Along the bank of the Garona in the villages of Naut Aran
- Route: Gessa-Arties-Garòs-Arties-Gessa
- Difificulty: Low
- Type:Hiking
- Duration: 2h 30 min
Description:
This is a very pleasant hike even though it appears to be lengthy. Due to the variety of things to see the trip is made shorter. The marvellous villages that you will walk through are worth dedicating some extra time to visit because with or without monuments there isn’t a single village in the valley that doesn’t surprise the senses of the visitor. The first half of the trail which is sunnier than the return trail offers a large variety of vegetation spread out between the pastures with blackberry, hawthorne and blackthorne bushes. The return trail is also a delightful hike with the shade of the poplar, ash and maple tree forests where there is an abundance of boxwood, honeysuckles and wild strawberries.
Detailed Route:
Starting point is the Major square of Gessa. Go down along the street of the church until reaching the Corilha Ravine (1). Cross the bridge following the direction of the GR-211 in the direction of Arties. Don’t cross the C-28 road, but follow alongside it until reaching the San Joan church and then continue on the street which runs parallel to the C-28. Then connect to the dirt trail after passing the last houses and follow along with little elevation change until reaching Garòs. Take the Carrer deth Solei street until reaching the Major square and then take the first left on the Carrer de Poladeres street until crossing the C-28 road on a rock bridge over the Garona River. After the bridge you will be on the “Camin Reiau” or royal path and the GR-211-1. This trail goes up the other side of the river until reaching Arties having left behind you on the right hand side an old lime kiln and the ruins of the Arties Baths. You will cross the Valarties stream and on the left you will reach the Urtau square. Without crossing the river you will continue along on the Carrèr dera Mòla street until exiting the village. Continue straight ahead without crossing the bridge leaving the hydroelectric centre of Arties on the right. Go up a trail and after passing a house on the right the trail becomes an enchanting narrow trail (GR) until reaching the forest path Mont-Romies (3). The signs indicate a left turn to cross the Garona River and to go back towards Gessa along the Corilha ravine (4).
Elevation Change:
Recommendations:
The Romanesque church of Saint Mary, the Urtau Square, the monument and chapel dedicated to Don Gaspar de Portolà, the Sant Joan church where many interesting expositions are held and the bear enclosure adjacent to the squash courts are all of great interest in Arties. In the direction of Garos, a side trail will lead you to the Saint Jaime chapel. This visit could be an added attraction to the journey.
Curiosities:
Arties is the largest urban nucleus of Naut Aran (a territorial division) and is located at the intersection of the Garona and Valarties Rivers. Set in a beautiful valley overlooked by the majestic Montardo Mountain. Its peak reaches 2833 m. Although it is not the tallest peak in the valley, it is the most emblematic. In 1937 and in 1963 the Garona river flooded and took with it tree trunks, logs, trees and rocks as it caused significant damage to the village.
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