Day 373 - 19/09/2014 : Molló, Santa Cecilia Church

Molló is a town belonging to Ripollés shire and located at the French border, connected with the neighbor country by the Coll d'Ares.

Livestock and tourism are the main economical facts on the town whose main sight is a Romanesque church governing all the village.

The 12C Romanesque Santa Cecilia church has a pretty Catalan bell-tower and is situated at the top of the village (1,150 m) and provides magnificent views. The mountains are covered with holms oak and the sky is often menacing.

Enjoy it !

Day 372 - 18/09/2014 : Catalan products

We were in SetCases a few day ago talking about its church and the near Ter river birth. Today we are talking about other relevant sight : an impressive gastronomical offer from Catalan products.


Ca la Nuria is the most known food shop in Setcases. They are mostly referenced as honey producers however they sell a lot of different local products as mushrooms or cereals, all of them delicious.

Furthermore, you should buy lot of handmade souvenirs from the town and the area.

Would you like to check them?

Day 371 - 17/09/2014 : Hotel Els Caçadors, breakfast

If you looking for a pleasant accommodation on Ripollés shire, definitely you've to point at Hotel Els Caçadors in Ribes de Freser.

Ribes is the town based on the excursions to Nuria valley start because there is the main rope-way station to Queralbs and Nuria.

Els Caçadors represents a strong combination of quality and good price, you will be able to request for a jacuzzi room and enjoy a fantastic meal in the restaurant whose breakfast is widely known.

Notice on that !!!

Day 370 - 16/09/2014 : Dorrià, Church of Sant Victor

Dorrià is municipality belonging to Toses with only a few inhabitants, in fact around 20 of them registered. The remarks for this village is to be one of the most highest towns in Catalonia, located at 1550 meters bsl.

It has been designed as Bé Cultural d'Interès Nacional (National Heritage) due to its beauty and the impressive Romanesque paintings on Sant Victor church.

We found that church in a cold January afternoon and we enjoyed it, the town was quiet, no people walking on the streets and we were able to toll the tower bells !

Why don't try by you?

Day 369 - 15/09/2014 : Toses, Church of Sant Cristofol

Today, we are running on the Ribes Valley which probably you've listened about Collada de Toses, the stepped road between Ribes de Freser and Toses.

Toses is a little mountainous town whose main sight is Sant Cristofol church. It was built in two stages: the nave and the bell tower in the 11th century, and the apse a century later.

The church consists of a nave crowned by an apse and covered with a pointed barrel vault. Important fragments of mural from the 12th century still remain in the interior of the church. The paintings on the apse are very faithful to the original, which are in the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (“Catalan National Art Museum”); they consist of a Pantocrator and scenes of Cain and Abel’s lives.

Follow the Romanesque route !!!
 

Day 368 - 14/09/2014 : Vall d'Aran, panorama from Vielha

The Val d'Aran is a valley in the Pyrenees mountains and the northwesterer shire in Catalonia, belonging part of the province of Lleida.

The Val d'Aran borders France on the north, the Spanish Autonomous Community of Aragon to the west and the Catalan comarques of Alta Ribagorça to the south and Pallars Sobirà to the east.

The main city is Vielha, mostly known by the tunnel opened in 1948 which allowed the communication with the south in winter time.

Mountainous landscape, rivers, quiet atmosphere, peace, Vall d'Aran is a must in your trip around Catalonia, don't forget it !

Day 367 - 13/09/2014 : Ripoll reproduction

Some years ago when passing a pleasant weekend on Ripollés we discovered a model of Ripoll and the surroundings area just in front of Santa Maria cathedral.

We were impressed by the detail of the models, reproducing all the building construction, gardens, towers, stairs even the people living there.

We asked for the exhibition timeline and they told us it's usually shown during Christmas, notice that on your agenda !

Day 366 - 12/09/2014 : Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery

Sant Joan de les Abadesses is a town and located in the south-east of the Ripollès shire, in the province of Girona.

The town is located along the upper part of the River Ter, in the valley of the same name, and enclosed by the Serra Cavallera to the north and the mountain of Sant Antoni to the south.

The main sight is the Monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses, founded in the late 9th century, with the current Romanesque complex built in the 12th century.

