Routes around the Aran Valley

Aran Valley. Route Porcingles - Canejan - Pontaut

The valley through which passes this tour is one of the most interesting and beautiful of the Aran Valley. This is an easy way to do with a height of 360 m which takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. It is through an old road linking the three towns , typical for its constructions of houses Aran . These three beautiful towns with typical houses Aran . The scenery is spectacular with us , with striking foliage composed of different types of trees ( linden, ash , oak, maple and cherry ) and various shrubs including brambles and wild roses that bring color and variety . A wonderful view awaits us in the gazebo that stands about Lana and I was shown the majestic massif Maladeta in contrast to the forests of beech, fir and black pine delvalle the other side of Aran , back in the gentle slopes the Monlude .

It is not uncommon to hear the colorful songbirds as Grouse and even deer snoring courtship ceremonies .

Porcingles is our starting point , from there once passed a measure that puts GR -211 , we turned left and started to flank the mountain. Once we crossed Canejan reached until we found a stone path and a drop of 300 meters along the coast of Canejan . Pass by a trough and a " santet " and from there find the " bocard " and houses that matched the area's mining past . Finally the road finally leads to the path , the people of Pontaut .

It is interesting to note the importance of this area mining had previously getting to have up to nine cores of population , this number being halved today. It also highlights the peculiar fact that he was smuggling passageway.

Toran River Valley in the Aran Valley

A journey that should not be lost hikers is the way that part of the beautiful shelter of Hera Oneria to Eth Padret, a village hidden in the valley of Toran which together with other near and Sant Joan de Toran , Porcingles and deserve Canejan worth being known .

The path part of the refuge , initiating our steps through a rocky road to the left . Once on this road , just past the first turn , we find a path by which we arrive at the river cross Torán which to switch bank. From there , we will be ascending slowly but always outside the river . We are joined by a beautiful landscape where the vastness of the valley descry chaired by Tuc d' Emer , whose slopes are populated by dense forests of spruce , beech , and blueberries , and where you can still find bears migratory . Likewise enjoy the colorful panorama of verdant meadows from afar , are scattered with yellow brush strokes that are almost nothing but flowers " herb of St. John " or Hypericum perforatum , with well known antidepressant properties. Also on our way  we will see typical Aranese houses of the Aran Valley.

A stone trough will indicate the proximity of the village and from there it is easy to return . We're going down a road from that town . When we took the road forks left and you will find the road that will take us to the starting point.

Aran Valley. Gausac - Casau - Vielha

It is an easy circular route that has a vertical drop of 120 m. More or less is done in 1 hour, 40 minutes.

Gausac is a village near Viella that is framed in a beautiful natural passage backed by the majestic mountain of Baricauba . Worth visiting in Gausac Gothic church dedicated to the patron of the town, San Martin. Within the Church we have a lovely pile of painted wood deck Baptism and has its origins in the eighteenth century . Once you visit the temple , we climbed Major Street and came to a beautiful place to rest , the source of Sta Maria . From this place we continued our way down the street from Porter and GR following signals reached a level with a beautiful view where you can see some marked trails . From there headed our steps to the village of Casau 'll get to in just 20 minutes.

Casau interest has a lovely striking church tower, the church of Sant Andreu in which sacred art lovers will appreciate an important example of this art . Then we continued our way across the road . On the way we see the typical Aranese houses landscaped mountain Val d' Aran and when we got to the ravine des Comes, some ruins are soon to appear. This is an old old buildings interlock called Sant Peir . It is of importance to note that in that enclave settled the first hospital of Val d' Aran . Very near the Parador is national and source called Liberty.

Once past Sant Peir , descend down a path to and from said population Vielha take the back road that will take us back to Gausac.

Aran Valley. Gessa - Arties - Garos - Arties - Gessa

It is easy to make a journey that can last around 2 hours. In general terms it can be described as spectacular because of the beauty of its landscape with incredible vegetation and wonderful views . Also from the cultural point of view is very interesting.

Gessa is considered one of the most beautiful and picturesque the Aran Valley , with its original an typicalhouses of Aran. From there begins the journey. The Plaza Mayor is the starting point and continue down the street from the church , Gothic church dedicated to the patron of the town of San Pedro and has as noteworthy characteristic hexagonal bell tower . Once arrived at Corhila ravine , crossed by a stone bridge and found a clear path passing through beautiful meadows , bushes and brambles , sloes, and scrub. The road runs parallel to the c -28 and leads to Arties .

Arties near which are two rivers , the Garonne and the Valarties , is an interesting town in the Aran Valley which note is the Romanesque church of Santa Maria , worth seeing, the church of Saint Joan , where we can admire traveling art exhibitions and the monument dedicated to Gaspar de Portola, whose name it bears in his honor on national parador . From there, we dirigieremos ground by a small road to Garos . Once there , we headed to Plaça Major with a street called carrer deth solei and once there go down the carrer of Polaeres and crossed the c- 28 via a bridge over the Garonne .

On a leafy road, " Camin Riau " We continue our walk back to Arties but this time we walked along the shaded side which makes the landscape even equal in beauty, be different. This time we find forests of poplar , ash and maple and a warm scented with the aroma of honeysuckle abundant .

In this way we passed by a lime kiln , the ancient ruins of the baths of Arties ( hot sulphurous water ) , cross the river again Arties Valarties coming . From there we head to the end of the journey , starting turn of this journey that is the people of Gessa . We will do this through a spectacularly beautiful trail that will lead to the Mont - Romies track , then turn left and after crossing the Garonne , climb to Giessa through ravine known as Barranc de Corhila.

