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The Val d'Aran, a paradise for winter sports (I)

Winter competitions, five-star menu.

The year 2016 has begun full of sporting events taking place, week after week on the slopes of Baqueira Beret. For starter, the station has hosted many important competitions in January, including the 2nd Triathlon Ski CEVA and I Trophy AC Hotels – CAEI Masters, first race of the season of the Spain Masters Cup circuit in the Calendar RFEDI.

This competition took place during the celebration of the World Snow Day in the Val d’Aran which has been used there to raise awareness of skiing, with a promotion that has been extended to the entire month.

Also, BBB Ski Race Experience joined last weekend 262 skiers of all ages in the area of Beret, where they conducted a funny boardercross, a giant in Baqueira and a freeride in Bonaigua. Participants toured the new station areas, participating in the various tests that made them feel the most pleasant sensations.

And next weekend, we expected a new appointment, this time for younger, holding Montse Corominas Trophy, a race of alpine ski in the U14 category organized by the CEVA in the Beret Stadium.

On the other hand, sport continues attracting high-level skiers into the Valley. The Aran stations have welcomed the snowboard Spanish team which was training in Baqueira, a demonstration of the consolidation of the Val d’Aran as a tourist and sportive premier destination and, in particular, of Baqueira Beret as one of the best ski stations of the world.

The Marxa Beret in February, main course of the season

With the snow in perfect condition, there will come the 37th Marxa Beret, the most popular competition which this year takes place on 6 and 7 February. Lleida Provincial Council welcomed on Monday the presentation of the marxa, which this year takes place in conjunction with the European Nordic Ski Championships. It is expected the arrival at the Val d’Aran of between 1,400 and 1,500 athletes from around the world to participate in this exciting race.

On Saturday 6, the tests will take place in 15km, 30 km freestyle. Sunday 7th long distance test will be held in classical style, on a 10km, 21km and 42km circuits.

This test is for the European Championship Ski Marathons, that will win who get the computation of the two fastest times of the two distance events: the 30km (Saturday) and 42km (Sunday).

Keeping forces for dessert

And it still will be a few competitions until the end of the season, including Trofeo Audi – Era Baishada,an Alpine Ski Open race scheduled for February 20 and other tests scheduled for March as the Freeride Val d’Aran (5) or the Fundación Jesus Serra Trophy (12 and 13), on which we will inform promptly.

28 January, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present, Monographic 0

Cultural thematic tours in the Val d’Aran

Aran Culturau, cultural tourism service company in the Val d’Aran, organizes a permanent program of weekly visits that includes to two thematic tours guided by local experts, recognized as the first Aranese ecclesiastic heritage guides, thoroughly trained and informed about the territory and local history.

Route of Aran towns and stately homes

Walk adapted to all the public by the most representative towns of the Valley, qualified by some French guides as the most beautiful of the Pyrenees. The visit also includes information about traditional festivals, two of them –Arties and Les fire festivals– have been declared Intangible Heritage of UNESCO. The duration of the tour is 1-2 hours depending on the chosen place. The route takes place two days a week throughout the year, nowadays Tuesdays and Thursdays from 16:30 to 18’30.

Route of Aran churches, from Romanesque to Baroque

Tour through one of the most important concentrations of ecclesiastical heritage of Europe in km2 and styles: from the early Middle Ages to modern. It should be pointed, the two churches declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest, Santa Maria de Arties and la Purificación de Bossòst, and the exceptional pieces that have all, demanded, for their quality and conservation, for international exhibitions. The duration of the tour is 1-2 hours depending on the chosen place. The route takes place two days a week throughout the year, nowadays Wednesday and Saturday, from 16:30 to 18’30.

23 January, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Monographic 0

The Val d'Aran Intelligent accredited as Tourist Destination

On Thursday 21^st January, in the Feria Internacional del Turismo de Madrid, FITUR, the Val d’Aran will receive its recognition as Smart Destination (SD) by the addition to its present and future tourism model of the four competitive factors in the fields of innovation, technology, sustainability and accessibility.

