GEOGRAPHY

The mountain slopes - between 1000 and 2000 meters high- are covered with forests; in the lowest parts there grow wild pines and beeches, which give way to firs and black pines in the highest areas. Finally, further up this forest layer we find the alpine meadows.

According to the latest archaeological discoveries, it seems that the first settlers of the valley were Celtics and Bascs. The Romans would have penetrated by one of their paved roads which came from Tolosa, crossed the valley and then entered the Pallars region through the port of Bonaigua. The presence of Latin place names (such as Vielha) and of several headstones and funeral parlours supports this hypothesis.

Villages in the Aran Valley are small, not very distant from each other, and located mainly at the depth of the valley. These are villages with typical houses of very tilted slate tile roofs and dominated by small Romanesque churches.

The Aran economy used to be based on cattle raising and timber, but nowadays tourism plays a much more important role, both in winter and in summer. The building of a tunnel connecting Vielha, and of Baqueira Beret ski resort mark a milestone in the region. Both things combined quickly turned an area of shepherds and lumberjacks into the most important tourist region in Catalonia and in one of the areas with a higher overall income.

The valley has kept its own language, the Aranese. which belongs to the Occitan linguistic family and is a variant of the Gascon language, although it has its own characteristics.

Weather has a direct influence on the valley’s cuisine. Heavy snow falls require a rich menu and that is why soups, stews and the Aranese pot are the typical dishes. Local products such as cow and sheep meat are the main ingredients, as well as fruits of the forest such as strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.

MONUMENTAL HERITAGE AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Es Bòrdes: small extras (such as Benòs, Begòs, Arrò), and Sanctuary of Era Artiga de Lin, close to beautiful spot Uelhs deth Joeu.

Vilamós: Romanesque church

Bossost: Wonderful Romanesque church, the most remarkable in the valley.

Les: Ancient spa, noble houses.

Canejan: Toran Valley, on the affluent of the Garona river, very typical villages.

Salardú: Head of the wide municipality of Naut Aran. Beautiful Romanesque church (containing the Christ of Salardú). Extras: Unha (noble house), Tredòs (Romanesque church of Cap d'Aran), Bagergue, Gessa, Arties (beautiful Romanesque church), Garòs, sanctuary of Montgarri, special place of adoration. Huge winter sports resort Baqueira-Beret.