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Aquatic adventures in the Val d'Aran for this spring

Rafting is definitely the star activity of the Garonne River, allowing group fun descents in its mighty and swift waters.

Good prospects for water activities this spring in the Val d’Aran, thanks to good snow season that allows us to have excellent levels of water reserves. This is confirmed by the Valley ‘s companies of adventure sports, who have already started with the visits of school groups that combine the activities in the Garonne with snowshoeing in the Pla de Beret.

“The reserves after last fairs and promotions are increasing and everything suggests a great season,” says José Luis García, director of Camins. Certainly, any of these water adventures is a unique experience in contact with nature, where you can appreciate the strength and bravery of the Garonne and breath-taking sceneries along the entire route.

Rafting

Rafting is definitely the star activity of the Garonne River, allowing group fun descents in its mighty and swift waters after the thaw. Washed away, the crew control the course and direction with the help of oars. It is a sport of low difficulty suitable for all audiences that does not require special physical condition or previous knowledge.

Surfing Kayak

Everyday there are more supporters of the decline in air canoe, an activity that is done in individual pots or for two with monitor and that prints a higher speed fast. It is needed a mini pre-cours, in which the guide gives the basic instructions for a fun, exciting and safe descent at the same time.

Hidrospeed

Canyoning is an activity to be practised by all the family

This mode is particularly suitable for those who want a more sporting activity, with sleigh water, similar to snow. The navigator is alone against the white water in direct contact with the river, under the control of a guide. It will also necessitate a previous course.

Canoeing

It consists on navigate a canoe specially designed to maintain stability. Lush riparian forests surround the decline alternating calm and rough waters. Valley companies teach introductory and advanced courses, carried out progressively, adapted to each.

Canyoning

Canyoning is one of the most popular activities, halfway between aquatic and terrestrial. It develops in the tributaries of the river Garonne, such as Bausen canyon and the newly equipped canyons in the valley of Toran. Waterfalls, and waterslides delight young and old, so it is an activity that, like rafting, can be practised by all the family. To do canyoning is advised swimming and mountaineering skills and a prior preparation by the help of an instructor.

You can find more information on Valley companies that carry out these activities: Camins, specializing on canyoning and hiking, Deportur and Altisport.

Photos by Deportur

19 April, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Monographic 0

Toni Estany Memorial, a tribute to the photographer of dragonflies

The work of the Aranese photographer specializing in capturing images of dragonflies will be recognized this spring at the Toni Estany Memorial, an international event that includes an exhibition, a photo contest and odonatology Symposium.

The 33 species of dragonflies that live in the Val d’Aran, photographed by Toni Estany, star in the exhibition that opens today April 14 and will remain in the exhibition hall of Vielha until the 17^th of June. Grouped under the title “Libélulas en la Val d’Aran”, the 53 photographs, presented in various sizes and materials, illustrate the beauty and the colours of this so common insect in Aranese lands.

International competition

Coinciding with the exhibition, has been announced an international photography competition of odonatology, sponsored by El rincón de las libélulas, a Facebook group created by Toni Estany which already has more than 1500 members admirers of this insect. The event, reward the best photograph of dragonflies and the best photograph of dragonflies of the Val d’Aran, which must be submitted before the 30^th of June.

A jury integrated by representatives of associations, and photographers will assess the images, always on released dragonflies, for their quality, originality, difficulty and the affinity to the category. The awards ceremony will take place on July 17 in the exhibition hall of Vielha.

Check the rules and the entry form in this link

Presentations and journeys

Among the events of Memorial Toni Estany it is also scheduled to hold a symposium of odonatology, on 15, 16 and July 17 in Vielha, which will have ten speakers specialists in the photograph of this insect. Also during the event will be presented in the Val d’Aran the Atlas de libèl·lules de Catalunya and will be organized some journeys to show the dragonflies of the valley, some of them almost unique.

Toni Estany, fond of nature and the macro-photography, understood photography as a more graphic medium supplemented with drawing and painting, to illustrate this insect that fascinated him. His eagerness to seek out new copies of dragonfly, led him to identify three new species, thus contributing to their cataloguing.

