Catalonia's Highest Village Buried Under Record Snow, Stranding Two Residents

Rubió, the highest village in Catalonia at 1,697 metres in the Pallars Sobirà region, is buried under heavy snow this winter, leaving its two year-round residents struggling with daily access.

Clàudia Castaño and Albert Santoja, the only permanent inhabitants since 2018, have faced repeated snowfalls that have piled up more than a metre on the streets. They shovel paths each day just to leave their homes, but these routes quickly turn to ice, raising the risk of slips. "Snow is beautiful on weekends when you're not working, but it's stressful if you need to drive for work," Castaño said. She added that they had never seen accumulations like this before.

The village lies next to the N-260 road at Port del Cantó. Snow ploughs clear the highway but dump massive heaps on the verges, often blocking the entrance to Rubió. Residents must then shovel their way out to join the main road.

Josep Maria Santasusagna, who lived there for two winters before leaving due to the harsh weather and isolation, visited on Thursday to check his property. He donned gaiters to wade through knee-deep snow in places, following a narrow path cleared by Castaño and Santoja. Shaded spots in the village see little sun, and locals expect the snow and ice to linger until well into spring.

Castaño expressed frustration at the endless shovelling—"you keep going, but it doesn't stop snowing"—and called on the local council for salt to treat streets or small machines to ease the work. The hardened snow has become impossible to remove in some areas.

Despite the challenges, Rubió serves as a starting point for hikes to the Les Comes de Rubió refuge. Castaño noted that skiers and snowshoers frequently pass through the village streets amid the deep drifts.