Artistic tribute to monumental trees in High Pyrenees Natural Park

High in the Catalan Pyrenees, dancer Anna Rubió, musician Arnau Obiols and artist Carola Ortiz paid tribute to Catalonia's largest juniper tree, the Savina d'Aratí, with a performance in Vall Ferrera. 

In doing so, they brought to an end a series of presentations and artistic interventions which since 2018 have raised awareness of the High Pyrenees Natural Park's monumental trees. 

The program has highlighted the hiking, art, ecology and local food production that takes place close to these natural wonders, which since 1987 have been given protected status due to their unique age, size and other features. 

The Savina d'Aratí forms part of the Pallars Sobirà junipers, the only grouping of these conifers in the Catalan Pyrenees. 

The artistic performances, presentations and local products that were tasted at each event of the series can be found in a specially released guidebook in Catalan (Llibre-Guia del Cicle d'Arbres Monumentals). 

Traditions and stories

Dancer Anna Rubió said that protecting trees goes far beyond safeguarding them physically. 

"It means we have to keep the traditions and stories that have grown up alongside them alive, to preserve their oral memory, the knowledge that has been passed down to us and the creations that their centuries-old trunks have inspired and continue to inspire," she said. 

After an outdoor performance near the Savina d'Aratí, the event ended with more music and dance at the hermitage of Santa Maria de la Torre in Alins, where all audience members received a tree to plant as a gift. 

Monumental trees

The High Pyrenees Natural Park recently carried out its first-ever inventory of monumental trees in the park, with a total of 145 specimens including 34 white firs, 25 red pines, 14 black pines and 7 large-leaved oaks.