Montgarri Sanctuary. Val d'Aran Biosphere Reserve

Val d'Aran Biosphere Reserve

Lleida

The essence of the Pyrenees

Val d'Aran - which has been declared a Biosphere Reserve - is a high-mountain region in Lleida, Catalonia. As soon as you arrive, you will discover what makes it special: imposing valleys and peaks soaring over 2,000 metres that are always snow capped. It offers a unique wealth of natural, cultural, gastronomic and tourist attractions.

The Val d'Aran covers 620 square kilometres in the Central Pyrenees, in the extreme north-west of Catalonia. It is the source of the Garonne River and home to a rich variety of flora and fauna. Its highest peak is Besiberri Norte (3,014 metres), which borders the neighbouring Lleida region of Alta Ribagorça.The Val d'Aran is one of the most popular areas for winter tourism (Baqueira Beret, one of the most famous ski resorts in Spain), with its stunning landscapes making it a prime draw for hiking and mountain sports. Also for rural tourism: It is home to 33 towns built from stone, wood and slate that captivate visitors with their impressive mountain views, medieval atmosphere and delicious gastronomy. Make sure you try local products such as mushrooms, Val d'Aran cow's milk cheese, cured meats and sausages, including langoïssa and anditos (black pudding).

Biosphere Reserve

Val d'Aran Biosphere Reserve

Lleida  (Catalonia)

Type of area:Biosphere Reserve Area:62,000 hectares Email:o.torisme@aran.org Tel.:+34 973 64 01 10 Website:https://www.visitvaldaran.com/

Lleida (Catalonia):

Useful information

What you need to know

  • Cultural information

    A distinctive cultural feature of the Val d'Aran is its mixture of three official languages: Spanish, Catalan and Aranese.The area's heritage is also outstanding, with its cobbled towns and Romanesque churches forming a unique Romanesque Route. For example, Santa Maria d'Arties or Era Mair de Diu dera Purificación, in Bossòst, stand out. You will also find various ethnographic museums dedicated to traditions and topics as unusual as snow, which is very important in the region (Musèu dera Nhèu de Unha).

  • Environmental information

    In addition to its magnificent peaks and the unique hiking they offer, this area is a magnet for lovers of birdlife, especially large birds of prey. You will be surprised by the flight of the bearded vulture or the rare ptarmigan, protagonists of the Val dáran sky. And for lovers of quieter walks, the area has impressive forests of fir, beech and oak, shelter for the last Pyrenean brown bears. A complete network of trails will help you discover its secrets.Another must-see is the Aran Park, dedicated to the fauna of the Val d'Aran, where you can discover the biodiversity of high-mountain regions. You can relax as you watch bears, lynxes, otters, two species of wolves (white and grey), marmots and deer in the semi-wild in their natural ecosystem.Furthermore, this area is clearly committed to sustainability. In fact, in 2014 it was the first mountain destination to achieve international Biosphere certification.

  • Information for visits

    There are several points where you can obtain information. For example, you can visit the Tourist Office in Vielha, the capital of the region (C/Sarriulèra 10, phone +34 973640110). There are also tourist offices in smaller towns such as Salardú (Trauèssa Balmes 2, +34973645197) and Arties (C/Carretera Ag. Arties 14, same phone number as Salardú). You can also go to the Artiga de Lin Interpretation Center, where there is also a tourist train.