Mònica Caba - CC
On 30th November, the Romanesque site at the Vall de Boí will celebrate its 15th anniversary of being designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. This was granted on 30th November 2000.
To commemorate the anniversary, the Centre del Romànic de la Vall de Boí (Romanesque Centre of the Vall de Boí) is organising an open day at the churches of Sant Climent de Taüll, Santa Maria de Taüll, Sant Joan de Boí and Santa Eulàlia d'Erill la Vall, which will be open free of charge for visits on Monday 30th November, from 10:00 till 14:00 and from 16:00 till 19:00.
In the 15 years since the declaration was made by UNESCO, the churches at the Vall de Boí have been restored, their surroundings have been refurbished and the Centre del Romànic de la Vall de Boí has been opened up to the public.
Construction of the Romanesque churches in the valley took place during the 11th and 12th centuries following models that came from the north of Italy, the Lombard Romanesque. This is an exceptional and combined site from which the municipality draws its identity. The fundamental criteria for being included on the World Heritage list were:
"The significant development of the Romanesque art and architecture of the churches of the Vall de Boí is a testament to the profound intercultural exchanges which took place in medieval Europe and, in particular, over the mountainous border of the Pyrenees."
"The churches of the Vall de Boí are a particularly pure and homogenous example of Romanesque art in a rural setting which has been left virtually intact."
