DAY 8, MAY 13, 2022, Friday:

Checked out. Explored some pretty corners of Vielha including the Church. Tried to drive to Arties but the road was blocked. Drove to some beautiful waterfalls, on the way seeing plenty of other waterfalls gushing down the cliffs, right next to our car. Saut deth Pish/Salto del Pez was an amazing waterfall, so was Uelths Deth Joèu or the eyes of the devil or of Jupiter. We saw Embalse de Eriste on the drive to Jaca, our next base.

STAY: Gran Hotel De Jaca, 2 Nights

Tried to drive to Arties... road was blocked. So decided to drive around Vielha

Villages embedded in cliffs

VIELHA

VIELHA - IGLESIA DE SANT MIQUÈU [Miguel/Michael]

the magnificent 16th century bell tower, rising above the main portal is set into a narthex; It was also a watch tower and was attached to a castlewall... nothing remains of the latter.

The portal, dating from the late 13th and early 14th centuries, represents a faithful record of the artistic evolution of the Romanesque style towards the first Gothic forms; The portal is composed of five concentric arches, which depict passages from the Bible in relief, with anthropomorphic figures.

Before stepping into the church’s interior, take a look at the tympanum which once crowned the original Romanesque portal, and which is now set in the west wall, next to the entrance; it is a characteristic Romanesque depiction of Christ on the Cross dressed in a knee-length loincloth, depicted frontally, in bas-relief.

Inside the church, is the baptismal font with plant motifs, a common feature of Aranese fonts of the 13th century .

The nave is dominated by the altarpiece that decorates the central apse, made in a Gothic style, the most extraordinary artwork in the church of Sant Miquèu is a carved wooden Romanesque sculpture of Christ, originally part of a larger group of sculptures; it represents one of the defining examples of 12th century Romanesque sculpture.

Lovely river flowing through the village... bonafide feature of all these villages

DRIVE TO WATERFALL SAUT DETH PISH

The villages have narrow roads, need attention while driving through.

narrow winding roads

The Varradòs river gushing along by the side of the road

we got down and enjoyed the roaring Varradòs river and the small waterfall tumbling down to meet it on our right

saw many waterfalls just by the roadside

deep plunging valley on one side, cliff on the other

Saut deth Pish/ Salto del Pez

The Aranese name for the waterfall is Saut deth Pish. Aran valley was cut off from rest of the region for centuries and they have their own language and customs.

With a height of 35m, it is one of the best-known waterfalls in Val d’Aran. Impressive waterfall located in a natural enclave of great beauty, and which can be accessed in your own vehicle along a beautiful 12-kilometre paved track parallel to the Varradòs River, which is accessed from the Pont d 'Arròs.

RAINBOW...

old water fountain... but no rest rooms.

one more observation deck

another viewpoint...

DRIVE BACK

we left the lovely waterfall and started our drive back. The GPS did not route us back the way we came. The way down to village Arros was much shorter

saw more waterfalls tumbling down the cliffs on our way

Uelths Deth Joèu/Ojos del Diablo/Eyes of the Devil or of Jupiter

It is a beautiful waterfall that comes from the Aneto glacier after covering 4km underground.

Access by car is closed in winter because of avalanches and in summer because of crowdsand people will have to take the road from Las Bordas and park in the free parking next to the Ermita Dera Mair de Diu. It is about 2km from there to the waterfall. You can walk along the road or on a footpath to reach the waterfall or get on the tourist train, 1 € / way, takes you to the closest parking.

For us the road was open and we drove up to the waterfalls

The Eyes of the Devil or of Jupiter, is a spectacular waterfall and an exceptional phenomenon, since it is the waters of the Aneto glacier that disappear in the Forau d'Aigualluts, in the Benasque valley, and reappear near the Artiga de Lin, in Val d'Aran, after traveling more than 4 kilometers underground.