{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Ara Lleida","provider_url":"https:\/\/aralleida.cat\/en\/","author_name":"admin","author_url":"https:\/\/aralleida.cat\/en\/author\/frame_zesv7n2g\/","title":"Persecuted and saved Route 1 - Val d'Aran","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"MQExkDHB8D\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aralleida.cat\/en\/persecuted-and-saved-route-1-val-daran\/\">Persecuted and saved Route 1 &#8211; Val d&#8217;Aran<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/aralleida.cat\/en\/persecuted-and-saved-route-1-val-daran\/embed\/#?secret=MQExkDHB8D\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Persecuted and saved Route 1 &#8211; Val d&#8217;Aran&#8221; &#8212; Ara Lleida\" data-secret=\"MQExkDHB8D\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/aralleida.cat\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/aralleida.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/garos-e1527852011235.jpg","thumbnail_width":1441,"thumbnail_height":1080,"description":"[vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221; bg_type=&#8221;bg_color&#8221; bg_color_value=&#8221;#3c3c3b&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1605797650815{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1605797593358{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=&#8221;stretch_row_content_no_spaces&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1613404394213{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}&#8221;][vc_column css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1613404400409{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_column_text]The Val d&#8217;Aran was one of the main entry routes for refugees, both via the customs office of P\u00f2nt de Rei and following the mountain paths leading from the French departments of Haute-Garonne and Ari\u00e8ge to Es B\u00f2rdes, Boss\u00f2st, Bausen, Les, Canejan and Montgarri. They then headed southward, through the Bonaigua pass, or walked to L&#8217;Alta Ribagor\u00e7a. ITINERARY A:\u00a0 P\u00f2nt de Rei \u2013 El Pont de Suert P\u00f2nt de Rei Following the natural course of the Persecuted and Saved route, the stage starts at P\u00f2nt de Rei. It enters the valley via the small French village of Fos, a settlement where it seems that time has stood still for the past 20 years.\u00a0 There, walkers will find the new customs offices between France and Spain, which stand right next to the old ones. 1.4 km from customs lies the border, with a stopping space to the left, where it is possible to find the first marker for the Persecuted and Saved route. It is just at this point that the River Garonne passes from the right-hand side to the left-hand side of the path. This was the place where refugees who wanted to enter Spain legally used to have their documentation checked.\u00a0 It was also the place where the Spanish police used to hand over to the French Gendarmes, and subsequently to the German police, anyone trying to escape. They had to be returned to France under the terms of the agreement made between the Spanish authorities and France&#8217;s Vichy regime. Canejan Continuing along the N-230, the route reaches Pontau, where it is necessary to turn off and follow the road towards Canejan. The road up to this hamlet is steep and narrow and it is not possible to go up it in a coach. Along the way, it is even possible to come across herds of goats. Canejan is a &#8220;Vila Florida&#8221; (part of an association that is proud of its ornamental plants). Once at Canejan, it is possible to leave vehicles in the small car park at its entrance. From there, visitors are recommended to continue along the cobbled streets on foot. From the vantage point, it is possible to enjoy panoramic views over the Era Lana de Les and the La Maladeta massif. There are 2 restaurants in this hamlet of 45-50 inhabitants, but innumerable places at which to take some truly incredible photographs. Nearby, there used to be an iron foundry, which explains why Canejan once had over 500 inhabitants. The importance of Canejan on the Persecuted and Saved route is that hundreds of refugees arrived there by different paths leading from the French department of Haute-Garonne. In 1943 alone, around 500 refugees were detained by the Guardia Civil, with many of these being Jews. Other places of interest: The Church of Sant Sernilh: this temple has been subject to various reforms. According to tradition, Sant Sernilh was one of the first people to preach Christianity in this area. It is said that he was a healer, with curative powers, who dedicated his life to doing good. The braying of the deer: the braying season begins in mid-September and ends in the middle of October. During this period, the stags fight over the does and create their own harems. They do this while constantly braying and marking their territory with glandular secretions and urine and also by scratching tree trunks with their antlers. Les Returning to the N-230, visitors will reach Les, which is one of the main stopping points on this route. This settlement was the main point of arrival for escaping Jews, whether they came via the customs point at P\u00f2nt de Rei, or secretly crossed through the neighbouring (C\u00f2th de Fontfreda and Passada de Tres Corts) mountain passes to get there. Les was also the location of the police station responsible for checking passports and monitoring the movement of merchandise. Escaping Jews received the help and solidarity of the local people, some of whom took them into their homes; other Jews were allowed to stay at the Hotel Franco-Espa\u00f1ol. This former hotel is no longer open to the public as the building is now privately owned. Even so, its original name is visible on the fa\u00e7ade. It can be found about 50 metres from the Tourist Information Office of Les, heading towards France. On the western side, it is possible to see the name of the hotel. It is worth stopping in front of the building, which has been quite well conserved over the last 80 years, for a few minutes in order to remember those tragic events. Fran\u00e7oise Bielinsky (Paquita Sitzer) was born in Paris in 1937. Her family, who were of Polish and Jewish origin, had to escape from Germany following the rise of the Nazi party. During their stay in Paris, her father was detained and sent to a concentration camp from which he managed to escape a few months later. They subsequently sought refuge at Pau (France), where they lived for 2 years. Then, in 1942, following the Nazi invasion of France, they were forced to cross the border into Spain and were detained at Les. From there, however, thanks to the help of the local inhabitants, they managed to flee first to Barcelona and then to Vigo, from where they set sail for Venezuela. &nbsp; The village of Les provides one of the clearest examples of the importance of acts of collective solidarity. The relative isolation of the valley, particularly during the winter months, impeded the rapid transfer of detainees to Lleida. This made it easier for refugees to be taken into private homes and, at times, protected them from efforts of the police to deport them to France; this"}