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Welcome to the festival

The Vall de Cardós is in the heart of the Pallars Sobirà region, in the Catalan Pyrenees. A valley where the constant dialogue between the most inhospitable nature and the hand of its inhabitants has formed a mosaic of rugged mountains, meadows and pastures, lush forests, villages of dense plains, wild beasts, paths between dry stone walls, ancient customs, myths and legends that the communities have passed down in the light of the fire on star-studded nights over the centuries. To reach this hidden and peaceful site, you need to pass through a historical trail known as “el Forat de Cardós” (the Hole of Cardós). A few turns on the road and the majestic Pui Tabaca appears, the mountain that gives its name to our Festival and marks the arrival at Ribera de Cardós, the first village in the valley. Legend has it that near the top of this mountain, in a cave, you can find the last refuge of the “Encantades”. These little mysterious and hidden nymphs, with the arrival of Christianity, had to move further and further away from the watercourses around the villages where they lived. They fled from the sound of the bells coming from the churches, which nowadays harbour treasures of Pyrenean Baroque, the religious art of the villages. El Pui Tabaca, é un indret embalsamat de llegenda, tant se n’explique que fou lo rader refugi on es van amagar les Encantades, després que el repic de les campanades de la nova fe cristiana les fessen fora de la vora des pobles, com relats més bíblics en què se hi va amarrar l’arca de Noé. 
The Vall de Cardós is in the heart of the Pallars Sobirà region, in the Catalan Pyrenees. A valley where the constant dialogue between the most inhospitable nature and the hand of its inhabitants has formed a mosaic of rugged mountains, meadows and pastures, lush forests, villages of dense plains, wild beasts, paths between dry stone walls, ancient customs, myths and legends that the communities have passed down in the light of the fire on star-studded nights over the centuries. To reach this hidden and peaceful site, you need to pass through a historical trail known as “el Forat de Cardós” (the Hole of Cardós). A few turns on the road and the majestic Pui Tabaca appears, the mountain that gives its name to our Festival and marks the arrival at Ribera de Cardós, the first village in the valley. Legend has it that near the top of this mountain, in a cave, you can find the last refuge of the “Encantades”. These little mysterious and hidden nymphs, with the arrival of Christianity, had to move further and further away from the watercourses around the villages where they lived. They fled from the sound of the bells coming from the churches, which nowadays harbour treasures of Pyrenean Baroque, the religious art of the villages. El Pui Tabaca, é un indret embalsamat de llegenda, tant se n’explique que fou lo rader refugi on es van amagar les Encantades, després que el repic de les campanades de la nova fe cristiana les fessen fora de la vora des pobles, com relats més bíblics en què se hi va amarrar l’arca de Noé. 
This valley is also a land of witches. It is said that they held covens in the Pla de Fruita and the Planell de Malet in the village of Surri, just above Ribera de Cardós, and in the Pla de Nequa, a few kilometres away. All these popular and mythological beliefs began to capture big film productions in the 1960s. The elderly still remember anecdotes of those early films, and a few books have been written. In the not so distant past, during the Civil War and the Second World War, we must imagine the roads of the valley connecting with France filled with the brave and clandestine passage of refugees in both directions. Incredible stories of life and survival that have crossed our borders and have become beautiful itineraries of historical memory, inspiring more novels and films. The 1950s witnessed the construction of hydroelectric power stations for the use of high mountain water, and all the experiences of the daring workers who took part in it. There are still industrial remains of this period, such as the recently refurbished “Boïga”, where some of the events of the Tabaca Film Fest will be held.
This valley is also a land of witches. It is said that they held covens in the Pla de Fruita and the Planell de Malet in the village of Surri, just above Ribera de Cardós, and in the Pla de Nequa, a few kilometres away. All these popular and mythological beliefs began to capture big film productions in the 1960s. The elderly still remember anecdotes of those early films, and a few books have been written. In the not so distant past, during the Civil War and the Second World War, we must imagine the roads of the valley connecting with France filled with the brave and clandestine passage of refugees in both directions. Incredible stories of life and survival that have crossed our borders and have become beautiful itineraries of historical memory, inspiring more novels and films. The 1950s witnessed the construction of hydroelectric power stations for the use of high mountain water, and all the experiences of the daring workers who took part in it. There are still industrial remains of this period, such as the recently refurbished “Boïga”, where some of the events of the Tabaca Film Fest will be held.
Beyond its historical and mythological power, this corner of the world is also a paradise for lovers of nature in its purest state, sport, adventure, history and culture, and is connected to other equally spectacular valleys. A wild and authentic place full of mysteries. When you come here, if you know how to listen, perhaps an old man sitting on a bench will tell you a secret legend of the valley. And maybe also, with a bit of luck, you will discover a piece of magical white cloth, left behind by an “Encantada”, or you will be surprised by the roar of a deer “a bocafoscant”. We invite you to discover the Tabaca Film Fest and the unique Vall de Cardós. Quan vingueu, si sabeu escoltar, poder un padrí assentat al banc del poble vos explique una llegenda secreta de la Vall. I poder tamé, amb una mica de sort, descobriu alguna peça de roba blanca màgica, oblidada per una Encantada, o bé contemplareu el sorgiment d’una nova llegenda a boca foscant amb la brama del cérvol de fons. Vos convidem al Cardós Film Fest i a viure una Vall de Cardós de pel·lícula!
Beyond its historical and mythological power, this corner of the world is also a paradise for lovers of nature in its purest state, sport, adventure, history and culture, and is connected to other equally spectacular valleys. A wild and authentic place full of mysteries. When you come here, if you know how to listen, perhaps an old man sitting on a bench will tell you a secret legend of the valley. And maybe also, with a bit of luck, you will discover a piece of magical white cloth, left behind by an “Encantada”, or you will be surprised by the roar of a deer “a bocafoscant”. We invite you to discover the Tabaca Film Fest and the unique Vall de Cardós. Quan vingueu, si sabeu escoltar, poder un padrí assentat al banc del poble vos explique una llegenda secreta de la Vall. I poder tamé, amb una mica de sort, descobriu alguna peça de roba blanca màgica, oblidada per una Encantada, o bé contemplareu el sorgiment d’una nova llegenda a boca foscant amb la brama del cérvol de fons. Vos convidem al Cardós Film Fest i a viure una Vall de Cardós de pel·lícula!

