Val d'Aran, geographically facing towards France, is a territory with a strong personality of Occitan roots, as is made evident in its tongue, the Aranese language. Marked by an eventful history up to its present self-government, Val d'Aran lived under the rule of various kings and bishops, even being temporarily occupied by the French during the Napoleonic era.
With its spectacular landscapes, praised in the lyrics of its official anthem 'Montanhes araneses', Val d'Aran is now an ideal place to practice outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking and cycling, while having become the perfect refuge for several protected animal species. In addition to its natural worth, Val d'Aran also shines thanks to its rich cultural legacy (Romanesque churches), and its industrial and museum heritage, along with a calendar filled with numerous holidays, ancient traditions and mysterious legends.
The town of Vielha and the group of more than thirty charming villages that make up Val d'Aran is a must-visit spot in the Pyrenees. Besides the ubiquitous stone, wood and slate houses that surround the characteristic bell towers of the Pyrenees, in all these places one can discover how the Aranese harsh winter climate places such rich foods on its tables as the Olla Aranesa and the typical mountain cheeses.
By car
From Barcelona (A2) up to Lleida by route N-230 up to the tunnel of Vielha which, with a length of 5.173 m, connects the county of Alta Ribagorça (South entrance: 1.626 m high) with Aran (North entrance of the tunnel: 1.390 m high).
From France via Pont de Rei, one arrives to the French route N-125, which then becomes Spanish route N-230.
