Ripollès

The Ripollés region belongs to the province of Girona, in the Catalan Pyrenees. Nestled between the Garrtoxa and Bergueda. Between the valleys of Ripoll, Ribas de Freser and Camprodón. This region is characterized by its great mountains like the Puigmal 2.913 Mts or the Pico del Infierno 2.869 Mts.
With a total area of almost 12,500 hectares, the Freser-Setcases reserve and the Nuria valley form a high mountain region typical of the Girona Pyrenees landscapes. This nature reserve includes the towns of Queralbs, Ribes de Freser, Setcases. In addition to Toses and Vilallonga de Ter which is characterized by high alpine meadows at the top of the mountains. One of the most visited destinations is the valley of Nuria, in the beautiful municipality of Queralbs.
The geographical characteristics of this area make it an ideal place to practice all kinds of mountain sports activities throughout the year. Its wide range of sports is reinforced in the winter months. The modern ski resorts of Vallter 2000 and the Nuria Valley. It should be noted that these two ski resorts are characterized by the quality of their slopes and the services they offer to visitors.

We can affirm that the origins of Catalonia are forged in this region of Ripollés. Characters that have written history as Wilfred the Hairy, the Abbot Oliva or Count Arnau and his famous legend The Legend of Count Arnau. This story is written between the villages of Sant Joan de les Abadesses, the Sanctuary of Montgrony or the Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll. Finally it is necessary to say that in this region of the Ripollés its Romanesque constructions stand out. Being one of the most important in Europe.
The region of Ripollés has three Romanesque temples of great historical importance. The monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll, founded in 880 AD by Count Wilfred of Barcelona and promoted by Abbot Oliba during the eleventh century. It is the clearest example of the Romanesque art of Girona in its purest essence. The monastery of Ripoll played a crucial role in the process of building Catalonia. All seen from a political and social perspective, as well as on a cultural level. The only original elements of the building that remain are the main entrance, the cloister, the main walls. In addition to the tombs of the counts, especially the tombs of Ramon Berenguer III and Wilfred of Barcelona. Count Wilfred of Barcelona also founded the monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses in 887. This monastery was intended to provide a home for his daughter Emma. And for the community of Benedictine nuns of which she was the abbess.
The most important works of art preserved in this monastery to date are the Descent from the Cross. This work of art is composed of seven polychrome wooden figures. They are almost life-size, dating from the 12th century. And the Gothic alabaster altarpiece of the White Virgin from the 14th century. Finally, another site worth visiting is the Church of Sant Cristofol in Beget, a Romanesque temple of the tenth and twelfth centuries. This church houses in its interior the famous Majesty of Beget. A beautiful polychrome sculpture of 2 meters high dating from the twelfth century. The sanctuaries mentioned above are clear examples of the so-called Romanesque route. An itinerary that allows the visitor to discover the whole region.