Baqueira-Beret Station
There is no greater reward for any skier than unbutton their boots after an intense day touring the white slopes.
For many, the best thing about this winter sport is, without a doubt, the so-called après-ski , the gastronomic offer, leisure and wellness available when we say goodbye to the station until the next day.
Due to its location in the Central Pyrenees and the quality of its snow, the Aran Valley is a privileged area surrounded by summits of more than 3,000 meters, extensive prairies and numerous lakes.
Their forests they are populated by fir, pine and beech trees, and creatures such as brown bears, chamois, capercaillies or white partridges live in them.
The more than 157 skiable kilometers of its 105 tracks make Baqueira-Beret one of the best stations in the world.
And here, when the ski day ends , begins a new world of activities for the whole family.
Municipality of Gausac, Lleida
SPORTS AND LEISURE
The snow gives a lot of itself, and being able to continue enjoying it is a pleasure. Dog sledding or mushing is an exciting and perfect activity for the whole family, available at different times (also at night) and excursions that range from 3 to 14 kilometers.
An experience that allows you to discover different routes through the beret forests , interact with huskies professionals and feel like in a true polar adventure.
Perhaps more romantic is the option of horse sleds on snow, wrapped in blankets and with a dreamlike landscape ahead.
The excursion promises to transport us to the Siberian landscapes of 'Doctor Zhivago' Through different paths of pines and firs where an overwhelming silence reigns.
Dog sledding in Montgarri
For the more adventurous, driving snowmobiles It is an essential proposal in which to experience speed, freedom and unforgettable sensations. In the safaris (more extensive) you can see deer, chamois, wild boar and roe deer.
And for a purer contact with nature, nothing like the snow rackets. Walking on white trails thanks to the different routes facilitated by Turismo de Arán becomes a special hiking challenge in which to enjoy beautiful calm landscapes and discover emblematic corners while playing sports.
Most of the excursions can be completed with different gastronomic possibilities such as tasting a Valley specialty menu in the charming refuge of the town of Montgarri.
The most adventurous will not be able to resist snowmobiling
RELAX
Water and health. There is nothing like immersing yourself in the sulphurous hot springs of the Arán Valley to relax your body, pamper your health and renew yourself.
These waters, which emanate 300 meters deep and reach a temperature of 30º, can be enjoyed in three outstanding enclaves: the Baronia de Les hot springs , the Banhs de Tredos spa and the Arties thermal pools.
In them, baths, fountains, jacuzzis, thermal circuits, hydrotherapy and mud therapy, hydroponic cures and other hydrothermal treatments and therapies They await us to provide relaxation, escape and deep well-being.
CULTURE
The artistic-cultural heritage del Valle consists of great wealth, and its conservation is one of the strengths of the personality and heritage of these lands of the Pyrenees.
All the Aranese towns make up a complete architectural unit with houses built in stone, wood and slate , and crowned with bucolic churches and hermitages of Romanesque and Gothic styles that provide beautiful snapshots when the snow arrives.
Sant Martin de Tours in Gausac, Sant Pèir dEscunhau or Santa Eulària dUnha These are just some of the more than thirty religious buildings that are well worth a visit. In them you can see works of art and other decorative elements dating from the twelfth and twelfth centuries.
There is also no shortage of museums in the towns of the Valley, such as the Unha Snow Museum and the Corral Museum in Bagergue , a project of the Moga family to publicize Aranese daily life and crafts .
The Aran Valley Museum, in Viella , which collects its history from prehistory to the present day.
Aran Valley Museum, in Viella
GASTRONOMY
Tradition, flavor and product are the keys to Aranese gastronomy, a cuisine that is based on delicious specialties from hunting and fishing of the area and that has a pinch of French influence.
Recipes of yesteryear that present delicious and forceful roe deer or wild boar stews , tasty grilled meats, pâtés and cheeses made in the Valley, calçots and other seasonal vegetables cooked on the fire, or the incomparable Aranese pot , the best spoon to put in your mouth after a hard day of skiing.
Some clues to taste these dishes are It was roasted (Casarilh) , House Rufus (Gesa) , All i Oli (Villa) , Hello (Bagergue) or House Tana (Arties) .
For a more informal visit, the skewers of House Urtau (Viella/Arties) or the croquettes with a glass of wine in Vielhito´s Bar (Vella).
And to finish off with a gin and tonic, nothing better than letting yourself be advised among the thousands of options that they keep in DeVins (Vella).
Urtau, with taverns in Arties, Viella and Bossost
As a novelty of the season, Salardú has just witnessed the opening of the restaurant Wellbourne , located in the old golf chalet and immersed in nature.
With Wellbourne, Aranese gastronomy joins the trend of offering a more modern and avant-garde cuisine without losing the traditional flavors and using local products.
It has three different environments. The charles packe room is dedicated to offering an innovative haute cuisine menu run by the chefs Ross Gibbens and James Goodyear.
It also has a casual space with uninterrupted kitchen, perfect for sharing dishes and portions at any time of the day and relax in front of the fireplace with a drink.
The private rooms (upstairs) are reserved for more intimate events or gatherings.
Lamb from the Pyrenees in its juice, black garlic and cabbage
WHERE TO SLEEP
Stay in the only five-star Grand Luxury mountain hotel that can be found throughout the Spanish territory has many advantages.
In addition to having 120 comfortable rooms decorated with alpine style and impeccable attention at all times, the après-ski you can enjoy as much or more without leaving the hotel itself.
So it happens in the Val de Neu , located in the 1,500 nucleus of Baqueira and with a spectacular panoramic view of the Aran Valley full.
Its gastronomic offer presents options for all tastes, from the Italian cuisine of the nonna , the irresistible the fondue , an international The forest and the carefree The Bistro.
When it comes to relaxing and pampering yourself a little after skiing, the Sisley's Spa It is a true luxury for the senses in which it is difficult to decide between one of its exclusive treatments.
To all this is added the Mini-Club with heated pool for the little children of home; its great lobby with fireplace , perfect for a relaxed meeting before or after dinner; exclusive services such as high-end cars available to guests of their suites; and an extensive catalog of options for skiers and their companions.
The Hotel Val de Neu spa, a luxury for the senses