It is an emblem of the Pyrenees and one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Ansó treasures one of the best-preserved urban areas in the Aragonese Pyrenees, a network of small squares and extremely narrow streets with barely 50 centimeters wide that are one of its hallmarks. On the other hand, Arties is one of the jewels of the Aran Valley, in Lleida. This enclave at the confluence of the Valarties River with the Garonne offers priceless views of Mount Montarto (2833 m.) and a Romanesque church, Santa María, which leaves visitors speechless with its mural paintings and small cemetery.
All of them are part of the association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain, whose president Francisco Mestre has explained that "we are going to put all our effort into this exciting brand. From today, routes through these villages can already be explored with interactive maps that will be available this same week on the new website and app of the association." He also announced that "all the tourist offices of the municipalities involved already have informational brochures about this new brand and they hope that this Easter many visitors will use them as a guide."
One of the key pillars of the project will be the future integration of French municipalities, through collaboration with the homonymous association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, with whom this Pyrenean and transnational brand will be shared. The objective: strengthening joint visibility and promoting the heritage, cultural, and gastronomic values of the entire Pyrenean mountain range. Municipal representatives also agreed that the next meeting of the Most Beautiful Villages in the Pyrenees will be held in Beget (Camprodon, Girona).
Above, the village of Ansó. Below, the cloister of Santa María la Mayor, in Alquézar. Both in Huesca.SHUTTERSTOCK
The association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain, which already includes 122 unique localities, arises from the conviction and the need to make known to the world the wonderful villages that dot the Spanish geography. The objective is to promote small municipalities, preferably rural, grouped under the same quality brand, through promotional activities and cultural events that the association undertakes both within and outside of Spain.
This network encompasses places of great beauty and personality that exude history and culture at the same time, villages marked by tradition that the traveler can enjoy while walking their paths and mingling with the locals.
The brand of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain is a prestigious and quality reference at a national and international level. The initiative is based on the French model Les Plus Beaux Villages de France and the Spanish network is part of the Federation of the Most Beautiful Villages in the World, with networks in France, Italy, Belgium, and Japan. Other countries are creating new associations such as Russia, Germany, Liechtenstein, Lebanon, Switzerland, and Portugal. The Association was created in Spain in 2010 and was presented three years later with a network of 14 villages. Gradually, the list has been increasing to the current 122 localities.