Glacial valley landscape high up in the mountain - Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley 1160
What and Why
The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley (Catalan: Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror) is a glacial valley in Andorra. The isolated valley is recognised as a haven for rare or endangered wildlife, and the undeveloped valley has recently been considered to be the spiritual heart of Andorra. The settlement areas are surrounded by terraced fields, which were used to grow wheat and rye but now mostly for grazing. The area is a symbiosis between agricultural, stock breeding, and iron and steel interests, also produced charcoal as part of their communal industry. The region is culturally rich and is a living showcase of glacial economy and industry, although most of this is not that visible and well preserved.
Toponymy
Andorra la Vella means Andorra the Town in Catalan. Madriu derives from Mare del Riu in Catalan, meaning 'mother of the river'. Perafita comes from the Latin words petra-fictitious which means milestone. Claror means bright in Latin.
See
Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley (Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror)
The area is actually huge, to the effect that officially it occupies 9% of the mountainous country. The area offers great hiking and climbing possibilities and one can enjoy a wonderful landscape. We took the route from the entrance at Escaldes-Engordany and spent two hours hiking to Lake Engolasters.
It is not easy to witness remnants of the iron smelting or charcoal industry as they were deep inside the valley although this can similarly be accessed from Escaldes-Engordany along the so-called Iron Routes. Along this route, a Catalan-style forge operated in the upper part of the valley in the late 18th century CE, although very little trace of the iron industry is left to be seen.
Andorra la Vella
Andorra la Vella is a very simple provincial town by European standards. It is not very dense and one can have a very pleasant and enjoyable stroll around the town, which honestly is not very big. One of the main landmark is the stone-towered Saint Stephen's Church (Església de Sant Esteve) which is a church built in the 11th century CE. The town square is a surprisingly peaceful and modern place with a panoramic view of the valley.
Buy and Do
While there is no special products from Andorra, Andorra is a tax haven and is an excellent shoppers-paradise for high-end or luxury products like jewelleries, watches and electronic goods.
Eat and Drink
Catalan cuisine (Cuina catalana)
Andorran cuisine is effectively Catalan cuisine, and there are a number of national specialty dish that deserves a try. The main national dish is escudella, which literally means bowl in Catalan, is a hearty stew of beans, meat and vegetables.
We had a very good lunch at a very traditional restaurant El Crostó, which is near Saint Stephen's Church.
Getting There and Around
To reach the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, there is no way other than to hike. The best way to start from the entrance from Escaldes-Engordany. We drove all the way from Toulouse to reach Andorra la Vella and the 2.5-hour route, especially crossing the border on the top of Pyrennees (French: Pyrénées) is truly breathtaking.
UNESCO Inscription
The cultural landscape of Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley offers a microcosmic perspective of the way people have harvested the resources of the high Pyrenees over millennia. Its dramatic glacial landscapes of craggy cliffs and glaciers, with high open pastures and steep wooded valleys, covers an area of 4,247 ha, 9% of the total area of the principality. It reflects past changes in climate, economic fortune and social systems, as well as the persistence of pastoralism and a strong mountain culture, notably the survival of a communal land-ownership system dating back to the 13th century. The site features houses, notably summer settlements, terraced fields, stone tracks and evidence of iron smelting.
References
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