Farrera and the Centre d'Art i Natura
Despite being the highest village in the Coma de Burg, Farrera’s south-facing position and the opening of its valley towards the west endow it with sunlight favourable to human habitation. Nevertheless, in a normal year the harsh winter is characterised by abundant snowfall and biting temperatures. The first of many written references to Farrera’s existence dates back over 1,000 years, but the original human settlement was undoubtedly founded well before then.
After a constant dwindling of Farrera’s population since the late 19th century, it stabilised about three decades ago at around 20-25 inhabitants. In 2004 the village lost Marçal, the last of the old generation born and bred in our valley, and today’s inhabitants have thus been deprived of a deep source of traditional knowledge. Rearing livestock is the last ancestral activity to survive in the region. One house in Farrera owns a flock of sheep, and farm animals form a part of our landscape.
Farrera gives its name to a municipality that also embraces a further five hamlets – Burg, Montesclado, Mallolís, Glorieta and Alendo – and is spread over 63.5 sq. km, ranging from a height of 900 m in the gully of Glorieta, near Tírvia, to the 2,515-m peak of Màniga. Half our territory forms part of the Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu. Although the official population amounted to 138 habitants in the 2006 census, only sixty people live in the municipality all the year round.
There are no shops or public telephones, but residents can receive phone calls, faxes and e-mails through the Centre’s office. Only Vodafone provides cell-phone signals. Shopping can be done in Tírvia (5 km away) – bakery and bar-restaurant; in Llavorsí (12 km away) – supermarket, butcher’s, pharmacy, bar, newsagent’s; or in Sort (25 km away), the capital of Pallars Sobirà, with a wide range of services and a market every Tuesday. If residents do not come with their own vehicle, they can always find somebody going down to the market.
Our high mountain climate is very variable. Rainfall is quite evenly spread throughout the year but it is more abundant in autumn and spring. The atmosphere is dry, which makes it easier to resist the cold and the heat. The winters can be harsh, with temperatures below zero at night, and sometimes during the day as well. Snow can be heavy from late November to April, although long, sunny periods with mild, daytime temperatures are common. Nights are cool, however, even in summer, but the days in July and August can be very hot. For any time of the year, we recommend: warm clothes, rainwear, a hat and sturdy shoes, along with sunscreen.