CATALONIA: AIGÜESTORTES AND LLAC DE SANT MAURICI

Recently I went to Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park, located in the north of Catalonia, near France, between the mountains of the Pyrenees. The landscapes I enjoyed were wonderful, so I would like to show you some pictures I took there.

Espot and Boí are the villages where the headquarters of the National Park are. You have to go there to visit the most beautiful places of this park: Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici Lake. Actually, in 2008 I visited La Vall de Boí and the area of the park beside Boí. This time, I enjoyed the landscapes of Sant Maurici Lake.

Our headquarters was Casa Font in Saurí, a lovely village near Sort. We really liked this house and we felt really comfortable there. From here, on saturday,  we went to Sort for doing rafting and, on sunday, we went to Espot to visit the Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park. It was an intense and fantastic weekend.

Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park

Llac de  Sant Maurici (Sant Maurici Lake)

Sant Maurici lake surrounded by mountains of the Pyrenees in Aigüestortes National Park

Clear water of Sant Maurici lake in Aigüestortes National Park

Cascada de la Ratera (Ratera Waterfall)

Ratera waterfall in Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park

Walking to Estany de la Ratera in Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park

Fir trees and Llac de Sant Maurici in Aigüestortes National Park

Creek near Estany de la Ratera in Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park

Estany de la Ratera (Ratera Pond)

Estany de la Ratera in Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park

Another picture of Estany de la Ratera surrounded by mountains of the Pyrenees in Aigüestortes National Park

Llac de Sant Maurici Viewpoint

This path leads to a viewpoint from which the view of Sant Maurici lake in Aigüestortes National Park is wonderful

Fantastic view of Sant Maurici lake and Encantats Peaks in Aigüestortes National Park

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
• Vall 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
• Port del Comte
• Santa Pau
• 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

CATALONIA: RAFTING SORT AND AIGÜESTORTES

Recently I went to Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park, located in the north of Catalonia, near France, between the mountains of the Pyrenees. The landscapes I enjoyed were wonderful, so I would like to show you some pictures I took there. Besides I really enjoyed a day of rafting the previous day.

Espot and Boí are the villages where the headquarters of the National Park are. You have to go there to visit the most beautiful places of this park: Aigüestortes and Sant Maurici Lake. Actually, in 2008 I visited La Vall de Boí and the area of the park beside Boí. This time, I enjoyed the landscapes of Sant Maurici Lake.

Our headquarters was Casa Font in Saurí, a lovely village near Sort. We really liked this house and we felt really comfortable there. From here, on saturday,  we went to Sort for doing rafting and, on sunday, we went to Espot to visit the Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park. It was an intense and fantastic weekend.

Below you will see pictures of:

• Casa Font in Saurí (Sort)
• Rafting Sort (www.rubber-river.com)
• Sort
• Espot
• Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park

Casa Font in Saurí (Sort)

View of Saurí, the village in the Pyrenees where Casa Font is

Doorway of Casa Font in Saurí

One of the bedrooms of Casa Font in Saurí

Typical stone houses in Saurí (Sort) from the doorway of Casa Font

Rafting Rubber River Sort

Inside the facilities Rubber River has in Florido Hotel we got the helmet, life jacket and wetsuit. From here we were taken to the starting point of rafting

About to start the rafting along Noguera Pallaresa river between Sort and Llavorsí

I found rafting a really intense, exciting and funny experience

Through one of the rapids of the Noguera Pallaresa river

Paddling strongly in our yellow raft

Rough water in Noguera Pallaresa river

Enjoying a swim in Noguera Pallaresa river

White water near a rapid of Noguera Pallaresa river

  

Florido Hotel in Sort, where we had lunch after doing rafting 

 

Swimming pool of Florido Hotel in Sort

Sort

Noguera Pallaresa river passing through Sort. Here our rafting ended

Walking along Sort, a town in the mountains of the Pyrenees

La Bruixa d'Or in Sort, where I bought Christmas lottery

Espot

Taxis 4x4 off-road in Espot, a village located beside the Aigüestortes National Park. We took these taxis to arrive at Sant Maurici Lake from Espot

Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park

Located in the heart of the Pyrenees, this is the most genuine representation of a mountainous area. The majestic landscapes and views make Aigüestortes  National Park a truly unique location. Centuries old woods of fir trees and black pines are scattered around the park, which also contains nearly 200 mountain lakes.

As the private vehicle access into the park is very limited, it's really advisable to use public transport with 4x4 vehicles. In Espot and Boí, 4x4 taxi service  is available throughout the year. It's a shuttle service to Aigüestortes and Lake Sant Maurici. 

