Day Trip To The Pyrenees

Catalonia has some of the most beautiful landscapes that Europe has to offer hidden away in and around the Pyrenees mountains. Most of the absolute treasures are virtually unseen by tourists who only opt for the more conventional options in Barcelona. During a one day trip to the Catalan side of the mountain range (separating France from Spain), you’ll discover these treasures and they will take your breath away. Getting an early start, you will travel away from Barcelona to the ancient settlement of Vic for a look at some beautiful renaissance and baroque buildings, and if possible have breakfast in the town centre. Your journey will then take you even further north towards the Pyrenees, passing oak and red pine forests and castles which have been around since before the first millennia. You will then head to the town of Ripoll formerly home to the first Count of Barcelona before moving on to Queralbs, 1,236m above sea level with only 200 inhabitants. Its church has a legend that it was built by fairies and witches from the surrounding caves. Finally you will travel the last 6km to your end destination, only accessible by a special railway track which will carry you into Valle de Nuria, surrounded by 7 glaciered peaks doing their utmost to hide the almost heavenly valley 2,000 meters above sea level. There you will be able to choose from a number of activities such as horse riding, open air bowling, archery lessons or boating on the lake as well as walks to explore the valley with different levels of difficulty. You can also just relax and enjoy some of the traditional Catalan dishes available in the valley’s restaurants.