Marina Vilalta i Fajula has died at the age of 99, according to confirmation from her family. Born near the Taga mountain in 1927, Vilalta spent nearly a century tending her flock of Guirra sheep across the Ripollès mountains, continuing her daily routine through changing weather conditions until her final days.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Mountain Herding
Vilalta was born in a humble family in Solanguit, at the foot of the Taga, and grew up deeply rooted in Ogassa and Bruguera within the municipal district of Ribes de Freser. According to historical accounts and regional reporting, she began her journey in the pastoral trade at a very young age, accompanying her father into the fields when she was just five years old—or nine years old, depending on the specific biographical recounting—maintaining the profession for virtually her entire life. Aside from a brief pause when she became a mother, she remained a constant fixture of the rugged mountain landscape.
After marrying Sebastià Terruella and moving to Bruguera at the age of 22, Vilalta brought two sheep from her family home to join the local flock, eventually building her own herd to 130 head. In a community where herding was traditionally dominated by men, she stood out as a pioneering female presence. She famously described her connection to the profession simply: she was born among sheep, and the sheep gave her freedom.
Cultural Legacy and Honors
In recognition of her decades of labor and her role in preserving rural traditions, Vilalta received several high-profile accolades. In 2022, the Generalitat awarded her the prestigious Creu de Sant Jordi. The honor recognized her long career in animal husbandry, her contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage, and her transmission of oral traditions, folk songs, and popular knowledge—particularly notable given that she never had the opportunity to learn to read or write.
Her life and impact were further documented in local cultural projects, including the documentary La pubilla produced by Televisió del Ripollès and the book Una vida a les muntanyes by Abraham Orriols. Both works highlighted her resilience and independence in breaking traditional occupational stereotypes.
Community Tribute in Bruguera
The local municipality honored Vilalta during her lifetime when the town council of Ribes de Freser officially named a public square in Bruguera after her in 2022. Mònica Sanjaume, the mayor of the municipality, expressed deep condolences following her passing, emphasizing the significance of having been able to honor her while she was still alive. Her death marks the end of an era for the primary sector, leaving the Ripollès region without one of its most enduring links to traditional mountain herding.
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