Camilo José Cela and Josep M. Espinàs resume their journey through the Lleida Pyrenees

In August 1956, the writers Camilo José Cela and Josep Maria Espinàs set out on a journey through the comarques (local districts) of El Pallars Jussà (Spain), El Pallars Sobirà (Spain), La Val d’Aran (Spain) and L’Alta Ribagorça (Spain). Their experiences were later committed to paper in the form of two travel diaries: Josep M. Espinàs: “Viatge al Pirineu de Lleida” (Journey through the Lleida Prenees), 1957, Ed. Selecta, (which was subsequently reedited in 1999 by Edicions La Campana and published under the new title of “A peu pel Pallars i la Vall d’Aran” (Walking from El Pallars to La Vall d’Aran) and Camilo José Cela: “Viaje al Pirineo de Lérida” (Journey to the Lleida Prenees), Alfaguara, 1965.

These two books represent personal reflections on a particular time and period of this Pyrenean (Spain) territory. It was a time of change and of transformation that only offered a few fleeting glimpses of how these comarques would develop today.

To mark this anniversary, a series of literary itineraries have been organised, as have a number of recreational activities These activities will be organised in the four comarques and will be accompanied by a guidebook. With the help of the guidebook, it will be possible to follow the routes originally walked by Camilo José Cela and Josep M. Espinàs back in 1956 and there is an accompanying socio-economic analysis of the changes that these comarques, their villages and people have since undergone. All of the activities will also look to recreate the experiences of the two authors on their journey and will try to reflect upon what life was like in these comarques back in the 1950s.