Excursions you can do in Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park from Espot. We got to Estany de Ratera (Ratera Pond) and the Sant Maurici viewpoint, located at two thousand meters above sea level

Sant Maurici lake in Aigüestortes National Park

A fantastic memory of our excursion in Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park in the Pyrenees of Catalonia

Sant Maurici lake in Aigüestortes National Park under a lovely day

Cascada de la Ratera (Ratera waterfall) in Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park in the Pyrenees of Catalonia

Estany de Ratera (Ratera Pond) in Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park in the Pyrenees of Catalonia

Wonderful landscape of Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park in the Pyrenees of Catalonia

Dreamscape of Sant Maurici lake and Encantats Peaks we enjoyed from El Mirador de l'Estany (viewpoint of the pond). This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in Catalonia

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
• Vall 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:

• 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: AIGÜESTORTES AND VALL DE BOI

Next I would like to show you some pictures I took when I went to  Aigüestortes and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park and to La Vall de Boí (Boi Valley) in North of Catalonia, near France, between the mountains of the Pyrenees.

Boí and Espot are the villages where the headquarters of the park are. You have to go there to visit the most beautiful places of this national park: Aigüestortes and Lake Sant Maurici. But you can also access other places from neighboring villages.


As the private vehicle access into the park is very limited, it's really advisable to use public transport with 4x4 vehicles. In Boi and Espot, 4x4 taxi service  is available throughout the year. It's a shuttle service to Aigüestortes and Lake Sant Maurici. 

Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park

Located in the heart of the Pyrenees, this is the most genuine representation of a mountainous area. The majestic landscapes and views make National Park of Aigüestortes a truly unique location. Centuries old woods of fir trees and black pines are scattered around the park, which also contains nearly 200 mountain lakes.

Typical landscape in Aigüestortes National Park

A snowcapped mountain in Aigüestortes National Park

Under a lovely day, the landscape looked even more fascinating

Another brook in Aigüestortes National Park. The murmur of the fresh water was really pleasing

A wooden bridge over one of the brooks of Aigüestortes National Park

A beautiful snow-covered landscape in Aigüestortes National Park

Walking along on snow-covered paths in Aigüestortes National Park

View of The Estany Long (Long lake), the end point of our day trip in the Aigüestortes National Park

A group picture with the Estany Long in the background

Viewpoint in Aigüestortes National Park. From here the views are great

Vall de Boí

During the 11th and the 12th centuries, Vall de Boí experienced a rich building and artistic activity. Guilds of stonecutters, master painters and handcrafters’ workshops erected, decorated and furnished an extraordinary ensemble of Romanesque churches:

• Sant Joan of Boi *
• Sant Feliu of Barruera *
• Sant Climent of Taüll *
• Santa Maria of Taüll *
• La Nativitat and Sant Quirc of Durro *
• Santa Eulàlia of Erill la Vall *
• Santa Maria of Cardet and L’Assumpció of Coll

* The ones we visited

Eight Romanesque churches and one hermit, all of them considered World Heritage by UNESCO.


Overview of La Vall de Boí

A river between the mountanins of Vall de Boí

From this viewpoint near Boí and Erill La Vall the views of La Vall de Boí were fantastic

Sant Joan de Boí

Sant Joan de Boí Romanesque church

Overview of Boí with a snowcapped mountain in the background

Sant Feliu de Barruera

Barruera romanesque church is maybe smaller than the other ones but, of course, it's also a lovely romanesque church

The three boys of the group

Sant Climent de Taüll

Slender bell tower and apse of Sant Climent de Taüll

Sant Climent de Taüll is probably the most impressive romanesque church of La Vall de Boí

Santa Maria de Taüll

Santa Maria de Taüll romanesque church, also in the village of Taüll

Nativitat de Durro

Nativitat de Durro romanesque church in La Vall de Boí

Santa Eulàlia d'Erill la Vall

Boí, a typical village of La Vall de Boí from Erill La vall

The bell tower of Santa Maria d'Erill la Vall is the higher one of the romanesque churches of La Vall de Boí

Santa Maria d'Erill la Vall lit at night

Another picture of Santa Maria d'Erill la Vall with snowcapped mountains in the background

A group picture inside our apartment. We spent a really four nice days in La Vall de Boí

A snow storm surprised us the day of our return to Barcelona

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 and Llac de Sant Maurici National Park
• Vall 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
• 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

Besides, If you like medieval villages like the ones of this post or medieval architecture, clicking on the next links you will find more beautiful villages and fantastic medieval monasteries in Catalonia:

- Medieval villages

• Besalú
• Pals and Peratallada
• Santa Pau

• Siurana
• Montblanc
• Guimerà
• Miravet

• Rupit and Tavertet

- Medieval Monasteries

• Montserrat
• Sant Miquel del Fai
• Sant Pere de Rodes
• Poblet Monastery
• Ripoll Monastery
• Sant Joan de les Abadesses
• Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona