In the Pyrenees mountains, in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Spain

 "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself." -- Alan Alda

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(in the Pyrenees mountains, in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Spain) Found in the scenic Val d’Aran (Aran Valley) in the middle of the Spanish Pyrenees, the village of Arties is surrounded by lush green meadows in Summer and snowy white peaks in Winter. The Aran Valley is considered by those "in-the-know" to be a pristine paradise, perfect for those who like to enjoy the great outdoors, where cycle paths, ski slopes, walks in thick woods on the trail of wild animals, and so much more, can be delightfully enjoyed. Val d’Aran also offers a lot of culture, a rich eno-gastronomic (food and wine tourism) tradition and many great possibilities for soothing relaxation. (In 2014, Aran Valley was the first mountain destination in the world to obtain the certification of sustainable tourism, as a “Biosphere Destination” by the Institute of Responsible Tourism, (a body associated with UNESCO and the World Tourism Organization). 
+ The hamlet of Arties, in the valley, is lined with colorful houses that are connected by old cobbled streets exuding the look-and-feel of many long-bygone centuries. Seemingly disconnected from the world, however, Arties is an ideal destination for romantic escapes, or solo retreats for a bit of quiet time to rethink the meaning (or purpose) of life, if any, while inhaling refreshing samples of cool mountain air. The road at the end of this charming village -- at the confluence of the Valarties and Garonne rivers, in a small widening of the Valley that's dominated by the peak of Montarto (at 2,833 meters) -- leads to the head of the Valarties river where Lake Mar (Lake Tort de Rius), a lake of glacial origin is located. In the old center of the village stands the parish church of Santa. Maria de Arties, a Romanesque structure built from the 11th to the 12th centuries; its elegant bell tower was added around the turn of the 14th century. To the north of the town, to the right of the Garonne river, the church of San Juan de Arties, is a Gothic building of the late14th century, with an octagonal bell tower -- which now serves as a museum facility that hosts traveling exhibitions. {To the south of Arties is the chapel of San Pelegri, with a small bell tower and a semicircular apse.)