It took humanity centuries to impose itself on the terrain of some of the small, winding valleys in the southernmost local districts of Lleida. There, people worked slowly, and by hand, to turn each small slope into a narrow field in which they could plant their olive trees, wheat, almond trees and vineyards. Not all of the architecture that we need to conserve consists of churches and castles, and this is no doubt what UNESCO had in mind when it recognised dry-stone constructions as part of World Heritage, in 2018. We are speaking of thousands of walls and shelters that were built by the inhabitants of these and other Mediterranean regions, and of a popular and practical form of architecture which was carefully and painstakingly developed for the greater glory and daily survival of its authors. Although it is in these regions that dry-stone architecture is most visible and common, it is also possible to find small jewels of this type hidden in the most unsuspected corners. Each region, each culture, and indeed each settlement, developed its own structures, in its own way, to satisfy its own needs, and with the stones that it had at its disposal.

The Centre for Interpreting Dry-Stone Constructions

Plaça Vileta, 11 
25176 Torrebesses, Lleida
T. 646 322 000
turismetorrebesses.com