The highest village in the valley: traditions and dreamy landscapes (EN)

Hormatges Tarrau was born from the effort and enthusiasm of two brothers who live in Bagergue, the highest village in the Val d'Aran at an altitude of 1,419 meters. After months of preparation, we managed to found the artisan cheese factory located at the highest altitude in the Pyrenees. Our dream was to recover the authentic Aranese cheese, and thanks to the excellent cow's milk from the pastures of the Lleida Pyrenees, we have achieved it. Tradition, territory and quality merge in each of our pieces.

Of primitive Romanesque origin, the parish of Sant Feliu has been reformed on several occasions, being enlarged in 1524. The west doorway has three archivolts in degradation, topped by a dust cap with checkered molding. The bell tower is a square tower with a pyramidal roof. The nave, which had a barrel vault, preserves former arches and lateral chapels. The altar's altar, a decorated pre-Romanesque block, and a Renaissance image of the Virgin in a chapel of the presbytery, an object of special devotion, stand out.

The Museu Eth Corrau, located in Bagergue, was inaugurated in 1999 by the Moga family with the purpose of preserving and making known the traditional daily life of the Aran Valley. Housed in an old rustic farmyard, it preserves its authenticity and essence intact. Inside, more than 2,500 pieces are exhibited, many of them with several centuries of history, which faithfully reflect the customs, trades, tools and ancestral crafts of the Aranese culture. A unique space that invites you to discover the soul of a valley with deep Pyrenean roots.

The route begins in the historic center of Bagergue, included in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia. A charming mountain village adorned with flowers, where you can perceive the involvement of the neighbors in beautifying every corner. The route, short, easy and without significant slopes, ends at the hermitage of Santa Margalida, a small temple full of charm, located in a bucolic setting that invites calm and contemplation of the landscape. Ideal for a short getaway with Pyrenean essence.

This hermitage stands out for its architectural simplicity, with stone walls and a gabled roof that blends perfectly into the mountainous landscape. In addition, the feast of Santa Margarida is still celebrated in the area, reinforcing the link between tradition and the local community.

Bagergue, which recently joined the Viles Florides project, is one of the five Catalan municipalities distinguished with four Flowers of Honor. Its streets are filled with color and life thanks to the abundance of flowers that adorn the stone facades of its houses of Aranese architecture. This year 20 new planters were added and there are plans to integrate vegetation into the wall at the entrance to the village. Neighborhood involvement is key to the beautification. The new "Route of the Flowered Spaces" and a contest on Instagram have boosted tourism by 22% over the previous year.