the is a Spanish commune of the Val of Aran, located near the border French, and bordering on the Spanish communes on Bossòst, Bausén, Caneján, Vilamos. It counts 903 inhabitants in 2006. Located at 631 meters of altitude, on Right Bank of the Garonne, it is crossed by the trunk road N-230 which connects Viella to France. Is the last Spanish village of this road before entering to France.

History and inheritance

The thermal springs close to were already known in antiquity. Votive furnace bridges and other objects found on the spot attest the presence of thermal baths at the time of the ancient Rome. To the the Middle Ages Them and its neighborhoods belonged to the baronnie of the same name whose seat was the castle of, where king d' Aragon Jaime I remained at the time of his visit in the Valley of Aran during the summer 1265. The castle is today ruins some, but one can still see the keep. Not far from the old residence of the baron of the Roman vault of Sant Blai is, where the remainders of the last baron rest. In XVIIIième century was built the parish church devoted to holy Jean Baptiste, the bell is however of Romance type unambiguous aranais.

Economy

The old baths became, with the son of the centuries, a thermal center (Baths of) famous for their sulfurous water which jaiissent at a temperature of 37°C. During the moitiée second of the 21st century, the thermal springs were blocked during the construction of a small hydroelectric station always under operation. In spite of the closing of the baths, because of the construction of the powerplant, the economy of the village survival thanks to tourism around the mountain and of nature. Today is a current destination for the estivants other Spanish areas which are attracted by the natural charms of the place.

In 2003, a major collecting of 300 meters, as well as the construction of a modern thermal complex allowed the resumption of a thermal activity.

External bonds

• Site of the thermal complex

• Tourist office
• Données institutes of statistics of Catalonia