The municipality of Baix Pallars was established in 1969 through the grouping of the former municipalities of Gerri de la Sal, Peramea, Baén, and Montcortès. Geographically, it closes the southern part of Pallars Sobirà, bordering the Arboló gorge to the north and the Collegats gorge to the south. This area represents a transition between the characteristics of the Pre-Pyrenees and the Pyrenees, with altitudes ranging from 591 meters at the valley floor to 1,400 meters at Sant Aventí peak.
Gerri de la Sal, the municipal capital, is located on the bank of the Noguera Pallaresa river. Its origin dates back to the 10th century, with the Monastery of Santa Maria de Gerri de la Sal as the founding nucleus, connected to the village by an old bridge. Salt activity has been the economic base of the population from the Middle Ages until the last third of the 20th century. Currently, guided tours are available to the evaporation flats and the Alfolí (Salt House) in Plaça Mercadal, testifying to its great economic importance.
Within the municipal area, there are natural spaces of great value. Montcortès Lake, located in the Pla de Corts, is the only undammed lake of karstic origin in the Lleida Pyrenees, with a depth of about 30 meters. This lake area, included in the PEIN, is a point of scientific interest due to its variety of migratory birds and flora. Furthermore, part of the Boumort National Hunting Reserve, created in 1991, extends through the municipality, noted for its faunal richness, especially the presence of deer and the breeding of scavenging birds of prey.
Pallars Sobirà is a region rich in Romanesque art, featuring remarkable monuments such as Sant Joan d'Isil, Sant Pere del Burgal, and the mural paintings of Sant Cerni de Baiasca, considered the oldest in Catalonia preserved in situ.
The Romanesque heritage of the region is extensive. Besides the Gerri de la Sal monastery, other notable examples can be found nearby, such as the sanctuary of Santa Maria d'Àneu or the monastery of Sant Pere del Burgal. The mural paintings of the parish church of Sant Cerni de Baiasca, attributed to the same master of Taüll, are particularly valuable for being the oldest in Catalonia preserved in their original location. Additional demographic and territorial data can be consulted at Idescat: http://www.idescat.cat/.
