PR 29 - LE CHEMIN DE ST-JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE

LE CHEMIN DE SAINT JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE
PR N°29

Welcome to the routes of Santiago de Compostela in the Pyrenees-Cerdagne. The itinerary crosses this high plain of altitude that is Cerdanya. This small island in the middle of the mountains has been a place of passageway and life since the very beginning. The richness and diversity of Cerdanya's historical and cultural heritage generally surprise those who discover it. The long history of this region and its privileged location are probably at the origin of this luxuriant heritage.
More than just an itinerary of the Santiago de Compostela routes, it is an invitation to discovery that is proposed for you.

Departure: Col de la Perche, arrival at the church of Rigolisa, Puigcerdà, Spain

THAT'S WORTH A VISIT! Part 1: the Pascarets dolmen:

The Pascarets dolmen is one of the megalithic monuments in the surroundings of Eyne. Its geographical position is interesting: It is located in the centre of a large rocky flat, with a perfectly clear view, slightly overlooking the landscape and more precisely the Eyne River.
The dolmen of the Pascarets is characteristic because it is quite regular. It is a simple dolmen, consisting of a horizontal slab (the "roof slab") and several vertical slabs (the "orthostats"), defining a protected cavity (the "chamber"). This room is quite small. What is remarkable here is the regularity of the slab, rather round, and its heaviness. It is very thick and one can imagine the difficulties encountered in positioning it on orthostats. The dolmen is exclusively made of granite, a local rock. There is no trace of the tumulus that was supposed to have been there at the time of its construction.
It is difficult to date this dolmen precisely, but given its structure and simplicity, it is probably one of the buildings of the third megalithic period, around the end of the 2nd millennium B.C.

THAT'S WORTH A VISIT! Part 2: Llivia

Llivia was frequented since the Iron Age. Its initial name was Kerres (mountainous chain) from which the word Cerdanya will derive. In the place called "Les Queres" have been found objects dated to the Neolithic period. Around 200 BC, the Romans built a "castrum" in this strategic place. The inhabitants even received the civil rights of the Roman citizens and the city will change its name to Llívia.
In the 8th century, the city was conquered by Muslims. The latter renamed it Medinet-el-bab, "the city of the gate". A short-lived occupation since 50 years later, Pépin le Bref took control of this border area. In the 13th century, a source of diplomatic challenges, it returned to the hands of the kings of Majorca.
Today, apart from its picturesque sloping alleys, its slate-capped houses and the ruins of its medieval castle, the site mainly attracts sportsmen and other lovers of authenticity. But Llívia also has another attraction: its pharmacy, one of the oldest in Europe. Dated from the 15th century and converted into a museum, it contains ancient apothecary instruments and numerous publications.

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