Ripoll. Romanesque art in ancient monasteries is displayed in all its special beauty and austereness in Ripoll's Saint Mary monastery, its magnificent XIIth century portal is one of the most spectacular works of sculpture. It was declared a historical artistic monument together with its cloisters. A Catalan Forge is on exhibit in the Museum-Archives, since Ripoll was the most important metallurgical centre in Catalonia for over three hundred years. Also worth mentioning are the church of Saint Peter, the Mercadal square, the medieval bridge and, on the outskirts, the small palace of Rama.

In Sant Joan de les Abadesses we can behold the extraordinarily beautiful sculpture called the Holy Mystery, in Saint John's church. Also worth pointing out are the cloister, Saint Mary's portal, the chapel of Sorrows, the abbatial palace, Saint Michael's chapel, Saint Pol's church, the square with its arcades, the traces of the remains of the walls and gothic bridge.

The ski resorts of Núria and Vallter offer you the practice of snow sports. Núria has the added historic value of being a Marian church, and of political importance since it was here that the Statutes of Catalonia were drawn up in 1931, and socially useful because of its ratchet train, taking you up to 2,000 metres.

Besalú-Ripoll.................... 53 Km.

Besalú-Núria..................... 62 Km..+ Train.

Besalú-Vallter...................  62 Km.