L'Avenc de Tavertet. Quan les pedres enamoren

Abstract

When one comes across an ancient house that literally speaks to you, if you are like I was at the age of 34, and like my husband, Joaquim Abey, then 39, you might well fall in love with it and become entangled, as a couple, in the project whatever the outcome. This is what happened in the 1980s when my brother, Matthew Parris, first came across L'Avenc on the path from Rupit to Tavertet. We bought the property from Joan Sarsanedas in 1997, who then became our master builder during the reconstruction and restoration of the original buildings and, what at the time seemed easy, became an uphill jog for many years to come. Our young family's life had changed forever and our three children were taken on a journey of no return for better or for worse. The house and cottages were restored literally only after many trials and tribulations but by 2004 work was done, although due to many difficulties and our lack of experience, it was obviously not going to be economically viable as a business. We had already spent much more than intended and still had not obtained permission to open as a rural tourist self-catering accommodation for the 4 cottages. We realized we would have to make it into a larger enterprise to make ends meet. This difficulty in fitting into the bureaucratic framework of what was and what was not allowed went on and on, sapping us at times of our original energy and joy. Andrew Hubble helped us to connect the house to a renewable energy source as it had no electricity. Many other villagers and passers-by told us stories, brought us photos and generally kept our spirits up as the work continued. After a time, though, the owner of the neighboring farm, who had never liked us, cut off our water and we eventually had to take him to court after three years of no supply. A fog of difficulties seemed to be enveloping us and blocking out the bright crisp mornings that had shown us the views and beauty of this ancient house and site and that had captivated us that first frosty November. Little by little, thanks to the help of an Olot-based team to promote and help new enterprises called La Garrotxa Leader (now Adrinoc), that we were sent to by Manlleu's municipal economic promotion department, we saw the light again and were set on a pioneering path towards sustainable tourism. We applied to build the new wing, which my husband, Joaquim Abey, had always envisaged as necessary to make the business viable, and after 6 more years of paperwork first we were given the go-ahead by the tourist board to open, while we were away ourselves on holiday, and then, during the same year, we were finally given planning permission in October 2006 for the new wing. What was going to be a family home with cottages ended up being much, much more, and at quite a cost, both financially and emotionally speaking. I sometimes wonder whether the resulting Avenc would have been so large if things hadgone more smoothly. The fact is that now we have created a place with an innovative outlook and attract self-catering guests to enjoy this breathtaking corner of the world where problems diminish thanks to the perspective of the cliff views and to the clouds which are seen from above. Swifts soar by, cutting the wind, and vultures and eagles fly by so close you can hear the slow flap of their wings. Birds do live in the present. Nothing is that important. Our hope is that L'Avenc gives peace to all those who visit and that it should always be cared for by people of peace. My final word is to encourage local and central authorities to make decision-making and planning permission for the applicant fairer and easier and to help smooth out the difficulties he or she will invariably encounter along the way. Society needs private initiative and historical ruins need care, love and investment. The private and public sector must work hand-in-hand and shorten the time to 8 weeks to receive an approval or rejection to save time and energy and to avoid unnecessary emotional stress.