»NOTE: This text is written in the Pallarès dialect and its own Cardoso dialect variants.
“A language cannot be saved by singing a few songs or printing a word on a postage stamp. Nor can it be saved by granting it official status, or by having it taught in schools. A language is saved by use (no matter how imperfect), and when it is introduced or used on any occasion in life and on any conceivable opportunity until it becomes something natural and not artificial or false. This means, in short, preparing for a period of struggle or hard life. There is no easy path to the recovery of a language.” Ellis and Mac a’Ghobhainn, quoted in Voices that fade, by D. Nettle and S. Romaine.

https://linguodiversitat.wordpress.com/cites/

amont: up                             
abidriarà: will see from afar
encantades: fantastic women who lived in caves
domés: only
màgica: magic
menairons: tiny beings from Pallars mythology
nivaires: snow women

animorat: in love
pigassa: axe
padrí/padrina: grandfather/grandmother or elderly person
bateie: baptize
rader: last
anxauteu: enchant
a bocafoscant: “as night falls” in local dialect

Grupo de gente feliz en paseo entre Surri y Ribera de CArdós
Grupo de gente feliz en ruta guiada en Surri

The Vall de Cardós is in the heart of the Pallars Sobirà region, in the Catalan Pyrenees. A valley where the constant dialogue between the most inhospitable nature and the hand of its inhabitants has formed a mosaic of rugged mountains, meadows and pastures, lush forests, villages of dense plains, wild beasts, paths between dry stone walls, ancient customs, myths and legends that the communities have passed down in the light of the fire on star-studded nights over the centuries.

To reach this hidden and peaceful site, you need to pass through a historical trail known as “el Forat de Cardós” (the Hole of Cardós). A few turns on the road and the majestic Pui Tabaca appears, the mountain that gives its name to our Festival and marks the arrival at Ribera de Cardós, the first village in the valley.

Legend has it that near the top of this mountain, in a cave, you can find the last refuge of the “Encantades”. These little mysterious and hidden nymphs, with the arrival of Christianity, had to move further and further away from the watercourses around the villages where they lived. They fled from the sound of the bells coming from the churches, which nowadays harbour treasures of Pyrenean Baroque, the religious art of the villages.

This valley is also a land of witches. It is said that they held covens in the Pla de Fruita and the Planell de Malet in the village of Surri, just above Ribera de Cardós, and in the Pla de Nequa, a few kilometres away. All these popular and mythological beliefs began to capture big film productions in the 1960s. The elderly still remember anecdotes of those early films, and a few books have been written.

In the not so distant past, during the Civil War and the Second World War, we must imagine the roads of the valley connecting with France filled with the brave and clandestine passage of refugees in both directions. Incredible stories of life and survival that have crossed our borders and have become beautiful itineraries of historical memory, inspiring more novels and films.

The 1950s witnessed the construction of hydroelectric power stations for the use of high mountain water, and all the experiences of the daring workers who took part in it. There are still industrial remains of this period, such as the recently refurbished “Boïga”, where some of the events of the Tabaca Film Fest will be held.

Beyond its historical and mythological power, this corner of the world is also a paradise for lovers of nature in its purest state, sport, adventure, history and culture, and is connected to other equally spectacular valleys. A wild and authentic place full of mysteries.

When you come here, if you know how to listen, perhaps an old man sitting on a bench will tell you a secret legend of the valley. And maybe also, with a bit of luck, you will discover a piece of magical white cloth, left behind by an “Encantada”, or you will be surprised by the roar of a deer “a bocafoscant”.
We invite you to discover the Tabaca Film Fest and the unique Vall de Cardós.

»NOTE: This text is written in the Pallarès dialect and its own Cardoso dialect variants.
“A language cannot be saved by singing a few songs or printing a word on a postage stamp. Nor can it be saved by granting it official status, or by having it taught in schools. A language is saved by use (no matter how imperfect), and when it is introduced or used on any occasion in life and on any conceivable opportunity until it becomes something natural and not artificial or false. This means, in short, preparing for a period of struggle or hard life. There is no easy path to the recovery of a language.” Ellis and Mac a’Ghobhainn, quoted in Voices that fade, by D. Nettle and S. Romaine.

https://linguodiversitat.wordpress.com/cites/

amont: up                             
abidriarà: will see from afar
encantades: fantastic women who lived in caves
domés: only
màgica: magic
menairons: tiny beings from Pallars mythology
nivaires: snow women
animorat: in love
pigassa: axe
padrí/padrina: grandfather/grandmother or elderly person
bateie: baptize
rader: last
anxauteu: enchant
a bocafoscant: “as night falls” in local dialect