Pallars Sobirà is a mountain region that has traditionally been self-sufficient. This has conditioned the regional gastronomy, in which the meat and its derivatives stand out, while the fish is almost absent.
Thus, the main dishes of the area are related to lamb: girella, palpís, grilled ribs, etc. It also eats rabbit, beef, chicken and game meat.
Quince and Cardós pears are also very present in our cuisine: stews with meat or allioli. By the way, that this allioli tastes fine and delicate, and is not repeated like the traditional one.
In the dessert section, highlight the plums with cognac, grated walnuts, custard, cream or homemade waffles.
The Pyrenean border, far from being a barrier, has historically been for the people of the area a territory of connection and exchange, crossed by a constant flow of people, goods and workers from both sides of the ridge. Indeed, the inhabitants of the territories on both sides of the Pyrenees have gone from one side to the other depending on their personal circumstances and various economic or political situations. Family, business and work ties have articulated a community, even though it has no institutional and administrative base. For several years (1936-1945), the border crossing became an obligatory vital objective for thousands of victims of war and repression.
The fugitives from the dictatorships established on both sides starred in an epic that deserves to be remembered and preserved for future generations so that they know the need to protect peace and democracy, as well as its fragility.
The Museum of the Shepherds of the Àssua Valley, after a brief introduction to the characteristics of the valley, the shepherds and the sheep, explains in depth the different tasks that shepherds must perform during the annual cycle. It is the intention of the driving bodies of the museum that it not only become an exhibition room for objects and information panels, but should also become a dynamic project for the town of Llessui and the entire Valley.
They want to turn the center into a kind of theme park that devotes a lot of attention to remembering the way of working and living of the pastors of years ago, but without forgetting the evolution that they have also experienced lately and the changes that new technologies have brought about: satellite location tools, mobile telephony, mechanized shearing, etc.
The salt flats have always given a characteristic appearance to the town of Gerri, and the exploitation of the salt water source by the evaporation system has been the main economic engine of the city for many years. Since June 6, 1995, unanimously, agree to declare the entire town of Gerri de la Sal, Cultural Asset of National Interest, with the category of historical monument, highlighting for its beauty the Alfolí de la Sal, the largest civil building in plant of all the Pallars.
The interest, both in the warehouse and in the salt flats, is motivated by being bearers of architectural, historical and cultural values that make them worthy of enjoying adequate protection. On the other hand, it is very interesting to visit the monastery of Santa María, a former Romanesque Benedictine monastery (11th-12th centuries), which is the most unique and important in the region.
Ecomuseum was born from a new museological and museographic conception where the visitor enters, in an active and participatory way, in the ways of life of Pallars at the beginning of the century. Unlike traditional museums, the Ecomuseum is not confined to a building, but spreads across the territory to explain the life of the valleys that form it.
Therefore, it is based on heritage centers distributed throughout the towns of Àneu. Currently various spaces are offered; Casa Gassia, the hydraulic mountain range of Alòs de Isil, the monumental complex of Son and the Benedictine monastery of San Pedro del Burgal (12th century) of scale.
You can see all the butterflies that fly in Catalonia and know how they live and how they relate to their environment. We will also observe how they adopt forms and attitudes to defend themselves and adapt to the environment. Finally, we will find examples of the main Catalan insect families.
In addition to the many activities available to our clients, the area stands out for having one of the most important historical-artistic complexes in Europe, for its uniqueness and for its richness.
The 12th century monastery of “Santa Maria de Gerri de la Sal” is a must-see. It is located next to a medieval bridge that crosses the Noguera Pallaresa.
The region also preserves remains of the populations that inhabited it in the past: medieval castles, perfectly preserved dolmens, etc. There are excavations that confirm the presence of civilization in the area since the Bronze Age.
The towns of the region have great charm and preserve the aesthetics of stone, wood and slab, such as Esterri d’Àneu, Bordes de Burg, Vila de Rialp, Tornafort, Llessui, among others.
In addition, Pallars Sobirà has the largest lake in the Pyrenees (Certascan) and the highest peak in the Principality (the Pica de Estados).
Nature lovers will enjoy the National Park of Aigüestortes and the lake of Sant Maurici, one of the two National Parks of Catalonia and one of the great treasures of the Pyrenees.
Water is the protagonist, since the park has more than 200 lakes, rivers, streams and glaciers, as well as a great diversity of typical mountain fauna and flora (chatters, golden eagles, woodpeckers, partridges, trout, chamois, marmots, etc.).
The landscape is high mountain, with an impressive relief. It is well signposted and preserved and has been equipped with many shelters that facilitate the itineraries.
