Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
---|---|
Location | Andorra |
Criteria | Cultural: (v) |
Reference | 1160bis |
Inscription | 2004 (28th Session) |
Extensions | 2006 |
Area | 4,247 ha (10,490 acres) |
Website | www |
Coordinates | 42°29′41″N 1°35′44″E / 42.49472°N 1.59556°E |
Official name | Vall de Madriu-Perafita-Claror |
Designated | 28 August 2013 |
Reference no. | 2183[1] |
The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley (Catalan: Vall del Madriu-Perafita-Claror) is a glacial valley in the southeast of Andorra. It covers an area of 42.47 km2, approximately 9% of the total area of Andorra, and is part of the second largest watershed basin 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. It became Andorra's first, and to date its only, UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, with a small extension in 2006.
Overview
The valley is a
Two small settlements,
The settlements are surrounded by
The high pasture was grazed in the summer by sheep, cows and horses, with the land owned on a communal basis since the Middle Ages. Shepherds spend the summer in borders, small stone huts with turf roofs. The animals' milk was used to make cheese.
Tracks link the valley to Roussillon to the east, the Languedoc to the north, and Catalonia to the south; tracks paved with flat stones connect the valley to the centre of Andorra.
After a period of neglect, many of the structures, such as the shepherds' huts, trackways, and field boundary walls, have been restored in recent years. There are no plans to build an access road, and the land is intended to be developed as a distinctive area for farming of high-quality livestock, and for limited tourism.
Two of the GR footpaths pass through the valley, the GR 7 and GR 11, as well as the GRP circuit of Andorra. There are several refuges for hikers to stay the night, including some which are staffed in season.
References
- ^ "Vall de Madriu-Perafita-Claror". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.