Circular route from Gessa to Arties bordering the Garonne

This circular route is a pleasant walk that, although it may seem long, is made short by the variety of elements to see. The beautiful villages that we will visit deserve to dedicate some extra time, because with or without monuments, there is no town in the Aran Valley that does not surprise us. They are very entertaining, both the sunny way out, where between grass meadows we are accompanied by a vegetation of shrubs, with brambles, shepherd's cherry trees, thorn and blackthorn, and the one back, along the shady slope, between forests of poplars, ash trees or maples, where boxwood, honeysuckle and wild strawberries abound.

From Gessa to Arties

We start in the Plaza Mayor de Gessa from where we go down the church street to the Barranco de Corilha. We cross the bridge following the direction of the G-211 towards Arties. The path flanks the sunny slope parallel to the road that joins it at the entrance to Arties. Without crossing, we continue along the C-28 to the Church of San Juan.

We continue along the street parallel to the C-28, until we connect at the end of the houses with a dirt track, which without great slopes reaches Garòs. We continue along Calle deth Solei to Plaza Mayor and turn to the first left, along Calle de Poladeres until we cross the C-28 over the stone bridge over the Garona that leads to a forest track: "Camin Reiau" and G-211-1. We go up the other slope to the town of Arties, leaving on the right an old lime kiln and the ruins of the Baths of Arties.

Arties, between the Garonne and the Valarties

Arties is the largest nucleus of the Naut-Aran, located at the confluence of the Garonne and Valarties rivers, a beautiful valley dominated by the majestic Tuc de Montardo, 2,833 m, not the highest but the most representative of the Val d ' Aran. When the years 1937 and 1963 overflowed, the Valarties River showed its less friendly side, dragging logs, stones and trees and causing great damage to the population of Arties.

Once in Arties we recommend visiting the Romanesque Church of Santa María, Plaza Urtau, the monument and hermitage dedicated to Señor Gaspar de Portolà, the Church of San Juan, where interesting exhibitions are held, and the bear enclosure.

From the Camino de Garòs, a detour takes us to the hermitage of Santiago, your visit can be one more incentive.

Way back from Arties to Gessa

We cross the Arriu Valarties and on the left we arrive at Plaza Urtau. Without crossing the Garonne, we skirt along Calle dera Mòla until we leave the town.

We continue on, without crossing the bridge, on the right we have the Arties hydroelectric power station. We go up a track and, after passing a house on the right, the track becomes a charming path to the Mont-Romies forest track. The indicator leads to the left to cross the Garona River and go up to Gessa through the Corilha Ravine.