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Protected area in Catalonia, Spain
Photo: Generalitat de Catalunya, Attribution via Wikimedia Commons
Alt Pirineu Natural Park (Catalan: Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu) is in Lleida (province) of Catalonia. In the park stands out the Certascan lake, which is the largest glacial lake in Catalonia, or the Cigalera de l'Obaga de Valeran, a chasm 320 m deep and 365 m long. The mythical brown bear often wanders through the northernmost valleys.
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Estanys del Port and Mariola. These two attractive lakes, on the border of Catalan territory, announce our arrival at the port of Tavascan, border crossing and access to the Arieges Pyrenees Regional Natural Park.
Estany de Certascan
Naorte and Certascan lakes. A hundred lakes of glacial origin are scattered throughout the highest areas of the Park. Certascan, with 58 ha, is the largest on the southern slope of the Pyrenees, and Naorte stands out for its singular beauty.
This water paradise formed by streams, birches and fir trees, surrounded by imposing mountains, does not leave visitors indifferent. The autumn colours make it a must-see.
With its 3,143 m altitude, the roof of Catalonia majestically awaits the visit of the numerous hikers who want to add this emblematic mountain to the list of summits reached.
There is a lack of sufficient written information to document this chapel. For now, the only news available dates from 1758, the year in which the pastoral visit to the parish of Anàs was carried out: when describing its suffraganship of Bonestarre, the chapel of the Verge de la Llata is mentioned, which was "decent", and its building in good condition. In fact, the ruin of this construction began well into the 20th century.
It is documented in 1146 when it helped to support the church of Sant Martí de Cardós, belonging to the bishopric of Urgell. It was the parish church of the town of Estaon until the 18th century, when, due to the construction of a new temple, it became simply a chapel. In the 1920s, it was modified: the nave became a rectory and the Romanesque apse was demolished.The mural paintings that decorated it were transferred to different museums: in the National Art Museum of Catalonia, in Barcelona, there are the most complete ones, belonging to the apse, which represent the Pantocrator within a mandorla, surrounded by the tetramorph, two archangels, a seraphim and a cherub. In the Diocesan Museum of Urgell, those that decorated the north wall, with the theme of the Passion, are kept.
Roman bridge over the Noguera de Cardós, with a single semicircular arch. The arch is formed by thin and very long slate slabs arranged radially like voussoirs. The rest of the structure, also made of slate, is smaller in size, and is all held together with mortar. The construction rests directly on the rock that emerges on either side of the river. It was part of the old Cassibrós road.
The ascent to this magical place will delight us with privileged views of the Ferrera valley and the Cardós valley. Accessible on foot, by mountain bike or all-terrain vehicle
. Well protected by the peaks of Monteixo and Norís, this lake of an intense bluish color is hidden. Its surroundings are one of the best viewpoints over the Pica d'Estats.
Surrounded by magnificent fir trees, the hillsides and meadows of the Pla de la Selva plain demonstrate the importance of livestock activity.
This narrow and isolated valley naturally connects the Ferrera Valley with Andorra. With a special atmosphere, it hides spectacular corners, such as the rocky spur of the Llumeneres rock, and outstanding representatives of the Pallars architectural heritage.
Historically, it was a suffragan church of the parish of Sant Feliu, located in Força d'Àreu. When the category of parish of Força was transferred to the town of Baix d'Àreu, it was not Sant Joan who assumed this character, but remained as a chapel of the new church of Sant Climent and Sant Feliu d'Àreu. This is stated in a list of chapels and churches of the diocese of Urgell from 1904.
There is no clear documentary information about this building. In 1314, delegates from the archbishopric of Tarragona visited the parish churches of the deanery of Cardós. In this list, the name Santa Maria de Ça Tor appears, which could very well be the construction we are studying. In fact, however, the reason for its location in this place is not known, since it is an unpopulated place, and it could not have been for defensive reasons. In the pastoral visit of 1758, Santa Maria is mentioned as a chapel in the municipality of Àreu, next to the road from Alins to Àreu, on the left bank of the river.
It is a chapel in the town of Tírvia. This church replaced another previous one with the same dedication that was about 25 m closer to the town.
It is located next to the Tírvia cemetery. Its plan gives clear indications of an early medieval origin, as suggested by Joan Camp in 1984. It could have served as a parish, as suggested by the presence of discoidal funerary steles in the grave adjacent to the hermitage. At the end of the 20th century it was in a very damaged condition. Restored in the early 21st century, it has lost its church functions and inside, the funerary steles are exhibited, museumized.The set of nine discoidal stelae located in the hermitage come from the village cemetery. It is a homogeneous set that could be dated between the 12th and 14th centuries. The base material used to make the drawings and inscriptions is quite hard stone. Most of them have decoration on one or both sides of the stone, alluding to the profession of the deceased, and in some cases inscriptions that indicate the name of the deceased, the author of the piece or make religious invocations.
