'CANIGÓ', THE POEM ABOUT THE CATALAN MOUNTAIN

Today, The Grandma has received wonderful news about one of her closest friends, Merche Addams.

 

They have been talking about cinema and literature, and especially about Canigó, the epic poem written by Jacint Verdaguer, the author known as The prince of Catalan poets.

 

The Canigó is a mountain located in the Pyrenees of Northern Catalonia.

The Canigó is located less than 50 kilometres from the sea and has an elevation of 2,784.66 metres. Due to its sharp flanks and its dramatic location near the coast, until the 18th century the Canigó was believed to be the highest mountain in the Pyrenees.

Being between south and Northern Catalonia, the mountain has a historical symbolical significance for Catalan people.

The Canigó is located in Pyrénées-Orientales, south of Prades and north of Prats de Molló. Its summit lies on the border between two communes: Vernet and Taurinyà (although the territories of two other communes -Castell de Vermet and Vallmanya- approach quite closely to the summit).

Its location makes it visible from the plains of Rosselló and from Conflent in Northern Catalonia, and as well from Empordà in Southern Catalonia.

Twice a year, in early February and at the end of October, with good weather, the Canigó can be seen at sunset from as far as Marseille, 250 km away, by refraction of light. This phenomenon was observed in 1808 by baron Franz Xaver von Zach from the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica in Marseille. All year long, it can also be seen, with good weather, from Agde, Port-Camargue and the Montagne Noire.

Jeep tracks on the north side of the massif lead to the Chalet des Cortalets (at 2150 m) which is a popular outpost with walkers.

There are two ancient monasteries at the foot of the mountain, Sant Martí del Canigó and Sant Miquel de Cuixà.

The mountain has symbolical significance for Catalan people. On its summit stands a cross that is often decorated with the Catalan flag.

Every year on 23 June, the night before St. John's day (nit de Sant Joan), there is a ceremony called Flama del Canigó.

French Catalans carry a flaming torch from Perpinyà to the cross and the Catalonian flag on top of the mountain, and people light bonfires throughout the area.

The Canigó inspired the epic poem Canigó by Catalan poet Jacint Verdaguer i Santaló.

Més informació: Canigó

 Lo Canigó és una magnòlia immensa
que en un rebrot del Pirineu se bada;
per abelles té fades que la volten,
per papallons los cisnes i les àligues.
Formen son càlzer escarides serres
que plateja l’hivern i l’estiu daura,
grandiós beire on beu olors l’estrella,
los aires rellentor, los núvols aigua.
Les boscúries de pins són sos bardissos,
los Estanyols ses gotes de rosada,
i és son pistil aqueix palau aurífic,
somni d’aloja que del cel davalla.

The Canigó is an immense magnolia
that blooms in an offshoot of the Pyrenees;
its bees are the fairies that surround it,
and its butterflies the swans and the eagles.
Its cup are jagged mountain chains,
colored in silver by the winter and in gold by the summer,
huge cup where the star drinks fragrances,
the airs freshness and the clouds water.
The pine forests are its hedges
and the ponds its dew drops,
and its pistil is that golden palace,
seen by the nymph in her dreams descending from heaven.

Jacint Verdaguer