all the way? There is a nice gondola connecting Loudenvielle and Peyresourde, operating both during the ski season and in July and August. The name even is a nod to the Bond franchise – and a clever wordplay in French. “Skyvall” refers not only to the movie, but the French word “vall”, which means valley. Thus, the gondola connects sky (Peyresourde) and valley (Loudenvielle).
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