Pyrenees Bonfires Descend the Mountain in Bagà
FestivalBagàRoad Trip
Where
Various venues
Getting there
~1h45 drive from Barcelona
Ages
All ages
Setting
Outdoors
Plan for
Drop-in, stay as long as kids last
Music
Traditional Pyrenean folk music
Fire safety
Keep small children at safe distance from flames
Mountain setting
Bagà village in the Pyrenees; plan travel time
What you need to know
- Torches down a dark mountain, a genuinely dramatic sight for kids who love fire and spectacle
- An after-dark winter night out, starting around sunset (7pm) high in the Pyrenees, so bundle up and plan a late drive home
- Keep little ones back from the flames, and expect close crowds around the bonfire in the plaça
About
Bagà's Fia-Faia is one of the most striking fire traditions in the Catalan Pyrenees, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On the night of December 24, fallaires light torches (faies) on the Siti hillside above the village at sunset, then carry the flames down the dark mountainside into Bagà. They gather in Plaça Catalunya to light a great bonfire, then sing and dance around the fire and share coca with quince allioli. It is a genuinely dramatic night out, but it happens after dark in the depth of winter, high in the Pyrenees about 1h45 from Barcelona, so dress warmly and plan for a late drive home. Keep small children well back from the flames.
Where it is
Various venues