Sallent de Gállego is taking part in the “PASTORALISM, CULTURE, CROSS-BORDER TRANSHUMANCE” (PaCTT) project, which aims to strengthen cross-border pastoral culture in our region through the construction of infrastructure and the promotion of living cultural heritage. It also seeks to promote sustainable agro-pastoral and tourism development, thereby strengthening the actions and capacities of its social, economic and cultural stakeholders.
The promotion of the International Year of Pastoralism (2026) forms part of the project’s activities. In Sallent de Gállego, two events have been organised to mark this year.
Firstly, a day’s event on transhumance in the Tena Valley has been organised for 27 June. During this event, we will hike up to the Ibón de Espelunciecha, following ancient livestock trails through the Pyrenees. Along the way, the landscape will become a veritable open book, revealing mountain passes, traditional routes, ‘tenas’ (summer pastures) and other features linked to pastoral life.
During the event, we will learn interesting facts about transhumance, its history and significance in the Tena Valley, the shepherd’s trade, and the various tasks that have shaped the livestock calendar throughout the year. This is a free event open to the public.
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The second of these initiatives focuses on promoting and highlighting ‘La Marcha’, a cross-border gathering between the residents of Sallent de Gállego, in the Tena Valley, and those of Arrens-Marsous, in the Azun Valley, which this year will celebrate its 25th edition on Saturday 22 August.
During this event, the pacts of friendship and harmony between the Azun Valley and the Tena Valley are commemorated at the Peyre de Saint Martin Pass.
It all began on 5 May 1544, when the inhabitants of Arrens-Marsous in the Azun Valley and those of Sallent de Gállego and Panticosa in the Tena Valley, met at the Collado de la Peyre de Saint Martin to sign peace agreements, which were renewed on 28 June 1547 in Sallent de Gállego and on 30 June 1719 at the Puerto de la Piedra de San Martin. This event has been held every year since July 2000.
The activities to be carried out for the march as part of the PaCTT programme include the production of a short documentary about the day, featuring interviews with participants and historical information about the meeting.
