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 - MEDIEVAL VILLAGES: BEGET

One of the most beautiful places we visited during the days we spent in La Vall de Camprodon and La Vall de Núria was the village of Beget. In Beget time has elapsed. Cars can't enter the village and its streets and houses are the typical stone ones of a medieval village. When you arrive at Beget, it seems that you have traveled back in time.

I really liked the calmness of Beget, its fantastic environment, its extremely well preserved Sant Cristòfol romanesque church, its stone bridges, the murmur of the creeks. In Beget, each stone is in place.

The only minor drawback is that you have to drive 16km (30min. aprox) along a narrow winding road, but it's absolutely worth the effort.

When you park your car, the first image you get of Beget is this one of Sant Cristòfol Church

Sant Cristòfol church is a really nice romanesque church. It was a pity that it was closed when we arrived at Beget

Apse and bell-tower of Sant Cristòfol church in Beget

This typical stone street in Beget led us from Sant Cristòfol Church to La Plaça Major

Plaça Major in Beget

From La Plaça Major of Beget I enjoyed this nice view of Sant Cristòfol church

Beget is located in a really nice environment, surrounded by mountains and creeks

The environment around Beget is really beautiful

Sant Cristòfol de Beget church shortly before reaching the main square

Overview of Beget where you can see Sant Cristòfol romanesque church, one of the typical stone bridges and some stone houses in Beget

If you spend some days in La Vall de Camprodon, I strongly recommend visiting Beget, a beautiful village where you will forget all your concerns, at least for some hours.

Besides Beget there are more nice medieval villages in Catalunya. Some of them are:

• Rupit
• Besalú
• Pals and Peratallada
• Santa Pau
• Siurana
• Montblanc
• Miravet
• Guimerà

If you like medieval architecture, you should visit the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, the old city of Girona and the monasteries of Montserrat and Poblet.

The Pyrennes offers also more beautiful villages and places like:

• Aigüestortes National Park (Boí area)
• Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park (Espot area)
• Vall de Núria
• Vall de Camprodon
• Camprodon and Setcases
• Ripoll Monastery
• Olot-Vall de'n Bas
• Port del Comte
• La Seu d'Urgell
• Castellar de N'Hug and Fonts del Llobregat
• Puigcerdà

Finally, clicking on the next link you can see more pictures of the other places we visited during the days we spent in La Vall de Núria and La Vall de Camprodon. These valleys are two of the most beautiful environments in Catalunya.

CATALONIA MEDIEVAL: SANT JOAN DE LES ABADESSES

After spending a pleasant morning in Camprodon we went to Sant Joan de les Abadesses to visit one of the most important monasteries in Catalunya. Since I was a child I had heard much of this monastery in school, so I really wanted to visit it since long time ago.

The romanesque monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses was founded in 887 by Guifré el Pilós for his daughter Emma and the religious community that gave its name to the municipality. It's actually an austere building situated on a sheltered square in the centre of the town. However, it played, together with the one of Santa Maria de Ripoll, a major role in the shaping of Catalonia.

In addition to the architectural characteristics of the monastery, which has always been shrouded in mystery, its importance stems from the sculptures it contains. Some of the most important are the Descent from the Cross, seven figures in polychrome wood, in an almost natural format, that date back to the 12th century and the Gothic alabaster altarpiece of Santa Maria la Blanca, from the 14th century, amongst others.

Next I would like to show you some pictures I took the day I visited this monastery.

Bell tower of the church of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery from the gothic cloister

We visited the gothic cloister of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery in the evening. As there were few people, it was a really peaceful place. I really enjoy this calmness the time I was there

Another view of the lovely cloister of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery

Detail of the capitals of the gothic archs in the cloister of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery

Inside the romanesque church of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery

The altar of the church of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery

Flowers on the altar of the church of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery

Santa Maria la Blanca inside the church of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery

A detail of an sculpture I saw near the altar of the church of the Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery

Capilla de los Dolors, a baroque chapel inside the monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses

Romanesque apse of the church of Sant Joan de les Abadesses monastery

Besides, in Sant Joan de les Abadesses it's possible to do many tourist activities, like Rutes de Senderisme (for exemple Ruta del Ferro i del Carbó Ripoll - Sant Joan de les Abadesses - Ogassa) or interesting guided visits. 

You can also discover other beautiful villages like Beget, which we visited after spending a nice time in Sant Joan de les Abadesses.

Next you have some useful information in case you want to visit this beautiful monastery:

- Timetable for non-guided visit:

• March to October: Monday to Sunday from 10am to 14pm and from 16pm to 18pm (May to September until 19pm) July: Monday to Sunday from 10am to 19pm.
• November to February: Monday to Friday from 10am to 14pm; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 14pm and from 16pm to 18pm
• Meeting point: Abbot's Palace - Tourist Office.

- For further information:

• www.terradecomtes.cat/es/sant-joan-de-les-abadesses
• Sant Joan de les Abadesses Tourist Office, Phone (00 34) 972 72 05 99

We visited Sant Joan de les Abadesses during a trip we took to the valleys of Núria and Camprodon. On this three days trip we also 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

If you liked Sant Joan de les Abadesses, maybe you would be interested in visiting the nearby Santa Maria de Ripoll Monastery. Other interesting monasteries in Catalunya are: 

• Santa Maria de Poblet Monastery
• Santes Creus Monastery
• Vallbona de les Monges Monastery
• Montserrat Abbey
• Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery
• Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
• Sant Miquel del Fai
• Sant Cugat Monastery

Besides Sant Joan de les Abadesses is located in the Pyrenees, where you can visit other fantastic places, like:

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

• Andorra and La Seu d'Urgell

Finally, clicking on the next link you can see more pictures of the other places we visited during the days we spent in La Vall de Nuria and La Vall de Camprodon. These valleys are two of the most beautiful environments in Catalunya.

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