CATALONIA PYRENEES: SANTUARI DE NURIA

After a three hours trekking along El Camí Vell de Núria, we reached the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Núria, where we spent a nice day in this fantastic environment. This Sanctuary is a popular place of pilgrimage. Sited at an altitude of almost 2000 metres, it provides not just a natural shelter among the high peaks, but also a spiritual oasis whose history can be traced to ancient origins and traditions.

Vall de Núria offers a great variety of year-round activities surrounded by nature, like archery, horseriding routes and ponies, boats and canoes, crazy golf and a playpark. Its wealth of mountains and rivers make the valley a spectacular setting in which to enjoy trails, peaceful spots and unique views.

One of the first images I saw as soon as I arrived at the Sanctuary of Núria. A fantastic view which makes me forget the effort

This lake in front of the Sanctuary of Núria gives an extra charm to this environment

A group of children having lunch after the trekking

The lake and the Sanctuary of Núria are surrounded by a large green area perfect for children

Resting after having lunch near the Sanctuary of Núria

Next to the Sanctuary of Núria, a creek  gives more live to this beautiful environment

 

A path to walk quietly around the Sanctuary of Núria

Entering the Sanctuary of Núria I liked this stained glass window with the image of a shepherd

 From up there the Virgin of Núria has a fantastic view of the Sanctuary

I visited Núria in summer, but there are a lot of things to do in Núria in winter too.  In this season, Vall de Núria becomes a welcoming ski resort with all the services of accommodation and  restaurants. Suitable for the whole family, for lovers of sports and nature who want to escape from the crowds and where the youngest will enjoy the magic of the snow. 

After visiting La Vall de Camprodon the previous day and La Vall de Núria, the next day we would see  Les Fonts del Llobregat  and a typical nearby village in the Pyrenees: Castellar de N'Hug.

Finally, clicking on the next links you will find links to other beautiful places in Catalonia, Andorra and France, among them, more interesting villages and landscapes in the Pyrenees, like:


- Catalonia:

• Aigüestortes National Park and La Vall de Boí
• Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park
• Camprodon, Ripoll and Setcases
• Medieval village of Beget
• Olot and Vall de'n Bas
• Santa Pau
• Port del Comte
• Puigcerdà

- Andorra:

• Andorra and La Seu d'Urgell
• Andorra Vallnord Ski Resort
• Andorra Vallnord Arinsal and Arcalís
• Andorra Grandvalira Grau Roig Ski Resort

- France:

• Carcassonne
• Canal du Midi and Pays Cathare
• Gorges de la Fou and Coustouges
• Villefranche de Conflent

CATALONIA - PYRENEES: VALL DE NURIA

Located in the heart of eastern Catalan Pyrenees, and surrounded by mountains of almost 3,000 meters, the Núria Valley is, because of its landscapes and the ease of access, a privileged place to know and to admire the high mountains of the Pyrenees.

We wanted to fully enjoy the wonderful environment of La Vall de Núria, so we decided to walk along El Camí Vell, which goes from Queralbs to the Sanctuary of Núria after having saved 750m of altitude. To be honest, I thought that this 7,7km trekking would be less tired. However, it's worth doing it to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of this valley.

Cliking on the next link you will find more information about El Camí Vell de Núria, the route we choose to reach the Sanctuary of Núria.

El Camí Vell de Núria near Queralbs, the starting point of our trekking

This small waterfall of La Vall de Núria was perfect for a picture

A nice view of La Vall de Núria shortly after leaving Queralbs, the starting point of our trekking along this beautiful valley

This stone bridge, called Pont del Cremal, was a perfect place to take a rest and enjoy the fantastic environment surrounding this creek

Of course we took some pictures of the Núria creek

The stone brigde deserves another picture. This place was one of the most beautiful ones of our trekking along La Vall de Núria

Here, in El Salt del Sastre viewpoint, we were about halfway to the Sanctuary of Núria

Here the path was easy, but sometimes this path was quite steep

The relaxing murmur of the Núria creek accompanied us all the way

A closer view of El Torrent de la Coma de les Perdius, shortly before arriving at the Sanctuary of Núria

In the end we arrived at the Sanctuary of Núria after having saved nearly 750m of altitude

This wonderful landscape of El Santuari de Núria was a deserved reward of our effort, wasn't it?

I strongly recommend this trekking along La Vall de Núria to know and enjoy the fantastic environment where the Sanctuary of Núria is. Besides, clicking on the next links you can see more pictures of La Vall de Núria and La Vall de Camprodon.

