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Second “Paths to Freedom across the Pyrenees” Day Celebrated in Andorra

December 18, 2008

Tags: Spanish Civil War, Crossing the Pyrenees
On December 2, 1937, St Josemaria arrived in Andorra after crossing the Pyrenees mountain range from Spain. To commemorate the anniversary of this expedition, Saturday November 22, the second “Paths to Freedom across the Pyrenees” day was held in the Auditori Rocafort at the Centre Cultural de Congressos in Sant Julia de Loria, Andorra. More than 100 people from Catalonia and Andorra took part.

The celebration was organized by the “Association of Friends of the Pallerols-Andorra Way”, in cooperation with the University of Andorra, the Commune of St Jula de Loria, the government of Andorra, and the Alt Urgell district council.

The purpose of the celebration was to commemorate the many people who, down through the centuries, have had to cross over the Pyrenees to regain their freedom. One of the speakers, Jordi Piferrer, gave an overview of the expeditions guided by Josep Cirera, from Cal Roger de Bellestar. He spoke at length about the one that included St Josemaria Escriva, who, with seven companions, left Oliana on November 19, 1937, and arrived in Andorra on December 2. More refugees joined the group as they traveled, and by the time they reached Andorra there were around 25 of them. Piferrer explained that the route they followed is well documented thanks to the existence of contemporary accounts (diaries and notes written by those who took part in the expedition), conversations with Cirera, and records from other similar journeys – five in particular which followed the same path. All together, these documents prove that the route now known as the Pallerols-Andorra Way really does represent a faithful reflection of those expeditions.

Piferrer finished with a nine-minute video about the guide Josep Cirera, which summarized a two-hour documentary about him. The version presented by Piferrer shows the details of the Pallerols-Andorra Way, with a commentary from Cirera himself. It is 97 kilometers long, and climbs altogether 9,000 meters; it has now been signposted and marked with blue and yellow pointers all the way. In the past few years, more than 1,000 people from all over the world have traveled the route.

Albert Pintat, the head of government of Andorra, brought the day’s proceedings to a close, encouraging the organizers to continue their work of promoting the area and fostering the notions of respect and freedom for all.