14 April, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

Iron roads of the Val d'Aran, extreme challenges in secure environments

An iron road is a sport itinerary traced on a rocky massif equipped with wire, staples, steps and different elements to facilitate security. This is an aerial tour and occasionally athletic. To use these facilities you must be prepared physically and technically and follow the rules of use.

There are three iron roads with different routes and levels of difficulty in the Val d’Aran: Iron road of Les, Iron road of Poi d’Unha and Iron road of Cledes in Les, the latter newly opened this season.

Equipment

To access to the iron road you must wear helmet, harness, lanyard with sink approved for iron roads and gloves.

In addition, it is advisable to wear hiking boots and a backpack with water, mobile, first aid kit, headlamp, etc.

Recommendations

It is necessary to take into account the conditions of the mountain before climbing.

You must have insurance to cover own damages and those that may be caused to thirds.

It is recommended a training course in progression techniques and safety in iron roads.

Hiring the services of a mountain guide allows you to discover the pleasure of verticality in a safe way.

Iron road of Les

Itinerary

It is located in the municipality of Les (behind the camping Cauarca). It is accessed through the path that goes to the right, after about 100 meters after the campsite entrance. The return to the village of Les can be done by the way of Soberpèra, or the way dera Carraspa. Both have been especially recovered for having an easy access.

The total length of the facility is 450 meters, divided into two tracks: the lower only for experts, and thesuperior to all audiences. The tour also includes an 11 meters Tibetan bridge, with a drop of 200 meters. The total estimated time for the full itinerary is about 3 hours.

Although the Iron road is free, it is compulsory to wear special safety gear and have a certain technique, so it is an ideal activity to do it with a guide .

Information

Slope: 150 meters iron road

Route: 450 meters

Rise time: 3 hours

Lowering time: 1 hour

Difficulty first section:

medium-difficult

Difficulty second section:

Easy

Iron road Torre de Cledes

Itinerary

The first part exceeds the spectacular Tower Cledes and leads to the large terrace, level of initiation, with 35 meters long to the bridge. Then you enter the section of the vertical tower with abundant staples, very aerial, on the edge of the tower to reach the 8 meters Tibetan bridge. The bridge, with metal platforms on both sides for comfort, leads to a vertical wall. After a small decline, ascend a nice wall to a ledge of 0 meters long.

From the large terrace, is overcoming a vertical wall of 42 meters with varied and vertical steps, and a final ramp to the top of viewpoint.

Descent: From the viewpoint to the south there is a lifeline that leads to the marked way down.

Information

Slope: 80 meters iron road.

Approach: 2 minutes

Route: 125 meters

Length: 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Orientation: South West

Descent: 10 minutes.

Level: Initiation. K2 children from 110 cm height.

Poi d’Unha iron Road

Itinerary

The Poi d’Unha iron road has a distance of 800 meters and a total slope of 500 meters, so it is one of the longest in Spain. Among the main features of this facility there are several Tibetan bridges and a spiral staircase that makes it more attractive.

The iron road consists of three sections:

First section: About 150 meters long, mainly aimed at beginners in this activity, especially children.
Second section: In this section we find a vertical and a ladder that can be avoided through a variant. This section also has a 20 meters Tibetan bridge, which can also be avoided.
Third section: This section has a real wall with plaques and a 20 meters drop.

Approach and descent are marked orange and escapes blue.

The Poi d’Unha is at 2,221 meters altitude. From the top you can see the peaks of Maladeta and Aneto.

Information

Route: 775 meters

Elevation gain: 500 meters

South orientation

Approach: 25 minutes

Duration: 3 to 4 hours

Descent: 1 hour

Difficulty:

First section: initiation

Second section: Difficult

Third section: Difficult

Parking Unha. 1350 masl.