Aran Valley. Mola de Salardú

This is a fairly short drive only 40 minutes away but a great cultural importance . The altitude is 100 meters and very easy to make .

The starting point is an old mill, the Mola de Salardú . Formerly it took advantage of the wealth of Aran Valley water to extract energy in a primitive way . This energy is used in sawing , old factories and flour mills . The Mola de Salardú mill was operating in those ancient times and is now restored . If you visit this place , you can see what was the old process of grinding wheat. Next to the mill there is a picnic area with a small playground .

The Camin Reiau can be found 50 meters from the area and from it headed our steps to the village of Tredòs . On the outskirts of this town when we saw the first houses , cross the bridge over the river Garonne and found a small but interesting church, the Romanesque church of Sant Estèue . After visiting this temple , we head down a steep slope known as St Mary's Street . For this difficult climb to the top of Tredòs , the neighborhood called Cap d' Aran . There is the famous Romanesque church of Santa María de Tredòs , built between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries , in which we can admire all the features of the Romanesque and two additional architectural elements that are characteristic only of her. These two distinctive features are its beautiful bell tower and its interesting independent crypt. This church had formerly an especially magnificent Romanesque paintings were torn and unfortunately currently in the Cloisters Museum in New York and are shown to visitors through slides.

To return , retrace your steps or if you prefer you catch the bus at the C -28, road crossing the Aran Valley.

Aran Valley. Bassa d'Oles

A beautiful place worth visiting in the Aran Valley is the Bassa d'Oles . It is around a lake bordered by red pine , spruce , beech and blueberries. The nature is at its best, constituted by a symphony of colors and sounds. You can find a large number of species of songbirds , including the cuckoo and even some early riser have seen the majestic image of privateering . To get there from Vielha through a paved road across the stunning Varicauba Bosc, Road leading Artiga de Lin also through Batalher Plan and Betlan Guardadèr.

Once you arrive , there is a path that skirts the lake and certainly very interesting for the hiker . The duration of this tour can range about fifty minutes no difficulty and is ` a real treat for nature lovers . Parking is part of the Bass d' Oles and upon arrival to the shelter Piusa dera is a typical Aranese house, take the left direction . Here we see a yellow and white markings PR that indicate the beginning of a forest trail . We continue our journey through the track in which we must do two increases until it reaches a fork leaving " dera Vila overboard " on the left . From there we followed a rocky path and cross meadows and some cabins , including one that stands out to be rehabilitated and should have it as a reference point in the turn . We continued until we reached a place where you can see a breathtaking view . From there we return retracing our steps to the cabin above. Once we found this cabin the right and started the descent back across exquisite meadows to red lush pine forest where we find the track that leads to the starting point .

Aran Valley. Salardú - Unha - Gessa

It is a circular type tour lasts about 1 hour and 5 minutes. The gap is 30 to 50 for up and down. These three Aran Valley populations are very interesting from the cultural and historical perspective, besides having the typical common scenic beauty.

Salardú start from the road from the parking lot of the people. We will head to Unha, population is only 1 km away from Salardú . Unha is a small town but quite interesting . It can visit places like the Museum Neu dera ( The Museum of snow) , the beautiful manor house called the s Brastet Çò of XVI and the Romanesque church of Santa Eulalia .

Once at Unha , we can get on a small promontory where Romanesque church that was built in the twelfth century and in which we can admire its beautiful murals. Not all of them were made at the same time, some were painted in the Gothic period , some in the Romanesque period and others in the Renaissance . At some times of year, you must agree to visit by appointment.

Then again we GR211 we take the highest area of Gessa. Gessa is considered one of the most beautiful and picturesque Aran Valley , with its original houses typical local tariff . Cross streets down to the church of Sant Pèir , patron of the place . It is a Romanesque church which can highlight its robust hexagonal bell . Also worth vistar Çò manor house rose XVI -XVII century . From there look for the c -28, which road will continue our path with maximum caution as they drive along the arcen area.

Aran Valley. Val de Varradòs

The Val de Varradòs is an incredible landscape of the Aran Valley where water is manifested at all times as our faithful companion . The road passes through dense forests of beech and fir where occasionally you can see a typical Aranese house. Sometimes we find signs of landslides , a fact that often occurs in the winter months .

Arrived at the Place de l' Varradòs Artiga , the place that appears before our eyes can not be prettier . So much so that looks like a landscape painting out of a belle : green meadows , majestic peaks as Aneto and Maladeta , lakes , streams , a typical shelter and to top off an iconic waterfall 35 meters high which is the famous The Saut deth Pish .

It is proposed to hiking lover a journey of a drop of 110 m which can last about 45 minutes, but even that term is small does not mean less interesting hence I already elapsed along a path allowing us to enjoy this waterfall of a cluster of intoxicating sensations. It starts from the Plan des Artiguetes and once past a wooden bridge we found the road protected by a railing by which ascend while still the waterfall. You can even climb to the origin of this, but this action is reserved for the more adventurous . Once at the high of the hill, which leads to a beech and spruce forest , the ravine and Siessos and from there we will head back to the refuge across the lake drain through the rocks to reach the opposite side of the forest beech . In this way we reach the forest track.

It is recommended not return from without knowing the interesting towns and Aubèrt Arròs that , like all villages of the Aran Valley , not leave us indifferent.