The most charming medieval towns in the Pyrenees
We propose a trip in time, but we do not have to visit you in an astral capsule or even travel virtually. A real salt cap to the middle age, ignoring the inclemencies of an era as transformative as the one that will be and leaving you with the friendliest arrival and with the rural landscapes that last a thousand years later. We present a walk through the medieval Pyrenees, a territory of ancient gestures, of sober and exquisite architecture, of mountain villages accompanied by a fascinating natural environment, which also includes a select offer of establishments from Grans Hotels de Catalunya because in pugueu gaudir with all the splendor.
We start in Ripollès, a Pyrenean land par excellence with places that preserve the vestiges of an era that marked its physiognomy forever. For example, do you know Llanars? It is a town characterized by its church of Sant Esteve, a Romanesque jewel from the 12th century, surrounded by many livestock trails that will allow you to disconnect and enjoy an open and welcoming landscape. To stay in this place you have the Hotel Grèvol, built with stone and wood in the purest architectural style of the Pyrenees, perfectly integrated into the environment and with an indoor pool and jacuzzi.
In Llanars you have multiple options to discover its surroundings, and we highlight a pleasant walk that borders the River Ter and reaches the little town of La Roca. There are just over two kilometers, well signposted, that will take you to this medieval center that was the scene of numerous attacks and neighborhood conflicts between counts and kings. In this area, a few kilometers away you also have the Hotel La Coma de Setcases, next to the Vallter 2000 ski slopes, which are now open. The hotel is also a good starting point for your hiking or cycling activities, and also for a few days of relaxation and disconnection with its heated pool and spa area.
Continuing in Ripollès we must guide you, and you cannot fail on this visit, to the town of Beget. Stop time when you arrive. In reality, it will not be necessary to do so because there time stops alone, fixed in a bygone era of cobblestone streets, small bridges and houses with wooden doors that invite you to remember medieval times. The river that silently crosses the town also helps make it more postcard-like. And to complete your stay, make a reservation at the cozy Hotel Calitxó, in Molló, surrounded by nature and with a quiet and family atmosphere.
And we close the stay at Ripollès in Ribes de Freser, where you will find the Hotel Els Caçadors, with a balanced combination of tradition and avant-garde, at the gates of Vall de Núria, which also awaits you with its best winter offer. And from here, you are very close to Vallfogona del Ripollès, where you will find a rich heritage from the Middle Ages surrounded by nature, which you can savor with a walk along the Tosca fountain route. It is about four kilometers of road full of history. We will leave the medieval bridge of Vallfogona, and following the marked path you will pass through the area of La Tosca, where remains of an ancient archaeological site are preserved, and we will reach the Masica torrent, where you will find areas of pools and old paths full of corners. surprising.
And if we talk about medieval towns, it is time to take the leap towards Alt Empordà, where the warmth of the Hotel Can Xiquet, in Cantallops, awaits you. It has some of the best views you can have on this earth, and that's saying a lot!
The active tourism offer that you have from the establishment is very wide, such as the discovery of the Molinàs valley, where you can walk through a medieval landscape and soak up the landscape of vineyards and the Mediterranean. You will find a circular route that passes through the town of Molinàs itself, goes up to the castle and down towards Colera, following a path that passes through an abrupt and rough valley, very photogenic. The Els Caçadors Hotel is also located in the region, in Maçanet de Cabrenys, with an ideal environment for hikers and nature lovers.
The circuit that we propose is about 12 kilometers, which you can do in a circular way or returning along the same path, at your leisure. Be that as it may, you will be fascinated by the contrast of landscapes in this area, also very suitable for discovering by bicycle. You will see that in the same trip you can combine the best Mediterranean coves with medieval towns next to volcanoes. This is the case of Santa Pau, in La Garrotxa, another town that you cannot miss and that has a fascinating historical and artistic heritage, with a marked medieval character, between walls and narrow alleys. In this case, you can opt for the Hotel La Perla de Olot, in the heart of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, and with all the amenities you may need.
And we will finish the route through the charm of the medieval towns with a stop in Besalú, the setting for numerous novels and films marked by the historical component of its roots, and by an architecture that amazes everyone who stops to spend some time. It is one of the most important examples of medieval Catalonia and as such, it awaits you to offer you a fascinating discovery of its magnificent legacy.
Fotos: Ripollès Turisme y Archivo de Imágenes Patronat Turisme Costa Brava Girona.
