Who loves nature and the classic Christmas atmospheres, those of snow-covered landscapes, wooden huts, and lit fireplaces, cannot miss these destinations in Catalonia, enchanted places where no imagination is needed to picture oneself at the North Pole, just a few steps from Santa Claus’s house.
1 Unha, the Christmas town in the Val D’Aran
Thirty-three villages surrounded by mountains are part of the Val d’Aran, where stone, wood, and slate are the ingredients of architecture that characterizes all the homes. In winter, with snow and decorations, these villages become perfect Christmas villages. One of the best preserved is Unha, which overlooks the valley, the glacier, and the peaks of Maladeta. Worth visiting is the Romanesque church of Santa Eulàlia, with its octagonal bell tower, and the Snow Museum, located in the Çò de Brastet building, the Castle of Unha.
2 The Gerdar forest
In the municipality of Alt Àneu, in Pallars Sobirà, there is an entire forest of Christmas trees: the Gerdar forest. This natural park is part of the large forest of Valencia d’Àneu and is the largest and best-preserved fir forest in Catalonia. A circular hike allows you to immerse yourself among these suggestive giants, enveloped in silence, with the snow muffling all sounds. In the area, you can stay at the Gerdar refuge or at the Els Avets hotel.
3 Mushing trip
Mushing is the term that indicates excursions with sled dogs, often associated with travel in Arctic areas. In Catalonia there are places where you can experience a mushing trip, racing among tall trees and endless white expanses. In Val D’Aran, for example, the company Montgarri Outdoor offers sled tours with various options: seated comfortably on a sled pulled by 14 northern dogs, in pairs, with friends, or with family; or in a single sled. Participants arrive at the Montgarri refuge, where they are awaited by an Olha Aranesa, a typical local soup, to be eaten seated in front of a crackling fire. There is also the possibility of a night trip – only when there is a full moon – for an even more suggestive experience.
Another option is to visit the Arp refuge, in the Nordic ski area of Tuixent – la Vansa, where there is the Cau de Llops, a space dedicated to sled dog excursions, the Siberian Huskies, which are used to run the sleds on the snow. A visit to the breeding center shows how much these dogs are cared for and loved by their owners.
4 Beget, the nativity town
Beget is one of the most picturesque and “Christmas” towns in Catalonia. Every corner of this town in Ripollès seems to have been made to be part of a traditional nativity scene and is perfect for a Christmas photo. There is the medieval little bridge, which crosses the stream and rests on the rock on both banks; the Romanesque church of Sant Cristòfol, from the 13th century, and then narrow alleys, squares, stone houses with slate roofs. There are many places to stay in the village, such as the mountain chalet 4Llars, the hostel El Forn, the farm La Cabanya, in Can Criach or the rural house Can Ferran.
5 Snowshoe hike
A proposal for those who love hiking on snow: in the Alt Pirineu Natural Park, on the edge of the Sant Joan de l’Erm refuge, there is a pass that connects alpine huts. It is a 55 km circular route that can be done in four days, with snowshoes. Traveling it in winter is exciting and picturesque, but the weather conditions must always be taken into account, so it is good practice to venture out with the support of an expert guide. Definitely worth it: forests, meadows, snow-capped peaks, and splendid panoramic views are some of the wonders that can be enjoyed on this hike.
