Parador de Arties Don Gaspar de Portola

Spain - Lleida - Arties

A four star mountain hotel in the Pyrenees giving the luxury expected of the Parador chain

The snow capped peaks of the Pyrenees, the clear blue skies and the green luxuriant valley of Val d'Aran is the setting for this Parador.

The Parador is of recent construction using the local style of architecture.

The site is that of the House of D. Gaspar de Portola whose claim to fame is the discover of California.

The design has a steeply sloping roof so that a heavy weight of snow cannot accumulate. This results in the bedrooms having 'dormer' windows looking out onto the roof. The traditional mountain design is continued in the wooden beams being featured in the bedrooms.

The lounges in the hotel are spacious and tastefully decorated among which the Salon Chimenea particularly stands out.

The restaurant features the specialties of the region which here are:

"olla aranesa" which is a local version of a stew;
"trucha a la llosa" a fish dish made with local trout;
"civet de jabalí" which translates as jugged wild boar;
"pescajus de Arties" a local delicacy;

This Parador has a total of thirty eight twin bedrooms, nine double bedrooms, four suites and seven duplex rooms, all with satellite TV, telephone and mini bar.

There is also a bar for residents.

The Parador has conference facilities for up to 295 persons. There is a swimming pool, sauna and gymnasium.

In Val d'Aran several of the villages have old churches in the Romanic style. The one in Santa Maria de Arties is particularly worth a visit. In the same village the old Roman baths are still preserved..

There are three local feast days in the area. On June 24 it is the feast of San Juan, in Arties. In the same village the feast of San Jaime is celebrated on July 25th. The Cattle Fair in nearby Vielha is also a festival not to be missed

For skiers, the Baquira Beret station is four and a half miles away.

Animals ar not allowed.

Directions

Located at the gates to the town, at the entrance of Arties, the Parador is 7 km from Vielha, which is reached on leaving the N-230, taking the main road which goes towards the Baqueira Beret ski resort. Artíes is located 170 Kilometres away from Lleida, the capital of the province.