Vall de Núria (Catalan pronunciation:[ləˈβaʎdəˈnuɾiə], "The Valley of Núria") is a south-opening valley coming down from the crest of thePyrenees within themunicipality ofQueralbs,province ofGirona,community ofCatalonia,Spain.
The floor of the valley lies about 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level and is accessible from the south via arack railway (theVall de Núria Rack Railway) or by foot, and fromFrance to the north by footpaths. There are no roads to access the valley. The place is historically notable for the 1931 drafting of the first CatalanStatute of Autonomy, in theSanctuary of theVirgin of Núria.[1]
According to tradition,Saint Giles (Catalan:Sant Gil) arrived in the valley in approximately 700 AD and lived there for four years. He crafted an image of theVirgin Mary and hid it in a cave when forced to flee from persecution by the Arabs againstChristians. Along with the image of the Virgin, he left a pot used for cooking, a cross, and a bell for calling shepherds to meals.
According to tradition, apilgrim named Amadéu began searching for the image in 1072, after having a prophetic dream. He built a small chapel for pilgrims, and found the image seven years later, next to the pot, the cross, and the bell, and he brought the objects to the chapel to be venerated.
The image has been dated to have been made during the 12th or 13th century. It is a woodenRomanesque carving. The primitive-looking polychrome statue retains its painting intact.
On July 13 1967, the statue was canonically crowned with a decree fromPope Paul VI.
The shepherds regarded the image of the Blessed Virgin as a patron saint of fertility. The canonicalconsecration of Our Lady of Núria was made in 1965. Her feast day is September 8.[2][3] The nameNúria is now a popular girl's name in Catalonia.
The elevated terrain of the Vall de Núria and its relative proximity to theMediterranean result in a relatively humid high mountain climate. Winter is the season with the least precipitation and the most irregular weather, although it usually comes in the form of snow.
The duration of snow covering the ground varies greatly from year to year. At the Núria sanctuary, in recent years, it has ranged from 62 to 64 days. At higher altitudes, the snow lasts considerably longer. In areas where snow accumulates, snowdrifts form, which may not fully melt until late summer.
Temperatures are cold or cool throughout the year, progressively dropping with altitude. January is typically the coldest month, while July and August are the warmest.
| Meteorological Parameters for Vall de Núria | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jam. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Anual |
| Max. temp. recorded (°C) | 11.4 | 16.5 | 23.8 | 24.2 | 26.5 | 30.3 | 34.4 | 33 | 26.6 | 20.5 | 17.3 | 14 | 34.4 |
| AVG Max. temp. (°C) | -3.3 | -2.6 | 5 | 8.8 | 12.3 | 17.1 | 22.4 | 19.6 | 13.7 | 8.1 | 4.8 | 0.4 | |
| AVG Temp (°C) | -8 | -7.1 | -1.6 | 3.2 | 6 | 10 | 13.1 | 12 | 7.3 | 1.1 | -2 | -6.1 | |
| AVG Min. temp.(°C) | -14.3 | -13.8 | -8.1 | -4.1 | -0.2 | 1.8 | 6.4 | 5.2 | -0.8 | -5.9 | -8.6 | -11.8 | |
| Min. temp. recorded(°C) | -37.5 | -38.4 | -30 | -22.8 | -13 | -9.6 | -4.8 | -8.6 | -13.4 | -21.2 | -28.9 | -34.8 | -38.4 |
| % precipitation as rain | 1 | 2 | 18 | 41 | 75 | 86 | 96 | 91 | 65 | 43 | 13 | 1 | |
| % precipitation as snow | 99 | 98 | 82 | 59 | 25 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 35 | 57 | 87 | 99 | |
Theski resort in the valley is operated by the same company that operates theVall de Núria Rack Railway. The resort has 10alpine skipistes (three green, three blue, two red and two black), and a special slope for sleighs, totalling 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) of marked pistes. In summer 2006, 18snow cannons were installed, making a total of 73 cannons. A quadchair lift from the resort base at 1,964 metres (6,444 ft), goes up to its highest point, at 2,252 m.; twoplatter lifts serve the beginners' area; and agondola lift ("telecabina") accesses the Pic de l'Àligayouth hostel.
42°24′N02°09′E / 42.400°N 2.150°E /42.400; 2.150
