La Val d’Aran has its fourth Vila Florida this summer. Vilac, the first village we found at the exit of the mouth of the Vielha tunnel, has just obtained its certification. The location of the village is very good, at an altitude of 1,047 m to the right of the Garonne, 3 km from Vielha and 15 km from the ski resort of Baqueira Beret.
Located right in the middle of the valley, hence the saying : “S’era Val d’Aran seguuesse un ueu era vila de Vilac serie eth mijò deth ueu” which reads “Si la Vall d’Aran fos un ou, la vila de Vilac en fóra el rovell”. A Romanesque church from the 12th century with a bell tower (the only one in the valley) has the oldest bell in the Pyrenees and a very special bell ringing instrument.
The bell tower is one of the remains of an old castle, with a landscaped square (the former main square of the castle) and a spectacular view. The whole village is a balcony with magnificent views. Its streets are cobbled like typical Aranese constructions that perfectly unite the past and the present.
Bagergue, the others vila florida of the val d’Aran
Bagergue, Canejan and Arties, the three Aryan towns that are part of the Viles Florides project yet, promoted by the Confederation of Ornamental Horticulture of Catalonia (CHOC) with the support of the Catalan Tourism Agency, are once again flourishing with the arrival of spring. At present, 74 Catalan municipalities have already been awarded the “Vila florida” award in recognition of their work in improving the urban space.
The three Aranese towns have done a good job, both in the public spaces dependent on the consistory and in the private ones, for which they have obtained the involvement of the majority of the neighbours. Each in their own way, they have been planting flowers in the streets.
According to Marc Tarrau, Mayor of Bagergue, a pioneering Aranese town, “Viles Florides has been a driving force in the improvement of green spaces in Catalonia, an initiative that has motivated many towns and cities to improve their urban space. And also the improvement of the quality of life of the residents of the different municipalities that make up the Viles Florides movement. Transforming this movement into a tourist attraction for our towns is a primary objective, a seal of quality that serves as a magnet to attract more visitors. (Source: https://vilesflorides.cat/entrevista-marc-tarrau-alcalde-bagergue/ )
Bagergue is one of the few Catalan municipalities with four flowers of honour. The villa is filled with flowers that give life and color to the stones of the characteristic Aranese construction houses.
The highest village in the Val d’Aran, situated at an altitude of 1,419 metres, is characterised by its streets decorated with all kinds of flowers.
The enthusiasm and involvement of the neighbours in reading the beautification tasks stand out above all. In addition, last summer the “Route of the flowery spaces of Bagergue” was created. For the people the participation in this project has contributed to the increase of more than 50% of the tourist attraction.
Canejan, vila florida de la Val d’Aran
In March 2017, Canejan joined the Viles Florides project and at the end of the summer it was catalogued with a flower of honour. At 906 metres above sea level, it is the northernmost 
village in the Val d’Aran. High above the Val de Toran, it enjoys one of the best views of the whole Baish Aran. For the city council, being part of Viles Florides is another tourist attraction. “Viles Florides is one more step in the task we are carrying out so that visitors and neighbours can walk along clean, neat and flowery streets”, explains Noemí Lastera, councillor of Canejan City Council.
Arties, vila florida of the Val d’Aran
Arties is the third Aranese town to join the Viles Florides last year. The village is located at an altitude of 1,143 m, at the confluence of the river Valarties with the Garonne, in a small stretch of the valley. Arties has always devoted great attention to floral ornamentation and adorns its streets and gardens with different flowers, with the mobilization of the locals for the 
ornamentation of their houses, which earned him, in his first year in the project, the cataloguing of three flowers of honor. For David Torres, Mayor of Arties, joining the “Viles Florides” project aims to “encourage the neighbours and make them participate in the care and floral decoration of the village and private spaces”. The mayor believes that becoming a “vila florida” should also be a “tourist incentive” for the population.
honor flowers
The “viles florides” stand out for their real, conscious and long-lasting action in terms of landscaping, urban landscape and improving the quality of life of their citizens. Its cataloguing is decided by a jury specialized in nursery, gardening, landscaping, street furniture and other related fields.
The Flor d’Honor – ranging from one to five – is the recognition that certifies them as “vile florides”. Among the most highly valued aspects are the plant and landscape heritage, the resources allocated to its maintenance, the diversity of the region and the functionality of the green spaces, among others. It also takes into account respect for the environment and sustainability, as well as the social use of the environment and the synergies with tourism.