The Aran Valley lies in the north-west tip of the Pyrenees. Its remote location has helped it preserve local traditions and language - aranes is a variation of langue d'oc, or old southern French. Surrounded by mountains reaching an altitude of 3 000m, the area had difficult communications until the Vielha Tunnel opened in 1948. The beauty of the green meadows dotted with the grey slate roofs of the valley's 39 villages, the characteristic Aranese Romanesque architecture and the local ski resorts are all good reasons for exploring the valley.