Discover the town

Alós is the northernmost village in the Àneu valleys. Located to the right of the Noguera Pallaresa, on a small plateau between the Sierra de Pilàs, Mont-roig and the Marimanya massif. The tarred road that follows the course of the Noguera Pallaresa reaches the village. From the sawmill, the mountain track that leads to the Aran through Montgarri begins. Alós is a place closely linked to France, as Seix, Sant Girons and Toulouse were a point of circulation and attraction. After the war, many families from the valley and, specifically from Alós, settled there permanently. The church of Sant Lliser d’Alós stands out, originally Romanesque and modified in the 18th century; the Romanesque style bridge declared a Cultural Asset of Local Interest; and the old hydraulic sawmill, the current radial visitable site of the Valls d’Àneu Ecomuseum. In terms of natural wealth, the forests of the Bonabé valley, which border the Occitan municipality of Salau, stand out.

Àrreu is a small village located at an altitude of 1,250 meters and uninhabited since the 80s of last century. It has had wheeled access for a year.

It is home to the 12th-century Romanesque church of Sant Serni and the Romanesque hermitage of the Mare de Déu de les Neus, restored a few years ago. The polychrome carving of the same name, from the 13th century, is currently in the church of Sant Martí de Borén.

Also noteworthy is the Romanesque-style bridge, declared a Cultural Asset of Local Interest, located on the path that leads to the village and begins on the road between Borén and Isil.

Borén is located on the left bank of the Noguera Pallaresa, next to the small lake and dam of Borén. Next to the dam is the canal through which Enel -formerly HECSA- transports the water to the Esterri d’Àneu hydroelectric power station. Borén houses the church of Sant Martí, originally in Romanesque style and modified in the 18th century.

It preserves the Romanesque carving of the Virgin of the Snows of Àrreu and the sinks, also Romanesque, of the church of Sant Serni d’Àrreu.

Isavarre is located on the left bank of the Noguera Pallaresa, rising above the river that passes in front of the village. It is one of the sunniest towns in the town and enjoys privileged views as it is nestled between the Sierra de les Giroles and El Sequer, at the foot of Cap de Cornalta, Cap de la Travessa and Puig-rodó.

Isavarre maintains the traditional Pyrenean architecture and houses the Romanesque church of Sant Llorenç, from the 12th-13th centuries, declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest and which preserves a portal sculpted with archivolts.

In the past, a Romanesque stone bridge saved the river towards Sorpe. In Isavarre, two ravines flow down from the Tossal de la Llossa: Llete and Buixerri.

With a thousand-year-old tradition, the village of Isil rises on both sides of the Noguera Pallaresa, at the confluence with the ravines of Airoto and Sarredo. The present town was the center of the old term of Isil, at the moment Decentralized Municipal Entity of Isil and Alós. Its proximity to France made it a must-see for travelers.

The current nucleus is divided into two halves, La Molina and Casalta, separated by an island where the church, the old studies, the mill and the sawmill are located.

Isil has a rich cultural heritage and infrastructures that can be visited, such as the Romanesque church of Sant Joan, from the 13th century, and the Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception from the 18th century, both declared Cultural Assets of National Interest. Also noteworthy is the Romanesque-style bridge, a Cultural Asset of Local Interest, and the Casa de l’Ós Bru of the Pyrenees.

Isil hosts every night on June 23 the Festa de les Falles, the first festival declared of national interest in the lands of Lleida and intangible heritage of Unesco.

Son is one of the highest villages in the Àneu valleys, located at an altitude of 1393 m. Son was the center of the old municipality of Son, which merged in 1970 with the municipality of Alt Àneu. Like the rest of the towns in the territory, Son has suffered, since 1860, when it had 460 inhabitants, a significant demographic recession.

The nerve center of the village is home to the Monumental Complex, declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest, formed by the Romanesque parish church of Sants Just i Pastor. The church has a unique bell tower, with a square floor plan and three floors, and a unique interior: the 15th century Gothic altarpiece of the Pere Espallargues school; mural paintings with varied iconography and decorative and religious motifs; the stone sinks, the blessing bowl, the oil sink, the immersion baptizer, and the regular baptizer.

Son is also home to the Pyrenees Documentation Center, CEDPIR, which offers visitors the opportunity to get to know first hand the Romanesque Pallars and the traditional world through various exhibitions. Also noteworthy is the Monnatura Pirineus nature center, run by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera. Located under the Tèssol de Son, the center organizes stays to enjoy nature guided activities.

Located at an altitude of 1,265 m, Sorpe is located on the right bank of the Noguera Pallaresa, on the road to the Port de la Bonaigua.

At the entrance of the village stands the old public school building, now converted into a social venue, a set of houses and the spacious Plaça Major, with the fountain. Sorpe is home to the parish church of Sant Pere, located at the north-eastern end of the village, in a very modified Romanesque style and which preserves inside the altarpiece of the same name, the oil and baptismal sinks, and the Romanesque carving of St. Peter presiding over the altar.

Regarding the natural heritage, the Gerdar Forest and the group of lakes and ponds of glacial origin of the Gerber stand out.

Sorpe is currently a Decentralized Municipal Entity.

València d’Àneu is located on a plateau to the right of the Bonaigua river. In the past, the town was called Mercat and was sheltered near the castle of València, the summer residence of the counts of Pallars. At the end of the 18th century, the village moved to its current location.

València d’Àneu was the center of the old municipality of the same name until its merger, in 1970, with the municipalities of Isil, Son and Sorpe, to become the municipality of Alt Àneu, with 193.79 km2 of extension, more than half of the surface of the Àneu territory.

From a heritage point of view, the castle stands out, a strategic fortification from the Middle Ages to the Civil War and the post-war period. For the last 30 years, the ‘Comtal’ Castle has undergone numerous excavation and restoration interventions. It is currently experiencing the full implementation of a master plan that will improve the infrastructure.

València d’Àneu is also home to the 13th century Romanesque parish church of Sant Andreu, declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest.

From a natural point of view, the village treasures the Bosc de la Mata, one of the most important fir trees in Europe and a true natural wonder at the foot of the Port de la Bonaigua.