All Saints' Day Livestock Fair in Vilaller

The Vilaller All Saints' Fair is an event with more than a thousand years of history, being the oldest fair in the region and of great importance in the Pyrenees.

Its ancient character has made it a symbol of identity and tradition of this Pyrenean region, with a history closely linked to the rural economy and customs of the medieval period.

The origins of the Fair date back to the Middle Ages, when Vilaller was part of a key communication route between the Aran Valley and Ribagorça. This strategic location led to the creation of a fair that attracted merchants, artisans, and farmers from the nearby valleys and mountainous areas.

The fair became a meeting place for the buying and selling of local products and livestock, including sheep, cows, horses, and other farm animals.

During the Late Middle Ages, many European fairs, including Vilaller, received royal or ecclesiastical privileges, which consolidated their importance.

The celebration, held on November 2, had a practical motivation: after the harvest and before winter, it was the ideal time for farmers to sell their surplus produce and acquire supplies for the cold months. Thus, the fair took on a winter preparation character.

With the arrival of the 18th and 19th centuries, the fair underwent a period of expansion and diversification. Improved communications in the Pyrenees facilitated the arrival of merchants from more distant regions, even from southern France.

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