Saraís, an abandoned village in the Boí Valley

Saraís is a former settlement located at an altitude of approximately 1,340 metres in the Boí Valley. Today, the remains of several houses, agricultural buildings, terraces and old paths can still be seen.

The earliest known documentary references to Saraís date from around 1070. For centuries, it was a small mountain community whose economy was based mainly on farming and livestock breeding.

Saraís was the only village in the Boí Valley that was never reached by road. Difficult access, a lack of services and several fires contributed to the gradual depopulation of the settlement. The last residents left the old village during the second half of the 20th century and moved mainly to the bottom of the valley.

Among the remains of the village is the church of Sant Llorenç. Nearby, part of the apse of the former Romanesque church can also be seen, incorporated into a later building known as the Abadia.

The old village of Saraís has no road access and can only be reached on foot. Due to the poor condition of the buildings, visitors should walk through the settlement with caution, avoid entering the structures and keep away from unstable walls.

Information

Municipality: la Vall de Boí
Altitude: approximately 1,340 metres
Access: on foot only
Type of visit: abandoned settlement and heritage remains
Recommendations: wear suitable hiking footwear, carry water and appropriate clothing, and do not enter the buildings.

How to get there

There are two main routes to reach the old village of Saraís:

Circular route from Barruera and Durro

A circular route starting and finishing in Barruera, passing through Durro, the Bosc de l’Obac, Saraís, the Pont de Saraís and the Camí de l’Aigua.

Distance: approximately 14.7 km
Elevation gain: approximately 659 m
Estimated duration: 4 hours
Difficulty: difficult

View the circular route to Saraís via Barruera and Durro

Route from the Palanca de Saraís

A linear out-and-back route along the same path. It starts at the Palanca de Saraís, next to the L-500 road, and follows the traditional path uphill to the old village.

Distance: approximately 4.2 km
Elevation gain: approximately 343 m
Estimated duration: 1 hour 38 minutes
Difficulty: moderate

View the route to Saraís from the Palanca de Saraís