Vielha, Viella in Spanish, is the capital of the Val d'Aran, a Pyrenean valley in north-west Catalonia, in the province of Lleida. The municipality of Vielha e Mijaran has about 5,500 inhabitants. It is the only valley of the Catalan Pyrenees facing the Atlantic: the Garonne rises here and flows towards France and Bordeaux. That is why the climate is wetter and the landscape greener.
A unique valley
The Val d'Aran has special self-government, with its own council, the Conselh Generau d'Aran, and its own language, Aranese, a variety of Gascon Occitan, official throughout Catalonia alongside Catalan and Castilian. Until the Vielha tunnel opened in 1948, the valley was cut off from the rest of Spain in winter.
What to see
- The Romanesque and Gothic church of Sant Miquèu, with the Christ of Mijaran, a 12th-century wooden sculpture.
- The Musèu dera Val d'Aran, in the Torre del Generau Martinhon.
- The old town, with stone houses and slate roofs.
- The Romanesque churches of the valley villages, such as Salardú, Arties, Bossòst and Unha.
- The villages of Bagergue, among the prettiest in the valley, and Es Bòrdes.
Skiing and hiking
- Baqueira-Beret, about 15 km away, is one of Spain's largest and most prestigious ski resorts, frequented by the royal family.
- In summer the valley offers hikes to the Colomers and Saboredo lakes, Montardo and the Pla de Beret, where the Garonne and Noguera Pallaresa rise.
- Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park borders the valley.
Food and festivals
The typical dish is olla aranesa, a hearty soup of meat, cured sausage, pulses and vegetables. Try also the cheeses, game civet, caviar and sturgeon farmed in the valley, and coca aranesa. On 17 June the valley celebrates the Hèsta d'Aran.
Getting there
Vielha is about 165 km from Lleida and 320 km from Barcelona, through the Vielha tunnel. Buses run from Lleida and Barcelona. From France it is reached via Saint-Gaudens. See also Lleida.