After thirteen years of inactivity, the hydraulic sawmill in Alós d'Isil will turn its wheel again on August 28th. The FustÀneu association has led the complete restoration of the facility and the cleaning of the water channel, aiming to reinstate its original function in a demonstrative and accessible manner.
The restart is part of the "Recuperem les serradores de les valls d'Àneu" (Let's Recover the Sawmills of the Àneu Valleys) event. The initiative seeks to preserve historical heritage and educate the public on the traditional use of hydraulic power for wood processing.
This wooden and stone building, strategically located near the river and the village, has deep local roots. After a fire in 1953, the residents of Alós d'Isil themselves rebuilt it. Now, the work of FustÀneu volunteers ensures the sawmill is ready to cut beams again, this time with a demonstrative and educational purpose to safeguard this cultural legacy.
Hydraulic sawmills were key traditional infrastructures in the Pyrenees for forest-dependent communities, boosting local economies for centuries. Many remained active until the early 1970s, when the advent of electricity changed production models. With this restoration, Alós d'Isil recovers an emblematic element for visitors to learn firsthand about the operation and value of this valley heritage.