In a process of analysis and diagnosis that started last June, the Sociedad Estatal para la Gestión de la Innovación y las Tecnologías Turísticas (SEGITTUR) identified these four variables that define a SD, after which he produced a recommendations report integrated the new Val d’Aran Tourism Plan 2016-2020 which will be presented to the tourism sector of the valley next February.

For the conselhèra de Turismo y Desarrollo Económico de Aran,, Anna Diaz, “A Smart Destination is an innovative destination, which works to consolidate its technology infrastructure, ensuring sustainable development of the territory and that facilitates interaction and integration with visitors and the environment increasing the quality of their experience. ”

In this regard, the accreditation as SD reaches the previous Val d’Aran Tourism Plan, through which it have developed different lines of work that have led it to obtain other certifications such as the sustainable destination Biosphere, granted by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council of the United Nations Foundation and its recognition as a finalist in the Destination Leadership awarded by the National Geographic Society and the ITB Berlin. “The Val d’Aran is moving towards a new model of tourism development based on the principles of sustainability, cultural diversity and social responsibility,” declared the conselhèra.

That of the Val d’Aran has been one of the pilot projects developed by SEGITTUR, whose report also sets out the sources of funding to facilitate the implementation of actions, from the Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Turismo on behalf of the Plan Nacional de Ciudades Inteligentes, Emprendetur and the FOMIT, as well as the European Union through the FEDER.

19 January, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

Snowboard Cross (SBX) Spanish team is training in the Val d’Aran

Foto: Conselh Generau d’Aran

Lalo Herrero, Regino Hernández and Lucas Egibar, Snowboard Cross (SBX) members of the Real Federación Española de Deportes de Invierno (RFEDI) Spanish Team, are training this week in the Snow Park of the Aranaise ski station, Baqueira Beret, together with the technicians Israel Planas and Gian Luca Trionte.

Athletes were received yesterday by the vicesíndic d’Aran and conselhèr of Sports, Luis Carlos Medina, and by the conselhèra de Tourisme and Economic Development of Aran, Anna Díaz. For representatives of Aranese government this is a demonstration of the consolidation of the Val d’Aran as a tourist / sports premier destination and, in particular, of Baqueira Beret as one of the best ski resorts in the world.

13 January, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

The World Snow Day in the Val d’Aran

Baqueira Beret ski station will carry out a full program of activities to celebrate the coming weekend the World Snow Day, with the aim of publicizing the various snow sports and encourage the start of practice. In this regard, the official school of the ski station, Era Escola, has scheduled several sessions of alpine ski in the newcomers ski area in Beret and regular skiers with a friend beginner will be rewarded. This promotion will be extended to the following weekends of January 23-24 and the 30-31.

Also on Saturday it will be held 16 the Open Baqueira, a free giant race for both adult and child categories and a competition of snowmen in Beret. In the afternoon there is provided a torchlight parade.

On the other hand, it has also organized a contest on social networks that will reward the most fun weekend images labelled under the hashtag #baqueiraworldsnowday.

I Trofeo Masters CAEI – AC Hotels

Coinciding with the World Snow Day will be held on 16 and 17 in Baqueira the first race of the season of the tour Copa de España de Másters on the calendar of the Real Federación Española de Deportes de Invierno (RFEDI). The Trofeo Masters CAEI – AC Hotels organized by the Club Aranés d’Espòrts d’Iuèrn (CAEI), is intended for skiers over 30 years.

The competition consists of a Giant Slalom on Saturday and Sunday for licensed veterans. It will also take place an Open on Saturday aimed at unlicensed masters. During the event will be set a village area with animations sponsored by AC Hotels.

12 January, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

The Val d'Aran will host the European Nordic Skiing Marathons Championship under the 37th Marxa Beret

The upcoming 6th and 7th February will be a new edition of the popular cross-country ski race organized by the Conselh Generau d’Aran, the Ayuntamiento de Naut Aran and Baqueira Beret. The 37ª Marxa Beret, is included in the calendar of the International Ski Federation (FIS) in the circuit Euroloppet (European Tour marches long distance), and counts for the Catalan Cup and the European Nordic Skiing Marathons Championship.

