Places that you can explore in our suggested itineraries
Camprodon
With some two and a
half thousand inhabitants and a surface area of 103 km2, Camprodon is the
largest municipality in the valley, and the second largest in the province of
Girona. Villa de Camprodon comprises Colonia Estevanell, the neighbourhoods of
Cavallera and Freixenet, the Masies of Mariner, Sitjar and Resclusanys, the
residential development of Font-Rubí and, within La Garrotxa, the villages of
Rocabruna and Beget and the castle and hermitage of Sant andreu de Bestracà,
near Oix. Camprodon is located 940 m above sea level, within the Pyrenean
mountain range. Its climate is cold in the winter and mild in the summer.
There are two rivers
within the municipality of Camprodon, the Ter and the Ritort, providing it with
plenty of water for its many fountains. There are a total of fifteen fountains,
distributed within and outside the town centre. The best known fountains are
the Font de Sant Patllari, where visitors can read some inscribed verses by
Joan Maragall, the Font del Boix, the Font del Botàs, the Font de la Forcarà,
the Font de Can Moi, and the Font de Llandrius. In the town centre, the main
fountains are Font Nova and Mare de la Font which is decorated by inscribed
verses by Jacint Verdaguer.
Camprodon and its
valley are recognised by food products like cookies, sausages, cheese and meat,
especially lamb, beef and foal. It is also famous for its high-quality
restaurants.
Many will quickly
associate the name of the famous composer Isaac Albéniz, born here in 1860.
Different monuments commemorating his birth and his centenary and the Isaac
Albéniz Festival, honour his memory.
Your experience in
Camprodon cannot be complete without a visit to historical and cultural sites
such as:
- The Pont Nou (The New Bridge), a 12th century construction,
whose façade includes inscriptions about its renovation, which date from 16th
and 17th century. It used to be the only route leading to La
Cerdanya.
- Sant Pere Monastery built with a Latin cross plan and reinforced by
three arches with a central apse and octagonal ciborium, which serves as the
base for the square bell tower. It was founded in the mid 10th
century (the first document dates from 904) by count Guifré of Besalú, and was
run by Benedictine monks until 1835.
- Santa Maria Church, a large parish temple, finished with an angular
apse, flanked by side altars. Adjacent to the construction, the Chapel of
Dolores was built, which houses the Piedad by sculptor Amadeu (1745-1821). The
church also houses a magnificent silver bust-cum-reliquary containing the
remains of Saint Patllari. In the front chapel you can admire a permanent
exhibition of 15th to 20th century religious gold and
silver work.
- The Paseo Maristany, developed in the 1920’s and designed to have the
same measurements and features as Barcelona’s Paseo de Gracia. It is
surrounding by towers and summer mansions built in the style of the early 20th
century. For a brief period it was the meeting point for the government of the republic,
as the family residence of its president, Dr. Negrin, was located there.
- Paseo de la Font Nova, where the first summer residence were built,
renovated in the second half of the 19th century, and at the end of
the promenade, a fountain and a bust commemorate Dr. Robert, who promoted
tourism in the area.
- The Town Hall, a good
example of the Catalan civil Gothic, is unique in that it houses a reproduction
of Barcelona’s Poble Espanyol.