The stone path
Wooden bridges over the river.
Austral Lights — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kent Wang from Barcelona, Spain — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ferran Llorens — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ferran Llorens — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kent Wang from Barcelona, Spain — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Ferran Llorens — CC BY-SA 2.0
The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley is an isolated glacial valley in south-east Andorra and the country's only World Heritage Site, listed in 2004. High pastures, rocky cliffs, thick woods and clear rivers running over stones fill it, and it can be reached only on foot. The valley covers about 42 square km, about 9 percent of Andorra. Its houses, farming terraces, tracks and remains of ironworking show how mountain people used its resources for over 700 years. It has two small settlements, Entremesaigües and Ràmio, lived in all year until about 50 years ago and now only in summer, with houses of granite. You walk an old stone-paved path beside the river, crossing it on small wooden bridges, among moss-covered trees. Then you come out of the forest onto wide pastures and stone shepherds' huts, with the peaks around you. Higher up, mountain lakes mirror the peaks. The trail starts 7 km in a straight line east of Andorra la Vella. Entry is free. The hike takes hours and mountain weather changes fast, so bring water and a jacket and start early. June to September is the best time.
Wooden bridges over the river.
Shepherds' huts.
Peaks in the water.
South-east Andorra; trail starts from Escaldes-Engordany
No, the valley is on foot only.
June to September.