Information and reservations:

C amins del Pirineu

Deportur

5 April, 2016 dpt21 Blog, Monographic 0

Fishing season begins in the Val d'Aran

From Friday 1st April until the 31st August fishing is permitted in the Val d’Aran, according the Fishing Specific Plan approved by the Conselh d’Aran for the 2016 season. The activity can only be performed on sections of rivers authorized for this purpose.

As exceptions to these dates, the document mentions the high mountain lakes -where the season runs from May 29 to 30 September-; the controlled fishing area of Aiguamòg reservoir -from May 1 to September 25-; and the high mountain rivers -from 1 May to August 31- (Riu Malo, Ruda, Aiguamòg, Valarties, Noguera Pallaresa and Noguera Ribagorçana).

Preserves

The sections that do not appear in the list of controlled fishing areas in the Val d’Aran are considered forbidden. In addition, since the densities of trout after the flood of 2013 are not sufficient to allow fish farming, it is forbidden the section of the Garonne River in the municipality of Naut Aran. Fishing is also forbidden in areas of lakes and high mountain ponds and on the stretches of running water between different lakes.

Hooks and baits

The Plan expressly prohibits fishing with any species of fish dead or alive. Permitted baits can be artificial (spoons, nymphs, flies, fish or imitated animals) or natural (earthworms, honey, cover, cuques de riera, dragues, grasshoppers and adult flies). Is permitted the “arponet” but only can be used a single hook whose measurements can be from 1 to 10.

Captures

In order to preserve the fractions of reproductive age in the rivers, no minimum catch size is set. The maximum sizes, from which the fish must be returned to the river are: 30 cm on the Garonne, 22 cm in mountain rivers and tributaries, and without size in the lakes and reservoirs.

The maximum number of allowable catches per fisher per day is 3 in the Garonne, 5 in the mountainside tributaries and rivers and 12 in lakes and reservoirs. Capture is unlimited for the trout “Irisada”and the “salvelino”.

Controlled fishing areas in the Val d’Aran

31 March, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

Val d'Aran near to full occupancy last Easter

Anna Díaz, Conselhera of Tourism of Val d’Aran

Hotel occupancy in the Val d’Aran has reached last Easter rates close to 95% as declared the conselhera of Tourism of the Conselh Generau d’Aran, in the yesterday press conference. Anna Diaz highlighted the good occupancy of all the hotels in the valley, including rural tourism and campsites. The highest rates were in the establishments closest to the ski resort of Baqueira Beret, which said thay they have sold about 100,000 forfaits during the last Easter holidays.

According to Anna Diaz good weather and the promptness of Easter have influenced the choice of the Pyrenees as a destination. Visitors were able to perform all kinds of activities, from skiing to hiking through the different mountain routes, with open access to Artiga Lin and Bassa d’Oles, besides practicing all types of adventure sports.

For the whole winter season the valuation it is highly positive. The conselhera said that it began well, with snowfalls in November that allowed a good starting and followed by a good Christmas. Besides an excellent Easter, February was especially good, with visitors from France, thanks to the good work done from the new tourist office in Toulouse open together with Baqueira Beret, and a significant increase of British tourists, but she stressed that the main Val d’Aran visitors remains Catalan, followed by them from Madrid and País Vasco.

The Tour de France in summer

During his appearance, Anna Diaz explained that now the Torisme Val d’Aran team’s effort is focusing on promoting stage of the Tour de France that Val d’Aran is hosting next July 10. In this regard, he noted with appreciation that many of the tourists who have visited us at Easter, “have already chosen the activities related to the cycle tourism, an activity that we want to empower from now. “

30 March, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

Easter in Val d'Aran, disconnect and have fun

Excellent choice for a Easter holiday, the Val d’Aran offers a unique environment that allows you to enjoy moments for everything: from disconnection and silence in places of great beauty and charming like Romanesque churches that invite you to the contemplation and meditation, to the most extreme adventure in mountains, canyons and rivers.

The destination is ideal for a family visit, with multiple sports activities for children in touch with nature, and other cultural and recreational proposals in the museums and villages of the valley. And all this without forgetting that the Val d’Aran has an excellent commercial and gastronomic offer for all tastes.

