The Val d’Aran has all the ingredients to celebrate a Christmas full of illusions: crib villages, churches with history, recovered Christmas traditions … All this combined with the best of sports, -with the unique conditions and activities of the ski resort Baqueira Beret-, cultural, commercial and gastronomic offer of the Valley itself, adapted to the tastes and interests of our visitors.
Skiing and snow activities in Baqueira Beret
The station, one of the snowiest destinations in Europe right now, plans to open during the holidays 80 slopes with 130 skiable kilometers open in three areas: Baqueira, Beret and Bonaigua. It also provides live information about the weather conditions and the state of the tracks, expandable with the Meteoaran and the Avalanche Center of Conselh informations.
Baqueira offers many snow activities: snowshoeing, sledding with dogs or horses, snowmobiles. New for this winter season 2015-2016 are the ski mountain routes around the station. This hobby allows access to the most beautiful corners of the valley so, although its practice is carried out usually in wild mountain, this circuit is a prelude to skiers acquire enough experience and safety.
And after sport, l’Après Ski, with all services fully operational in Baqueira Beret, including Baqueira Ski Service, stores and restaurants of the station. During these Christmas events like the arrival of Santa Claus, the spectacular descent with torches at night New Year’s Eve, the New Year Charity concert and procession of the Magi will also be held.
Culture, history and tradition
All Val d’Aran has been decked for Christmas and are really nice walks through the decorated villages visiting its Romanesque churches, with guided tours such as them in Santa Maria d’Arties on 30 December and January 6. There you can visit the exhibition Umans et Natura, production that reflects the relationship over time between man and Aranese land.
Must visit the museums of the Val d’Aran, which preserve documents in their rooms and unique items that help to understand the idiosyncrasy of Aran land and its people.
For everybody
This Christmas days is open the III Parc de Nadau in the Palai d’Esports de Vielha with different activities to entertain all afternoon, just off the Palai de Geu, where you can enjoy ice-skating.
And lovers of tradition have the party “Era soca de Nadau” in Les, a custom recovered celebrated on December 24 in the Plaça de l’Església. Is the burning of a huge trunk to the sound of bells ringing, whereupon Midnight Mass is celebrated and hot chocolate, coca and Muscatel is served while Es Corbilhuèrs group sings.
From 27 to 29 is held in Arties the Mercat de Nadau, an interesting display of Aran crafts and typical products of our cuisine. Speaking of eating, visitors can not fail to try the genuine Aran cooking, especially the Olha Aranesa.