The route starts and ends in the historic town of Pont de Suert, the capital of the High Ribagorza region. Legend
tells that Pont de Suert was made up of two towns, Pont and Suert. During a plague all the inhabitants of Suert
died, except an old woman, who remained as heiress of the village. She went to the village of Pont to offer all
her belongings in exchange for being cared for until her death. And so the two villages came together. The town
is situated at a height of 841 metres on the banks of the river Noguera Ribagorçana. For much of its 130 km
course the river forms the border between Catalonia and Aragon and this route follows it upstream for 27km.
Evidence of the importance of water can be seen when you pass under the colossal water pipe taking water to
the hydro electric plant back in Pont de Suert. The river valley varies and can be quite wide in places and then it
narrows so that you have vertical rock face next to the road but all the time travelling through beautiful scenery.
The Bono Tunnel is the first of several short tunnels taking the road through the mountain where the river gorge
is too narrow.
You’ll see the Baserca reservoir or Senet reservoir located on the Noguera Ribagorzana River surrounded by
peaks of over 3000 metres, including the Molieres and Besiberri peaks. The main purpose of the reservoir is
hydroelectricity. To this end, its waters can be diverted to the Moralets power station or to the Llauset reservoir,
at 2,200 meters of altitude, through a reversible channel. Likewise, there is a small hydroelectric plant at the
foot of the dam, known as the Baserca plant.
A little further on and you reach the Vielha tunnel, there are actually two parallel tunnels. The older one, which
is now only used for access and special loads is named Alfonso XIII Tunnel after King Alfonso XIII. It was
opened in 1948 and became the longest road tunnel in the world at 5240m until 1964, when the Great St
Bernard Tunnel was opened. The new tunnel, named Juan Carlos I Tunnel is a mere 5230 m long and was
opened in 2007. Exiting the tunnel you follow the River Nere along a beautiful valley road to the capital of the
Arán Valley, Vielha. The village is built at the point where both the Garona and Nere rivers meet. Its origins go
back to the Roman period, when it was called Vétula, and when, according to legend, it was home to the giant
Mandronius, who fought against the Roman invaders.
Following the Garona river now you’ll arrive at Salardú, a small town that has a maze of streets, alleys, little
squares and nooks and crannies that feature three elements: stone, wood and slate, a wise selection for these
have created a beautiful extension to the old town. The town was fortified in the Middle Ages on account of its
strategic position in the valley. The castle once stood in the upper part of the village, where there is now the
church of Sant Andreu. The town is popular because of its location and close proximity to ski resort of Baqueira
Beret. Baqueira-Beret is the largest and most visited winter resort in Spain, with 161 kilometers of marked
pistes. The resort was founded 60 years ago on the initiative of the local authorities in the Aran Valleyand has
grown into a well regarded ski resort.
It’s no surprise to learn that the higest point of this route is next at Port de la Bonaigua, 2072 metres above sea
level. The summit hosts big parking areas and an iconic cafe-restaurant where you can stop for a coffee.
A great section of twisty road with tight hairpin bends comes next as you descend down through the River
Bonaigua valley, you have a great view of the road ahead from the Shelter de les Ares. The Bonaigua joins the
Noguera Pallaresa river and you follow it downstream to the beautiful Torrassa reservoir. The Torrassa
reservoir on the Noguera Pallaresa river was created by a dam that you can ride onto at the southern end.
The name of the Torrassa comes from the old and large watchtower - or torrassa - that existed in this place.
The route follows the Noguera Pallaresa river for the next 54 kilometers passing through several small villages,
each with there own unique flavour but all connected by the road through the beautiful Noguera Pallaresa river
valley. Most notable of these is Gerri de la Sal, a small medieval village that still retains its industrial and
architectural heritage: the Alfolí, or salt storehouse is now a museum and worth a visit along with the
Monastery of Santa Maria. The exploitation of the source of the salt was, until recently, the main economic
driving force for this town, which is reflected in its name.
Next come 3 tunnels, the first is only short and the next two are a little over 1 kilometer in length. Passing
through the first of these longer tunnels, the Túnel de l'Argenteria is like crossing into another world, the valley
is open when you enter and when you emerge the valley sides have closed in with vertical rock faces close to
the road. The opposite happens when you pass through the last tunnel, the valley sides open and you see more
sky.
At the most southerly point of this route is La Pobla de Segur, one of the most historic villages in the Lleida
Pyrenees and is located in the confluence of the rivers Noguera Pallaresa and Flamisell. La Pobla, often
associated with the railway, has been traditionally seen as the crossroads and main entrance to the high valleys
of the Pyrenees. The medieval heritage can be seen in the streets of this town, which was closed by two gates
until the 18th century. The suburbs of Fossar Vell and carrer d'Oran were built during the modern period and
were finally incorporated to the growing town in the 19th and 20th centuries. Despite its roots being, as in the
rest of the region, agriculture and animal husbandry, it is nowadays based as well in retail, services and tourism.
This route now follows the Flamisell river for 10 kilometers to the village of Senterada then follow one of its
tributaries, the Sarroca River for a further 10 kilometers where you will pass below the hilltop village of Sarroca
de Bellera. From here there is another great section of twisty road with tight hairpin bends offering some
breathtaking views.
Passing through the short 140m Lavaix tunnel indicates that you are close to the end of this route, back where
you started in Pont de Suert.