Do you know his story?
The Vall d'Aran stands out for having its own identity. Its history goes back to the 3rd century BC, due to the fact that documents have been found that speak of an ancient tribe that inhabited the Pyrenees and was called Arenosis. There was also a notable Roman presence and later with the fall of Rome Germanic tribes. During the Napoleonic invasion it was in the hands of the French until in 1815 it returned to the Kingdom of Spain. Thanks to the construction of the Vielha tunnel, communications in the region were improved, given that due to the winter snows the territory was completely cut off from communication.
What can you do in the Vall d'Aran and its Holiday cottages?
Every year thousands of people visit the Vall d'Aran. There are many attractions that the region offers throughout the year. On the one hand, in winter you can enjoy a snowy landscape as well as practice all kinds of snow sports. The rest of the year you can stroll through its towns and enjoy some of the most important Romanesque heritage in Catalunya. Its gastronomy and its natural spaces are also unique.
10 ideas to enjoy the Vall d'Aran
- Vielha e Mijaran, a capital full of treasures.
- Discover its Romanesque heritage.
- Taste its gastronomy.
- Enjoy the snow in Baqueira Beret.
- Do the Chariots of Fire route.
- National Park of Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici.
- A walk through history in Canejan.
- Visit its museums.
- MTB route.
- A paradise for lovers of adventure sports.
Vielha e Mijaran, a capital full of treasures
Vielha e Mijaran is the capital of the Vall d'Aran and one of the main tourist centers of the region. Its privileged location on the edge of the Pyrenees and between the Garona and Nere rivers offers you the possibility of practicing all kinds of high mountain sports such as alpine running. Walking through its urban center you will find old civil buildings of great historical value. Be sure to visit the Musèu dera Val d'Aran or one of its Romanesque churches. We recommend that you try their artisan sausages or Gascon-influenced soufflés.
Discover its Romanesque heritage
Romanesque art has left a strong mark on the Vall d'Aran. In many of its towns you will find churches that still preserve much of their heritage and that have great historical value. One of the best known is the church of Sant Andreu in Salardú. It dates from the 12th century and inside is the Christ of Salardú, a very valuable Romanesque carving. In Vilamòs is the parish church of Santa Maria. It dates from the 11th century and its style is primitive Romanesque. Another very interesting building is the parish church of Bossòst.
Taste its gastronomy
The gastronomy of the Vall d'Aran stands out for combining traditional recipes with more sophisticated dishes as well as for the use of high quality local ingredients. In its restaurants you will find a menu with many hunting and fishing dishes that suit all palates. You can't leave without trying dishes like wild boar civet, Aranese duck confit, stuffed potatoes or desserts like milhes or crepes.
Enjoy the snow in Baqueira Beret
The ski resort of Baqueira Beret is one of the resorts with the most kilometers of skiable slopes in the entire peninsula. The quality and abundance of snow each year attracts thousands of skiers. It has 103 slopes that are suitable for all levels of skiing as well as four children's snow parks. If you want to learn all the secrets of skiing, more than 25 ski schools with a large number of highly qualified instructors are available to you. On the other hand, around the track you will see high mountain lakes of great beauty.
Do the Chariots of Fire route
If you want to enjoy a route where you can see high mountain areas, you must do the Travessa Carros de Foc. Its total distance is 55 kilometers and is divided into different sections. During the journey you will pass by places of great beauty such as the Colomers lake, the Contraix pass or the Sant Maurici lake. One of the advantages of this route is that it can be planned according to the experience and physical level of the participants.
Aigüestortes National Park and Sant Maurici lake
Located in one of the most privileged places in the Pyrenees, the Aigüestortes National Park covers an area of more than 40,000 hectares. It is formed by a series of valleys that are surrounded by peaks of more than 3000 meters of altitude. It stands out for having an abundant flora and fauna and a large presence of rivers and waterfalls as well as more than 200 lakes spread throughout its territory. You have available a large network of trails along which you can walk in complete freedom and which will allow you to enjoy a unique natural landscape. We recommend that you go to Sant Maurici Lake, a lake of indescribable beauty where you can take a boat ride through its waters.
A walk through history in Canejan
Canejan is one of the municipalities with the best views in the entire region. Historically, it has been considered a place of great military importance. Strolling through its streets you will be able to see a set of buildings and monuments from the medieval period. Its Romanesque bridge stands out, which had already been an ancient Roman road. Its churches and stone houses are in a very good state of conservation, which means that the town maintains its rural charm.
Visit its museums
The cultural offer offered by the Vall d'Aran is very important. Many of its municipalities have museums where works of great artistic value are exhibited. In the Eth Corrau Museum in Bagergue there is an exhibition of tools from the rural world such as carts, carpentry tools or mining wagons. Another very important museum is the Musèu dera Val d'Aran, with a large collection of art pieces that come from the Romanesque churches of the region. Be sure to visit the Ecomuseum of Çò de Joanchiquet in Vilamòs. A rural house converted into a museum where you can see life in the valley between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th.
MTB route
The Vall d'Aran stands out for its high mountain landscapes where forests, meadows, lakes and rivers abound. A good way to see them up close is to take a mountain bike route. Throughout the Aranese territory you will find numerous signposted routes that are classified according to the level of difficulty. If you like challenges, there are routes that are very demanding due to the fact that they cross gradients of around a thousand meters.
A paradise for lovers of adventure sports
The topography of the Vall d'Aran offers visitors many possibilities when it comes to adventure sports. On the one hand, its mountains are perfect for canyoning, climbing and Via Ferrata or mountain biking or hiking. In its rivers and lakes you can do water activities such as kayak surfing, rafting or canoeing. If you like horses, there are also centers where you can practice horse riding
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