Children activities

Children will not have time to get bored with the many distractions especially addressed to them. Fun in the playgrounds of Baqueira or learn in the ski schools, meet our bears Ben and Luna and the lovely animals of the wildlife park Aran Park, the exciting adventures in Naturaran or to spend a pleasant afternoon skating on the Palai de Gèu. In addition, under the festival Pyrenades

there are organized various workshops for children and an introductory course in mountaineering.

Snow activities

You are still in time to take advantage of the last days of the hibernal season on the slopes of Baqueira Beret, practicing skiing, snowboarding or any other of the many snow activities performed in the station. Leisure sports centers of the valley have also prepared you nice outings with snowshoes or free ski to discover the remotest places.

Nature

The best way to discover the natural environment of the Val d’Aran are the excursions, whether hiking and cycling, as well as moturismo, routes by car or even by horse. The Tourist offices of the valley have updated information on the tracks and open access in every season information, they propose a. ppropriate options to the preferences and needs of visitors and advise on companies of specialized guides that help to know the territory to go out in a safer way.

Adventure

With the arrival of the first school groups, before the start of the Easter holidays began in the Val d’Aran a a new season of adventure sports: rafting, hydrospeed or Naturaran adventure park are some of the options, although Deportur and Camins, companies that are responsible for implementing them, will propose you many more.

The most intrepid ask for strong emotions as Vias ferratas. In the Val d’Aran there are three routes of different levels of difficulty: Via Ferrata de Les, Via Ferrata Poi d’Unha and Via ferrata Cledes (Les), the latter newly opened this season.

Culture

You will love the visits to the villages in the valley, each with its church, some real treasures, both for its architectural quality as paintings or sculptural that we found inside, an artistic legacy of great variety and exceptional richness. We encourage you to discover them through Cultural thematic routes of the Val d’Aran.

We also advise to profit the last days of the temporary exhibition Umans e Natura in Santa Maria de Arties and visit the Museum of the Val d’Aran and the Musèu dera Nhèu, a thematic center unique in Europe.

Also these days is celebrated in the Val d’Aran the Pyrenades Festival, an event on Pyreneism offering a full program of walks, conferences, screenings, exhibitions and music for all audiences.

Traditions, trade and gastronomy

The followers of the Easter traditions cannot miss Bossòst processions, the only village in the valley that has genuinely preserved them. They take place on Good Friday and Easter Sunday and have become a great tourist and cultural interest of the town.

In addition, Bossòst and Arties organize this days a craft market with typical local products. We recommend you to try the elaborations of marca de garantía Val d’Aran and, of course!, the cuisine of the Aranese restaurants.

And do not forget to spend an afternoon in Vielha, walking through its lively streets with good shopping offer and to stop in its charming corners with history. And one last tip: finish the visit with a pintxos route through the town, they’re really delicious and original!

23 March, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

Final de la Copa del Mundo SBX en la Val d’Aran, ¡comienza el espectáculo!

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Componentes del equipo de la RFEDI

Esta mañana tienen lugar en Baqueira Beret los entrenamientos previos a la Final de la Copa del Mundo SBX que se celebra este fin de semana en la Val d’Aran. Los primeros corredores llegados a la estación aranesa estuvieron ayer conociendo las instalaciones, entre ellos los riders del equipo de la Real Federación Española de Deportes de Invierno (RFEDI) con el favorito, Lucas Eguibar, ganador de la temporada 2014-2015.

Durante esta semana el equipo técnico de la Federación Internacional de Esquí (FIS) junto con el personal de la estación, han estado trabajando en el espectacular trazado que acogerá el evento, localizado en la pista Boardercross, estrenada este invierno en la zona del Blanhiblar en el área de Beret. Desde la FIS se ha destacado la excelente calidad de la nieve en Baqueira, comparable a la de las mejores estaciones del mundo, y en especial la gran cantidad de nieve natural, que aporta firmeza al terreno habiéndose logrado un circuito de primera categoría.