The monastery was founded in 885 by Guifré el Pilós Count, who destined it to the education of his daughter Emma, who later became the first abbess. Guifré had previously founded the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll for his son Radulf.

In 1592 the monastery was secularized and converted into a simple collegiate, suppressed in 1856. It was declared a Historical Monument in 1931. Definitely, it deserves a visit !!!

Day 365 - 11/09/2014 : Tregurà de Dalt

First year of the blog reached !!! Today we are visiting a stunning town in Pyrenees, we are talking about Tregurà de Dalt.

This town is known due to the rural tourism offer being located in the magnificent mountainous area of Ripollet shire. It's located at 1425 m. asl

In fact, Tregurà belongs to Villalonga de Ter town but Tregurà is nicer and an advisable visit if you are running up on Ripollés north.

Enjoy your climbing !!!

Day 364 - 10/09/2014 : SetCases

Setcases is a little village in the Pyrenean shire of Ripollès in Girona, near the French border.

Having the Ter river birth in the mountains just above Setcases, it becomes one of the best sights to explore from the town.
              
The name Setcases has been documented back to 965, from the record of a few donations made by Count Sunifred of Besalú in the nearby monastery of Sant Pere de Camprodon.


In the picture of today, mostly showed the church which contains a Baroque altarpiece dedicated to Saint Michael, which is the only such example of one in all of the Camprodon Valley.
 
Today, Setcases has most of its economic base in year-round tourism, including hiking in the warmer months Ulldeter and skiing during the winter season with a lift at Vallter.

Would you like to visit it?

Day 363 - 09/09/2014 : Ter river's birth

Just before reaching the parking area of Vallter 2000 resort we can see how Ter river is rising between mountains.

Specifically,  Ter rises in Ulldeter at an approximate elevation of 2,400 meters, at the foot of a glacial cirque delimited by the nearby peaks of el Bastiments, el Gra de Fajol, or el Pic de la Dona.

It runs through the comarques of Ripollès, Osona, Selva, Gironès, and Baix Empordà, discharging into the Mediterranean Sea at l'Estartit.

The Ter follows a course of 208 kilometers and drains an area of approximately 3,010 square kilometers becoming one of the most important factor in Catalan agriculture.

Ter, essence of life !

Day 362 - 08/09/2014 : Vallter 2000

Vallter 2000 is a ski resort located in the Vallter valley, in Setcases within Girona Pyrenees area. The resort has an alpine ski area that extends from 1,910 to 2,535 metres.

As its name suggests is placed in the Ter River, specifically its axial zone (at birth). Framed by the peaks of Bastiments, Gra de fajol and Pic de la dona, the resort occupies the northern part of the Ulldeter circus and western of the Morens.

Station ranges from 2,000 to 2,500 meters, although the basic service and the main car park are not located at lower elevation but from around 2200 meters, from which emerge all lifts except two.

The resort represents an important economical factor for the Camprodon Valley, and probably has contributed increasing the tourist attraction to the villages in the area.

Would you like spend some day running in the snow?

Day 361 - 07/09/2014 : Forest railway

Montesquiu Park gives us the chance to enjoy great walks by a Pyrenees forest just in the border of Osona shire and mountain range.

After climbing during a few minutes coming back to the castle we will be able to observe the railway from the historical Puigcerda line and we might be lucky and watch for a train running up.

The relief of this area marks the transition from the Vic Plain (Plana de Vic) to the Pyrenees mountains which can be perfectly noticed by the excursion around Montesquiu.

Why don't feel by yourself?

Day 360 - 06/09/2014 : Camprodon at night

Camprodon is a small town in the Ripollès shire in Girona located in the Pyrenees, near the French border.

The settlement of Camprodon was in 1118, when Ramon Berenguer III allowed the creation of a market near the monastery of Sant Pere de Camprodon, which is located in the present-day town. In 1252, Camprodon was granted the title of royal city and left the jurisdiction of the abbot of Sant Pere.

The New Bridge, built between 1196 and 1226, arches over the Ter River. It was partially rebuilt during the 14th century and restored again in 1930. It is a stone bridge of a single arch that supports an imposing wide path of double gradient united to a solid defensive tower on the edge of town. The bridge is the most emblematic element of Camprodon and has been declared a Historical-Artistic Monument of National Interest.

