Mauroux (Pic dels Moros)

Mauroux (Pic dels Moros) is a very pleasant thermal site above the Cerdanya valley in the eastern French Pyrenees — a good XC starting point into the valley if you can get enough height. The Cerdanya valley breeze is SW-oriented and can blow strong on hot afternoons. The site can end up in the convergence zone of three breezes (Cerdanya from SW, Têt from E, Capcir from N), so wind changes at takeoff can turn things weird quickly — stay alert. The launch is easy grass with a nice slope; the real challenge is aerology.

Launch & conditions

Easy grass takeoff, nice slope. The aerology is what to worry about, not the launch.

Getting there & local rules

From Perpignan, continue heading towards Andorra. Cross the village of Targasonne — at the exit, the 'Ailipse' shop is on your left 100 m before the roundabout — ask them for info (or if closed, take the right at the roundabout, follow the road ~500 m and you'll see the landing on the right). You can walk straight up to the top takeoff or launch at mid-height. There is a track to the top but access is regulated — you must go through 'Ailipse' to drive up. Landing: in the field next to the windsock. The field has a light slope — do NOT land facing the valley (even into the wind, you risk overshooting). Prefer to land facing east or west, slightly crosswind but following the contour lines.

Local rules & hazards

The site can sit at the junction of three valley breezes (Cerdanya SW, Têt E, Capcir N) — if the wind changes at takeoff, conditions can turn weird fast. Thermals may start right near the LZ — stay engaged all the way to touchdown.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Mauroux (Pic dels Moros), read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Mauroux (Pic dels Moros) with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.