Por su espectacularidad, la Copa del Mundo de Snowboard Cross FIS 2016 es uno de los acontecimientos más esperados por los amantes del deporte de invierno. Todos ellos, podrán seguir las finales el domingo, retransmitidas desde Baqueira por Eurosport y Teledeporte a partir de las 12.30h. Para el vicesíndic de Aran y conselhèr de Deportes, Luis Carlos Medina, “la final de este campeonato es una gran oportunidad para dar a conocer al mundo Baqueira Beret y toda la Val d’Aran”.

Autobuses hasta Beret

Para facilitar los desplazamientos a las pistas, la organización del Campeonato ha puesto en funcionamiento un servicio de autobuses hasta el Pla de Beret los días 19 y 20 de marzo. El servicio tiene conexión en Baqueira con las rutas del transporte interno de la Val d’Aran.

El espectacular trazado que acogerá el evento, localizado en la pista Boardercross.

Horarios:

Sábado, 19 de marzo

Baqueira – Beret 8:30 horas

Baqueira – Beret 9:30 horas

Beret – Baqueira 15:00 horas

Domingo, 20 de marzo

Baqueira – Beret 10:30 horas

Baqueira – Beret 11:30 horas

Beret – Baqueira 15:00 horas

Animación en el village

Diversas actividades lúdicas, culturales y gastronómicas, acompañarán a la competición durante todo el fin de semana para disfrutar de una auténtica fiesta. El village instalado a pie de pistas ofrecerá animaciones, degustaciones de productos de la marca de garantía Val d’Aran y los platos típicos de la cocina aranesa. También se aprovechará para dar a conocer el inigualable entorno que rodea la estación: la belleza del paisaje, la riqueza del patrimonio románico y las exquisiteces de su gastronomía, así como las múltiples y atractivas opciones para el après-ski.

Asimismo, coincidiendo con la final de la Copa del Mundo de snowboard el sábado tendrá lugar una nueva edición de Era Olhada en la borda Lobató de Baqueira, en la que los mejores cocineros del valle elaborarán su propia versión del plato más tradicional, la olha aranesa. Por otro lado, desde el 14 al 20 de marzo tiene lugar en el valle la Semana del Caviar para degustar esta joya de la gastronomía aranesa con los menús que ofrecen ocho de los mejores restaurantes de la comarca.

Y para poner punto final al acontecimiento, el domingo a partir de las 14:30 en el Village se celebrará la fiesta de clausura con un DJ invitado y ¡otras muchas sorpresas!

Programa:

Viernes 18 de marzo

Mañana: Entrenamiento en el trazado

Sábado 19 de marzo

9.30 a 14.40 mangas de reconocimiento y 2 mangas clasificatorias para las finales del domingo

Village Meta: abierto durante el mismo horario de carrera

Domingo 20 de marzo

10.45 a 12.25 reconocimiento y entrenamiento

12.45 a 14.05 Mangas eliminatorias y finales

Village meta: abierto durante el mismo horario de carrera

14.30 a 17 h Fiesta de Clausura en el Village Meta.

18 March, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present, Snow 0

Pyrenades 2016, a festival to enjoy Easter in the Val d'Aran

A new edition of Pyrenades festival, held during the Holy Week in Val d’Aran, will offer, from Saturday 19 until Sunday 26 of March, a full and entertaining program. During these days on Pyreneism walks, lectures, films, music and exhibitions for the general public are proposed.

Carlos Barrera, Síndic d’Aran, Cesar Ruiz, Mayor of Naut Aran and Manel Rocher, director of Pyrenades, will open the festival on Saturday 19th at 18: 30h in the Pyrenmuseu room, where the first conference will take place, “La muntanya i la vida” by Victor Riverola, followed by a panel discussion and the screening of the film “Aguestes Montanhes“.

Throughout the week there will be different activities, among them talks related to the Pyrenean landscape and fauna; walks by idyllic landscapes of the Valley as Baciver lakes, the banks of Unhola or the Aneto’s balcony, plus a walking tour through Vielha; the VI Mostra de cinema de muntanya, with various projections; and games, music and workshops, and a introductory course to mountaineering for children.

