JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF THE MANAIRONS
ROUTE OF THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE PYRENEES THROUGH THE
VALLS D’AGUILAR

We invite you to discover places of legend and the refuges of the mythology of the Pyrenees (Spain). We have chosen to present the Valls d’Aguilar (Aguilar valleys) through one of the routes described in the book Viatge al Pirineu fantastic (Journey to the Fantastic Pyrenees) by Pep Coll. The myths and legends that it and the work “Marrades: màgia i realitat a la muntanya” (Marrades: magic and reality in the mountains), by Joan Obiols, contain are all connected with the proposed route.

The mythology of the Pyrenees (Spain) is ever present in the Valls d’Aguilar and the route will allow visitors to develop quite a good understanding of the legendary world of the Pyrenees. It will also provide them with the opportunity to discover a little known valley which possesses a natural patrimony of great value and beauty.

Visitors to this area will discover some of the most interesting mythological beings of the Pyrenees in the Valls d’Aguilar and in other local mountain areas; the manairons (fairies, which are also called minairons or menairons, in parts of the local area) of La Guàrdia d’Ares. Even today, the rock debris and scree that are found near the village bear witness to the incredible strength of these creatures and it is for this reason that we have chosen the manairons of La Guàrdia as our “guides” along the route. They will be the first mythical creatures that “we will visit” along the fantastic route that we propose here. This also explains why we have called this route “Journey to the country of the manairons”, a title that carries with it an implicit invitation to really get inside a fairy tale, with all of the mystery and adventure that this implies.

POINTS ALONG THE ROUTE ILLUSTRATED WITH CERAMIC MURALS:
1. Noves de Segre. The mythology of the Pyrenees
2. La Guàrdia d’Ares. The manairons
3. Taús. The last Moor in the country
4. Castellàs del Cantó. The secret of the enchanted ones
5. Biscarbó. The treasure of the king of England
6. Argestues. The creation of the Pyrenees