The iron route from Sant Joan de les Abadesses to Ripoll + guided visit to the Monastery

• Excursions

DATE: Octubre 5 at 8.30am

A Complete Excursion to the Heart of Medieval Catalonia, Land of Abbots and Counts

This excursion combines a pleasant and easy 10km walk along the old railway line, a guided tour of the Ripoll Monastery, and two guided walks in Ripoll and Sant Joan de les Abadesses.

– IRON AND COAL ROUTE (10km flat) The “Iron and Coal Route” connects Sant Joan de les Abadesses and Ripoll along the old railway line that transported coal and iron from the Ogassa mines to Ripoll. The 10km route is very flat and passes through beautiful areas, often alongside the river.

– SANT JOAN DE LES ABADESSES Sant Joan de les Abadesses, a town with a recent industrial past, has managed to preserve its medieval heritage and maintains many buildings, streets, walls, and medieval nomenclature. Located on the banks of the Ter River in the Ripollès region of Girona, the town boasts several monuments, particularly Romanesque. Among them are the Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery, the Sant Pol parish church, the Old Bridge, the Abbot’s Palace, the walls, and the Main Street. Sant Joan is also closely tied to the legend of Count Arnau, the most famous and popular of all Catalan spirits and lost souls. A mythical and literary figure, he originates from a traditional Catalan song, possibly from Ripoll in the late 16th century.

– Ripoll and Its Important Monastery Situated at the confluence of the Ter and Freser rivers, Ripoll’s origins lie in the Benedictine monastery of Santa María, founded around the 9th century. This Romanesque abbey is considered one of the most important monastic centers of medieval Catalonia, mainly due to its repopulation efforts. Notable features include its magnificent cloister and the church with its extraordinary 12th-century portico, which has interesting sculptural reliefs with biblical scenes.

In addition to the Santa María de Ripoll monastery, the 12th-century church of Sant Pere, with pre-Romanesque elements, houses the Ethnographic Museum. Nail and weapon manufacturing was the town’s main economic activity, and between the 16th and 18th centuries, it was one of Europe’s major armament centers. With the arrival of the railway and the textile industry, the town experienced a new economic boost that continues to this day.

THE PLAN:

– 8:30 am: Meet at Plaça Universitat to board our private coach.

– 10:00-10:30 am: Brief breakfast/coffee in Sant Joan de les Abadesses

– 10:30-11:30 am: Guided tour of the town (if interested, you can visit the monastery during the tour)

– 11:30 AM-2:30 pm: Walk to Ripoll along the greenway (old railway line)

– 2:30-4:30 pm: Free time for lunch in Ripoll. Option to dine together at “La Perla” restaurant (menu: 18 euros)

– 4:30-6:00 pm: Guided tour of Ripoll and its monastery

– 6:00 pm: Return coach, arriving in Barcelona around 7:30 pm.

LANGUAGES: Spanish and Catalan

GUIDE: Toni Bellido (official guide and flâneur)

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WALK:

– Level: Easy (but a minimum level of fitness is required)

– Total Distance: 10km

– Elevation Gain: Negligible (wide, flat path)

– Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours

DATE: October 5, 2024

ACCOMPANYING GUIDE: Toni Bellido

LANGUAGES: Spanish and Catalan (if you need translation into English, there is no problem)