Finally, if you liked these landscapes, clicking on the next links you will find links to other fantastic places in the Pyrenees of Catalonia, Andorra and France, like:

- Catalonia:

• Aigüestortes National Park and La Vall de Boí
• Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park
• Castellar de N'Hug and Fonts del Llobregat
• Camprodon, Ripoll and Setcases
• Medieval village of Beget
• Olot and Vall de'n Bas
• Santa Pau
• Port del Comte
• Puigcerdà

- Andorra:

• Andorra and La Seu d'Urgell
• Andorra Vallnord Ski Resort
• Andorra Vallnord Arinsal and Arcalís
• Andorra Grandvalira Grau Roig Ski Resort

- France:

• Carcassonne
• Canal du Midi and Pays Cathare
• Gorges de la Fou and Coustouges
• Villefranche de Conflent

CATALONIA - PYRENEES: VALLS DE NURIA I CAMPRODON

The second weekend of june, a long one of three days, I walked in the end along La Vall de Nuria and visited El Santuari de Nuria, located at an altitude of almost 2000 meters above the sea level. This sanctuary, like Montserrat Monastery, is one of the most symbolic places in Catalonia.

I thought that the trekking of three hours along this valley would be less tired, but the reward was really worthy. The views of El Santuari de Núria and the good time I spent up there made me forget the rest.

Besides, during this three days we also visited some nice places of La Vall de Camprodon, like Camprodon, Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery and Beget. Finally, we spent a fantastic third day visiting the spectacular Fonts del Llobregat and Castellar de N'Hug, a typical village in the Pyrenees.

So, during this three days we visited:

- Day 1: Vall de Camprodon

• Camprodon
• Sant Joan de les Abadesses
• Beget

- Day 2: Vall de Núria

• Camí Vell de Núria
• Santuari de Núria

- Day 3: More Pyrenees

• Fonts del Llobregat
• Castellar de N'Hug

I had already spent some days in La Vall de Camprodon in 2008. That time I couldn't visit all the interesting places in Camprodon, although I could enter the symbolic Santa Maria de Ripoll Monastery and visit some lovely villages like Setcases.

Camprodon

Pont Nou in Camprodon over the Ter river

Enjoying nice views of Camprodon from the Pont Nou

Walking along Sant Roc Street we went from the Pont Nou to Valencia Street, the most lively street in Camprodon

Colourful buildings next to the Ter river in Camprodon

Sant Joan de les Abadesses

Overview of Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery, where you can see the gothic cloister and the bell tower of the romanesque church

As usual, the cloister of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery is a really quiet and noiseless place

Gothic archs of the cloister of Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery

Beget

Sant Cristòfol de Beget is a really nice romanesque church, as beautiful as the ones of La Vall de Boí

Typical stone houses in Beget, a lovely village in Camprodon valley

Nice view of Sant Cristòfol de Beget from La Plaça Major of Beget

Vall de Núria

Fantastic views of La Vall de Núria

This stone bridge over the Nuria river was a perfect place to take some pictures of the lovely environment of La Vall de Núria

This stone bridge in La Vall de Núria was a perfect place for a picture

Along La Vall de Núria, we walked a long time next to this small river hearing its relaxing murmur

Santuari de Núria

This is the reward of a trekking of more than three hours along La Vall de Núria: a lovely view of El Santuari de Núria and the lake in front of it

The environment around El Santuari de Núria is actually a large playful area perfect for children

Near the Santuari de Núria you can also see the Sant Gil chapel

Fonts del Llobregat

Les Fonts del Llobregat are spectacular, but I thought that they would be larger

The environment around the Fonts del Llobregat is really beautiful

This staircase led us to Castellar de N'Hug, a nice village of stone houses

Castellar de N'Hug

A quiet street in Castellar de N'Hug, a beautiful village in the Pyrenees

Bell tower of the Castellar de N'Hug church

Nice view of the Pyrenees from Castellar de N'Hug

You can get more information about La Vall de Nuria, La Vall de Camprodon and the other places we visited clicking on the next links:

• Vall de Camprodon
• Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery
• Vall de Núria
• Castellar de N'Hug and Fonts del Llobregat

Finally, if you liked these landscapes, clicking on the next links you will find links to other fantastic places in the Pyrenees of Catalonia, Andorra and France, like:

- Catalonia:

• Aigüestortes National Park and La Vall de Boí
• Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park
• Camprodon, Ripoll and Setcases
• Medieval village of Beget
• Olot and Vall de'n Bas
• Santa Pau
• Port del Comte
• Puigcerdà

- Andorra:

• Andorra and La Seu d'Urgell
• Andorra Vallnord Ski Resort
• Andorra Vallnord Arinsal and Arcalís
• Andorra Grandvalira Grau Roig Ski Resort

- France:

• Medieval village of Collioure
• Carcassonne
• Canal du Midi and Pays Cathare
• Gorges de la Fou and Coustouges
• Villefranche de Conflent