Also, you can attend the final days of the exhibition “Umans e natura, trobades inesperades” open until March 30, and guided visits to aranés architectural and pictorial heritage in the churches of Santa Maria d’Arties, Santa Eulalia de Unha and Sant Andreu de Salardú. The closing party, that will take place on Saturday 26 in Pyrenmuseu, will feature a musical performance by ALIDE Sans, one of the emerging voices of the aranese song.

Since its first edition in 2011, Pyrenades has become an excellent option to enjoy Easter in the Val d’Aran with family and friends, contact with nature and enjoying an extensive program of free activities. A PyrenMuseu initiative -the Museum of pirineisme in Salardú-, the festival is organized together with the municipality of Naut Aran and with the support of Torisme Val d’Aran, de l’Idapa and the Conselh Generau d’Aran, plus the collaboration of other organizations in the Valley.

Access the Pyrenades full program

17 March, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

New season in Aran Park

The wildlife park of the Val d’Aran starts the 2016 season on Saturday March 19, opening uninterruptedly until 1 November. Aran Park announce a lovely surprise that one of the animals has prepared for the visitors this year and that certainly will enchant small and older.

The tour runs along a two-hour route where you can see fourteen different species of animals, with a total of more than a hundred animals, both mammals and birds, in semi-freedom (bears, lynx, chamois, marmots, white wolves, deer, owls…).

The park offers a sense of closeness and freedom and it allows observing animals in their own habitat, as well as discovering the forests of the environment. It also has a picnic area open holidays outfitted with a snack bar.

In operation since 2013, Aran Park with an area of twenty hectares, is located on the slopes of Puerto del Portillon, between the Val d’Aran and Bagnères de Luchon. The park, which has increasingly greater wealth of animals, hopes to become a place where visitors can better understand the nature and wildlife around us.

Timetable

9:30 to 18 pm. Extended until 19h the months of July and August.

16 March, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

Presentación en la Val d’Aran de la final de la Copa del Mundo de Snowboard Cross FIS 2016

La última prueba de la Copa del Mundo de snowboard cross FIS, que se celebrará el próximo fin de semana en la estación aranesa de Baqueira Beret, ha sido presentada hoy en Vielha en un acto presidido por el vicesindic de Aran et conselhèr de Deportes, Luis Carlos Medina, el presidente de la Real Federación Española Deportes de Invierno (RFEDI), May Peus España, el director comercial de Baqueira Beret, Xavi Ubeira, y el director gerente de Baqueira Beret, Francis Coll.

La celebración de este evento internacional de primer nivel, refuerza el papel de la Val d’Aran como uno de los principales destinos turístico deportivos de invierno de Europa. En estos términos se ha expresado el vicesíndic quien ha asegurado que “la final de este campeonato es una gran oportunidad para dar a conocer Baqueira Beret y toda la Val d’Aran en países en los cuales de otra manera no sería posible”.

Por su espectacularidad, la Copa del Mundo de Snowboard Cross FIS 2016 es uno de los acontecimientos más esperados por los amantes del deporte de invierno. A Baqueira llegarán los mejores del circuito, tanto hombres como mujeres, entre ellos el deportista español de la RFEDI Lucas Eguibar ganador de la temporada 2014-2015.

Animación en el village

Y para poner punto final al acontecimiento, el domingo a partir de las 14:30 en el Village se celebrará la fiesta de clausura con un DJ invitado y ¡otras muchas sorpresas!

Programa:

Viernes 18 de marzo

Mañana: Entrenamiento en el trazado

Sábado 19 de marzo

9.30 a 14.40 mangas de reconocimiento y 2 mangas clasificatorias para las finales del domingo

Village Meta: abierto durante el mismo horario de carrera

Domingo 20 de marzo

10.45 a 12.25 reconocimiento y entrenamiento

12.45 a 14.05 Mangas eliminatorias y finales

Village meta: abierto durante el mismo horario de carrera

14.30 a 17 h Fiesta de Clausura en el Village Meta.

14 March, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present, Snow 0