Borda Viñuels Nieuw

About this place

Just imagine it. A small, authentic hamlet in the Spanish Pyrenees, on the edge of a canyon, in the sunny Ara Valley and nestled between two national parks: Ordesa-Monte Perdido and Sierra de Guara. There, in this exceptional place, Ana and Karel found a barn. And they transformed that stone borda into a timeless eco-cottage: Borda Viñuels. Thanks to the many natural materials available in the area. From natural stone and local wood to mortar and concrete made from river sand and lime. It was a matter of creating a place that breathes, in harmony with the surrounding nature.

Yet you don't have to sacrifice comfort. The entire house packs in underfloor heating, powered by a geothermal pump and solar panels, and the wood-burning stove provides extra ambient warmth. Because the owners disrupted the look and feel of the borda as little as possible, it seems as if this place has always been here and will always be here. And those who reside here may feel for a moment part of this quiet hamlet, the valley and Monte Perdido.

That the Ara Valley has survived the ravages of time so unscathed is due to a reservoir project from the 1950s that was finally scrapped only 15 years ago. The whole project put a bell jar over this part of the Pyrenees for decades, leaving this remote corner wonderfully untouched and time literally standing still here. And sitting on one of the 2 terraces today you can enjoy the unspoiled views and real silence. Should it be a little more, there is canyoning, rafting or you can go mountain biking and mountain climbing to winter hiking with snow rockets or cross-country skiing. Nearby, by the way, several Michelin restaurants await. 'Comfort in the wild' is not coincidentally the motto of the house.

We❤️ the no-nonsense mountain style