6 villages that reveal hidden histories in the Pyrenees of Catalonia

The Pyrenees of Catalonia — the granite mountain range in northeastern Spain that separates the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe — is perhaps best known for its winter sports. But beyond the major ski resorts of Baqueira Beret and Boí Taüll, the Catalan Pyrenees are home to dozens of historic medieval villages, where farmers herd free-roaming cattle, cheesemakers churn goats' milk by hand, and families cure meats and harvest honey just as their ancestors did centuries ago.

Surrounding Catalonia’s charming villages are six natural parks, as well as the Aigüestortes i Estanyde Sant Maurici National Park, formed of glacial lakes, lush forests and summits of over 10,000 feet. Together, these parks offer over 620 miles of marked trails and endless opportunities to explore Catalonia’s storied landscapes and historic villages year-round.

1. Arties

Best for: Aranese cuisine, hot springs and alpine hikes

Arties is a Roman village built on the banks of the Valarties and Garonne rivers in the densely forested Aran Valley. Unlike other valleys in the Catalan Pyrenees, which sit in the south and face the Mediterranean, Val d'Aran is located on the Atlantic side of the mountains, giving the area a distinct cultural identity. Across the region, locals mainly speak Aranese, one of the three official languages in Catalonia alongside Catalan and Spanish, and its villages, such as Arties, are made up of stone and slate houses, 12th-century Romanesque churches and restaurants serving local dishes such as olha Aranesa, a slow-cooked stew made with black pudding, meatballs, potatoes and noodles.

For hikers, a beautiful trail runs from Arties to the glacial lakes of Era Restanca and Lac de Mar at the foot of the Besiberri Nord peak. The village also has a protected park with two thermal swimming pools next to Banhs d’Arties, where the ancient Romans once bathed.

2. Castellar de n'Hug

Best for: medieval churches and 20th-century railways

Castellar de n'Hug dates back to 839, when it was first recorded at the Cathedral of Urgell in Lleida. This highland town, located on the south side of the Pyrenees in Berguedà, sits on the fringes of Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, where there are more than 250 miles of marked trails, including the GR-4, GR-7 and GR-107. This is also where the Llobregat River begins; in spring, meltwater gushes from the nearby peaks Puigllançada and Tosa d'Alp.

Castellar de n'Hug was at its most prosperous in the medieval period, a history that is woven into its cobbled streets, dry-stone walls and beautifully preserved Romanesque churches. To trace its more recent industrial heritage, check out the Cement Museum Asland and the ancient Cement's train — a 20^th-century railway, which, until 1963, transported cement and coal from Castellar de n'Hug to Guardiola de Berguedà, and now operates as a train for tourists.

3. Taüll

Best for: stargazing, cheese-making and ancient fire festivals

Located in Vall de Boí, Taüll is best known for its 12^th-century Romanesque church, Sant Climent de Taüll, which has a beautifully preserved six-storey bell tower, and Formatgeria Taüll, the village cheese shop, which produces some of Catalonia’s finest goats’ cheese. For outdoor enthusiasts, the biggest draw is Aigüestortes. Catalonia’s only national park, Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici Lake National Park is home to around 200 lakes, dozens of waterfalls and countless hiking, biking and climbing routes. 

The park is also a UNESCO Starlight Reserve and one of the best stargazing locations in Europe. Sant Quirc de Durro, a stargazing viewpoint eight miles southwest of the village, has an astronomical table to help astrophiles identify stars and constellations. A particularly good time to visit is the third weekend of July, when Taüll celebrates Falles del Pirineu, an ancient fire ritual that marks the summer solstice by descending the mountains with hundreds of flaming torches.

4. Santa Pau

Best for: volcano hikes and hot air balloon rides

Located in the volcano-studded municipality of La Garrotxa, Santa Pau is best known for its hilltop 13^th-century castle, built by one of the most important baronial families of the Girona region. The town's medieval centre, which was used to buy and sell cattle for centuries, has a 15^th-century gothic church and a variety of family-run restaurants serving fresh yoghurt with honey, cured meats, butifarra sausage and buttery white beans grown exclusively in the region of La Garrotxa.

Surrounding Santa Pau is the Garrotxa Volcanic Area Natural Park, where visitors can hike the ancient dormant volcanoes of Santa Margarida, Montsacopa and Croscat, the largest on the Iberian Peninsula. For an aerial view of all three volcanoes, as well as the Montserrat mountain range near Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea on clear days, take to the sky on a hot air balloon ride with Vol de Coloms. 

5. Beget

Best for: stepping back in time

The medieval village of Beget in Camprodon, which had no tarmacked road until 1983, was once one of Catalonia’s most isolated villages. Today, only a handful of families live here year-round. It remains one of the best examples of a 12^th-century Pyrenean village: clusters of stone and clay-roofed houses, separated by the Llierca River, are connected by 14^th-century stone bridges just wide enough for a horse. The houses, the oldest of which are made with lime mortar and mud mortar, still have copper piping and wooden balconies hand-carved by local artisans.

The village is surrounded by green pastures dotted with grazing cattle, and lush forests flowing with crystalline rivers and natural pools. The latter makes for the perfect wild swimming spot in the summer. What’s more, Beget is connected to the charming Pyrenean towns of Olot, Prats de Molló and Setcases via the GR-11 and GR-83 hiking routes, making it a brilliant base for long-distance treks, biking and horseback riding.

6. Llançà 

Best for: quiet beaches, fresh seafood and coastal walks

The fishing village of Llançà, just 12 miles from the French border on Catalonia’s Costa Brava, was first founded under the Roman name of Danciana in 218 BCE. While little remains of its ancient past, a Romanesque tower dating between the 13th and 14th centuries and the Church of Sant Vicenç, built during the town’s wine and olive oil boom in the 18th century, still stand in Llançà’s picturesque centre.

The village’s tranquil beaches and fresh-off-the-boat seafood are among its largest draws. There are several strips of sand to choose from along Llançà’s four-mile coastline, from the wide, sandy shores of Platja del Port and Platja de Grifeu to small, rocky coves like Platja de la Gola. Inland, Cap de Creus Natural Park and Albera Massif protected area offer Pyrenean hikes — the highest ascents can be found on Monte Neulós (1,257 metres) and Monte de los Pastors (1,167 metres) — overlooking the Mediterranean.