Under the privileged watchtower of the Orri tower, the Rubió peaks open up, an area of meadows and black pines that offers walks and mountain bike routes from the guarded refuge of the same name.
Capella d'Escaló
Its scanty remains are located near the town of Escaló, on the old road to Espot. The plan can barely be seen, especially in the apse area.
The remains form a fortified complex set on two hills. On the first of these, further east of the town, you can see the remains of a square tower, defended to the east by a moat with a wall of well-cut ashlars of small construction. On the same hill you can also see several sections of a walled enclosure that descends westwards towards the second enclosure. On the second hill, much more fortified than the first, a perimeter wall is documented from which several bastions protrude, in addition to a large interior courtyard. At the highest part there is a square tower with the same construction as the one previously described. Around it, a series of rock cutouts can be observed that indicate the existence of a complex of buildings related to the activity of the castle, but of which it is not possible to establish their layout or functionality.
4 contiguous areas with a total of 7 picnic tables and several interpretive panels.
1 picnic table and 1 fountain
2 picnic tables, next to the Tavascan river, and 1 interpretive panel
2 picnic tables
3 picnic tables, 1 barbecue and 2 interpretive panels
2 picnic tables and 1 fountain
2 picnic tables, 1 shelter and 2 interpretive panels
3 picnic tables, 1 fountain and 2 interpretive panels
1 picnic table and 1 fountain, viewpoint. Sant Quir church. In this church starts the Fallas descent in Alins.
3 picnic tables, 1 fountain and 1 panoramic table
3 picnic tables, 2 fountains, 1 barbecue and 1 interpretive panel. Parking.
fountain,2 tables. Parking.
2 tables, 1 fountain and 1 panoramic table
2 picnic tables and 1 fountain
1 shelter, benches and 1 fountain
2 stone tables and 1 fountain. Parking.
12 picnic tables, 6 barbecues and 1 fountain. Parking.
6 picnic tables, 1 fountain, 1 shelter and 1 interpretive panel. Parking.
1 picnic table, 1 hut and 1 fountain
1 picnic table and 1 fountain
4 picnic tables and 1 fountain
3 picnic tables, 2 barbecues, 1 fountain and 1 interpretive panel. Parking.
2 picnic tables, 1 toilet and 1 interpretive panel. Parking.
3 picnic tables, 1 fountain and 1 shelter
8 picnic tables, 4 barbecues and 1 fountain
4 stone tables and 1 fountain. Parking.
3 picnic tables and 1 viewpoint. Parking.
2 picnic tables and 1 fountain. Parking.
5 picnic tables. Parking.
2 tables, 1 fountain. Parking.
In the Gerdar forest, at 1,550 m, 26 places.
at 1,365 m. +34 618 146 705
Next to the Certascan lake, at 2,240 m, 40 places. +34 647 961 946
At the foot of the Pleta del Prat ski resort (Tavascan), at 1,720 m, 50 places.
16 places. +34 973 083 090
Next to the Areste ravine (Àreu), at 1,940 m, 60 places. +34 669 532 513
In the Bosc de Virós, at 1,670 m, 30 places.
Alberg Refugi Arestui
24 places
20 places
In Les Comes de Rubió, at 1,980 m, 50 places. +34 677 065 773
In Sant Joan de l’Erm, at 1,690 m, 93 places.
In Ras de Conques, at 1,840 m, 16 places.
Alt Àneu, at the foot of the Pic de Qüenca, at 2,200 m, 12 places.
In the Broate valley, at 2,200 m, 18 places.
Next to the Estany inferior de la Gallina, at 2,290 m,18 places.
Next to the Estanys de Baiau, at 2,517 m, 18 places.
Next to the Estany de Baborte, at 2,400 m, 16 places.
Next to the Estany de la Gola dam, at 2,231 maltitude, 10 places.
Cardós Valley, under the Soliguera Lakes, 2,020 m altitude, 5 places
Under the Mollàs Lake, 1,880 m altitude, 8 places.
Goat cheese and meat
Poma de muntanya Biolord
ecological mountain apples
Goat cheese
Bread & pastry
cheese shop
Salines i museu de Gerri de la Sal
Small artisanal salt production, using traditional methods and tools from over 2000 years ago
Handcrafted pieces in tanned leather and innovations with Xisqueta sheepskin, using traditional and ancestral techniques. Recovery of the traditional shepherd's backpack
Aromatic and medicinal herbs. Cultivated or harvested in an ecological way. They are dried and transformed in an artisanal way into infusions or condiments.
Parking
Some remote valleys (Àrreu, Airoto) require parking at small villages (Boren, Isil, Alós) and hiking in. Always check local maps and seasonal restrictions before visiting.
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La Seu d'Urgell Pyrenees and Andorra · Regional · LEU
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