During the official presentation of the 2016 edition, the vicesindic d’Aran Luis Carlos Medina, said that by holding this international event “the Marxa Beret has become one of the most important skiing competitions in Europe and strengthens its internationalization because in this 37th edition will host participants from over 15 countries, among them skiers of Norway, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Austria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Switzerland, France and, of course, Spanish riders, Andorran, Catalan and Aranese, which makes skiers forecast between 1,300 and 1,400 competitors ”

To carry out the competition, they have definitively marked the 15Km and 30Km circuits for Saturday 6^th and circuits 10Km, 21Km and 42km for Sunday 7^th. In the European Nordic Skiing Marathons Championship, will win the skier who gets the best time in Skater on Saturday and 30Km and 42km in Classic on Sunday.

Registration for participating in the competition can be completed until February 2 through the website of the 37th Marxa Beret and on 5^th and 6^th February in Salardu.

Excellent organizational level

A human group of more than 230 people, composed Volentaris d’Aran, Catalan police, Pompiers d’Aran and the Aranés Welfare and Health Service, will participate in organizing the event. Also Torisme Val d’Aran, has set up in coordination with the organizers, an information service to provide participants access to accommodation, catering establishments and other services during their stay.

Parallel to the celebration of the Marxa Beret, which this year has a budget of € 120,000, will be also a new edition of the fair of sports equipment “Esport Nhèu” and an exhibition on the history of the different issues that can and visit from now in the Museu dera Nhèu of Unha.

7 January, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present, Monographic 0

Cavalcades of Magi in the Val d'Aran

Their Majesties the Magi will pass this afternoon by the main Val d’Aran villages. Check here the timetable.

Arties 19’00h

Baqueira 18’15h

Bossòst 17’30h

Gessa 19’00h

Les 18’00h

Salardú 18’00h

Vielha 18’15h

5 January, 2016 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

Christmas in the Val d'Aran

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.

24 December, 2015 dpt21 News, Blog, Monographic 0

Presentation of the ski mountaineering national team and the new Val d’Aran routes

The Conselh Generau d’Aran hosted yesterday the presentation of the ski mountaineering national team, which was attended by the World Champion Kilian Jornet and the technicians and other team members. During the ceremony there were announced the new ski mountaineering circuits of the Val d’Aran, marked by Baqueira Beret around the station, which will allow skiers start to acquire enough experience and confidence to go to the mountain, and that these professional athletes have tested over this week.

Oriol Duixans, coach of the national team ski mountaineering Baqueira welcomed the initiative stressing that in this sport on a growth path, “as a country we are a world power despite not having many snow” and thanked the Val d’Aran facilities for the training of the team “as we talked to some members, the Val d’Aran remains one of the snowiest places in Europe at the moment“.

In his speech, Kilian Jornet alluded to the good memories he have of the valley, where he won his first world championship, and highlighted the culture of snow and skiing here, that has led us to find solutions to ensure the future of the sport. “I’m just coming from the Alps and now there is more snow here in the Val d’Aran than there,” said the skier.

17 December, 2015 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0

The Cronoski Era Pujada scoring for the Copa de España

The next weekend will be a new edition of the Cronoski Era Pujada, mountain ski competition organized by the Mountaineering Club d’Aran. The race, in which collaborate the Conselh Generau and Torisme de la Val d’Aran, is scoring the Copa de España 2015 this year.

The Cronoski starts Saturday 19th at 12 noon in Beret and recovers the route of the first year, departing from the station of the chairlift Cloth der Os, where runners soar to the top of Dossau. Junior and cadet categories will depart from the station below of the chairlift Dossau.

Program and registrations –open until today Wednesday- are available at this link.

15 December, 2015 dpt21 News, Blog, Present 0