The Pyrenees

Most people will know that the primary languages of the Pyrenees are Spanish and French since these mountains form a natural border between these two countries. However, there are several other languages spoken here too including, Catalan, Basque, Aragonese and Occitan!

Basque

The Basque language is the most fascinating as it does not belong to any of the European language families but is what is known as an "isolated language" or "lonely language". In other words, its history and origins remain a secret. Another such language is Korean, but there are around 100 isolate languages in the word currently. It is spoken on the Atlantic Coast and in adjacent mountain valleys. During Franco's dictatorship in Spain, it was forbidden but it is now once again the official language of the Basque region.

Catalan

The official regional language of Catalonia, which stretches to the south of Tarragonaand all the way north to the French/Spanish border and into the Pyrenees and Andorra. It’s a Romance languageand some believe it’s a dialect of Spanish evolved from the vulgar Latin that was spoken by the Romans who colonised the Tarragona area.

Aragonese

Also a Romance language and one that originated in the Middle Ages. It is spoken by fewer than 10,000 people in the province of Huesca. Although it was once spoken by all inhabitants of Aragon but not Catherine of Aragon who spoke Spanish, Latin, French and Greek, which were the more "educated" languages of that time.

Occitan

A Romance language but a dialect of Catalan, still spoken in certain areas of southern France and amazingly even in some Occitan valleys in Italy and Spain's Val D'Aran. Over a hundred years ago the French central government banned it from being taught in schools, but it continues as it is intrinsically linked to the traditions and legends of these areas, particularly farming and when referring to animals and plants.