Would you like to crossing it?

Day 359 - 05/09/2014 : Montesquiu Castle

Montesquiú is a village located north of Osona, to which it belongs since 1990 earlier belonged to the Ripollès.

The first building of which the news is the Castle documented 1285, therefore it represents the most significant icon to visit the town.

The Castle and its surrounded park can be visited according to its time table, there are guided tours during the weekends and bank holidays. Furthermore, every year a race to climb to castle is held cataloged by many runners as a very interesting circuit due to unevenness there.

Enjoy your visit !!!! 

Day 358 - 04/09/2014 : La Noguera

Noguera  is the largest shire in Catalonia and its area represents some 5,56% of the country. It is part of the historical county of Urgell and currently belongs to the Province of Lleida. Its capital is Balaguer.

The whole shire activity is managed by Consell Comarcal, a Catalan organization responsible for the administration of the Noguera resources.

Mainly dedicated to agriculture and animal livestock it's a recommended place for rural tourism due to a wide offer of rural house across the territory.

What about a weekend in a old farm?

Day 357 - 03/09/2014 : Ponts panorama

Just after passing Rialb dam we will find a fantastic view of Ponts, one of the most beautiful and important towns in Noguera shire.

Ponts is situated on the left bank of the Segre river near its confluence with the Llobregós river and at the point where the routes from Calaf (currently the C-1412 road) and Cervera (currently the L-313 road) meet the route from Lleida to La Seu d'Urgell (currently the C-1313 road).

Economy is based on agriculture (cereals, olives, vine, potato, sunflowers) and animal husbandry (domestic sheep, pigs, birds). The industry sector comprises food processing and textiles.

Definitely, it deserves a visit !

Day 356 - 02/09/2014 : Rialb dam

Just before reaching Ponts following C1412 road we will find the magnificent Rialb dam, the second largest in Catalonia.

Rialb dam is 99 metres high and construction began in 1992, a few kilometres downstream from Oliana dam.  Opened in 2000, the reservoir has a capacity of 403 hm3, supplying more than 80 population centres via the Segarra-Garrigues Canal and the Urgell Canal.

Rialb reservoir lies beneath Tiurana, bounded by the mountains of Peramola, Oliana, Bassella, Baronia del Rialb, Ponts and Tiurana itself. Fed by the River Segre, the Rialb, which gives it its name, and the Ribera Salada and surrounded by beautiful forests climbing the slopes of the hills and mountains, where you can see various hermitages and farmhouses, all of them very old, it forms a magnificent natural landscape.

What do you think about?

Day 355 - 01/09/2014 : Between Pallars and Noguera

Starting in Tremp, C1412 road crosses central Catalonia linking Pallars and Noguera shires offering beautiful landscapes and lot of little shops to buy local and handmade products.

A farmhouse Perdigués, since 1998, sausages are made by hand from the highest quality. Thanks to the raw materials and the climate and structure of the farmhouse, enjoy a natural drying.

You can also find other traditional products such as olive oil, sheep’s cheese, chocolate, and the seasonal black truffles.

Enjoy the journey !

Day 354 - 31/08/2014 : Tremp, Santa María de Valldeflors church

Tremp, the capital of the Pallars Jussà shire of Lleida, is located in a setting shaped by the river Noguera Pallaresa. The natural surroundings offer a great many routes and the opportunity to do all kinds of outdoor activities.

Its historic quarter, with a medieval layout, has its centre in Plaza de la Creu, site of the City Hall and the church of Santa María de Valldeflors. Also to be seen are several defensive towers which belonged to the city's old wall.

The church is widely known and the most visited place in Tremp, therefore it's worth it to spend some time on it !

Day 353 - 30/08/2014 : Montllobar hill, Eagle flying free

In a cold winter afternoon we were climbing Montlloba hill (of course by car !!!) when we stopped for a while to admire the Pallars landscape.

We were lucky in that stop because we were able to see an eagle flying free creating a fantastic and magical moment which we caught with our camera.

The nature offered sometimes unexpected events that bring us special moments, above all if we are enjoying our country.

Coming back from Japan, Visca Catalunya Lliure !