Located at the junction of three rivers, Ribes de Freser is a small town in the Ripolles comarca of Catalonia. It is famed for its natural mineral water and historic rack railway, which travels through the picturesque Vall de Nuria. Surrounded by mountains, Ribes de Freser is a popular hub for hikers, mountain bikers and mountaineers.
Things to do in Ribes de Freser
In the heart of Ribes de Freser is the Iglesia de Santa María, a stone-built church originally established in the 11th century. It was rebuilt based on its Romanesque design following the Spanish Civil War and houses beautiful frescoes by Lluis M. Güell, Lluis Bru and Llucia Navarro.
A short walk from the centre of Ribes de Freser is the Museu Exposició del Cremallera de Vall de Núria, which occupies the historic Ribes Vila station. It offers a fascinating insight into the history of the Vall de Nuria rack railway line, with locomotives, passenger and dining carriages on display. Nearby are the medieval ruins of the Castillo de San Pere.
Ribes de Freser makes an ideal base for exploring the hiking trails that access the Serra Cavallera and Serra de Montgrony. The latter is a Protected Natural Area, with its deciduous woodlands providing important habitat for subalpine species. In addition to its natural beauty, the Serra de Montgrony encompasses the remains of the Castell de Mataplana where the legendary nobleman Count Arnau is said to have lived.
Getting around Ribes de Freser
Ribes de Freser is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Barcelona and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Ribes de Freser railway station and the town centre is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.