Llimiana lies in the southern part of the comarca (local district) of El Pallars Jussà, where it enjoys a privileged location with panoramic views over the Serra del Montsec, La Conca de Tremp and the Pantà de Cellers (or Terradets). From its lofty position, Llimiana looks out over the southern entrance to the comarca from the top of an abrupt cliff whose rocky crest runs 400 metres above the river Noguera Pallaresa. Within the internal division of Catalonia, and for references to its climate and physical geography, this area is referred to as the Pre-Pyrenees. Let’s take a quick look at what it has to offer!

The origins of Llimiana date back to the ancient civilizations that used to exploit the strategic significance of this site. All that now remains of what must once, in its moments of greatest glory, have been an unassailable fortress is the uncommunicative silence of its stones. Llimiana stands high on a rocky cliff-top from where it looks down on La Noguera Pallaresa.The northern access to the village is called El Castell (the castle). There are no archaeological remains of the original building, but its existence is documented in the 10th century and it was important during the Middle Ages. As well as having El Castell, Llimiana also used to be surrounded by a defensive wall that made it effectively inaccessible. The present entrance is, in fact, a relatively modern way into the village: the original entrance lies in the south-east of the village and is called El Portal (the gateway). A steep ramp leads up to the Plaça Major (main square) and passes along Carrer de les Esportelles. The Castell de Llimiana would once have formed part of a larger system of castles and defensive towers, including the fortifications of Llordà, Mur, Sant Gervàs and Orcau.  The church which is probably the village’s most symbolic building, provides evidence of the importance that this settlement had in the past. The church is a Romanesque-style building with three naves that dates from the end of the 11th century and is presided over by the Verge de la Mare de Déu de la Cinta (Virgin of La Cinta). Wars, reforms and a lack of understanding have all left their negative mark on the Romanesque heritage that this building used to house, including a wooden figure of Christ, decorations and paintings. More recently, the church has housed an image of Sant Salvador del Bosc (the Holy Saviour of the Forest), which is kept in the crypt below the altar.The south-west part of the village is called the Mü. The rock on which the village is built divides the settlement with a vertical wall that is tens of metres high. It is therefore logical to assume that the name derived from the word Mur (wall) and referred to this rock formation. From the Placeta del Mü (wall square), it is possible to enjoy impressive views of the Castell de Mur, Guàrdia and the Terradets reservoir. The somewhat strange way of writing Mü is explained by the fact that the name is written in this way an official sign that was put up by the local council and which rarely passes unnoticed.  The southern part of the village is mainly formed by the houses that cluster around the winding main street, which is known as El Solà This is the part of the village that receives most sunlight, above all in harsh winters, when the sun is lower in the sky and appears to cling closest to the Serra del Montsec.Next to the church, visitors will find the Plaça del Fossar Vell (old ditch square), which used to be the local cemetery. The present cemetery lies off to the right from the road leading into the village. The square used to house the local school, but the original building has been reconstructed and now operates as an inn and restaurant. The whole square was renewed in 2001.THE HERMITAGE OF SANT ANDREU DE LA SERRA
The mountain that stands to the east, heading towards Aransis and the Vall de Barcedana, is known as la serra (the ridge). On the nearest peak of the ridge stands the Ermita de Sant Andreu (Hermitage of Saint Andrew), with the two small semi-circular apses which were uncovered in 1972.

SANT SALVADOR DEL BOSC
Hermitage and mountain shelter on Montsec
Variation in altitude, 620 m.
Time required, 3h (going and returning by the same path)San Salvador del bosc or Sant del bosc (Holy Saviour of the Forest) is a shrine located up on the eastern part of the Serra del Montsec de Rúbies, in the municipal area of Llimiana. The site is Romanesque in origin and houses a wooden figure of great value. Devotion to this figure is widespread and extends to municipalities and villages that are quite distant from Llimiana, including districts on the other side of Montsec.The site is located amongst the steep gullies of the northern face of Montsec and stands at a great height. From it, it is possible to look out over the Vall de Barcedana (Barcedana valley), the Conca de Tremp (Tremp water basin) and the Pantà de Terradets (Terradets reservoir). On a clear day, it is also possible to see the main peaks of the Huesca and Pallars Pyrenees.To get to the shrine, it is necessary to follow a dirt track that heads off from the LV-9121, the local road to Llimiana. This track branches off just a few metres from the Barcedana bridge and gradually climbs up towards the lands of Hostalroig. After about 3 km, visitors should turn off to the right, where a wooden signpost indicates the start of the route. Travelling by car, it is possible to continue a little further along the track and then pick up the footpath a little further on. This saves quite a bit of time, but those who take this option will miss the first shrine. All along the footpath trekkers will find piles of stones and religious images and oratories. The path narrows when it begins its steep ascent and then becomes a rough track along which it is necessary to walk in single file. The track is full of twists and turns to overcome the slope and it is because of this that it is popularly known as 'El camí de les cent corbes' (the path of the hundred curves). Every year there is a popular gathering at the shrine on the last Sunday in September.

THE “PARET DE LES BRUIXES” (WITCHES’ WALL)Medium-high difficulty climbing routes.
A new individual sports climbing sector has been developed at the Terradets gorge, one of the areas with most climbing tradition in Spain. The sector in which Les Bruixes operates is relatively small, but the rock face has routes classified from 6c to 8c and more than half of them are class 7c and above. This climbing style calls for a great effort and good quality holds with 90% of these movements being made on tufa columns and holds. The wall of Les Bruixes offers over 60 different sports climbing routes, the majority of which are on its lower section. The routes are long (25-35 metres) and steeply sloping and most of them have a small stone bearing the name of the route.

THE “COVA DELS MURICECS” (BAT CAVE)
  Terradets Gorge. Montsec de Rúbies.
Depth 390 m.The Cova dels Muricecs, or Muriacs, can be found in the municipal area of Llimiana, on the Serra del Montsec. It is in a wall of the Congost de Terradets (Terradets Gorge) and stands a few metres above the river Noguera Pallaresa. Its name derives from the bats that inhabitant the cave. Human remains dating from prehistoric times and the Bronze and Iron Ages have also been found at this site, which has been damaged by paintings left by more recent and less sensitive visitors.This is the best known and most accessible cave, but from Llimiana it is also possible to visit a series of other very interesting caves: the Cova Negra (Black Cave), the Forat del Gel (Ice Hole) and the Forat de l'Or (Gold Hole).