The cradle of Catalonia: Ripoll and its tourist attractions

The cradle of Catalonia: Ripoll and its tourist attractions

Ripoll (Catalan version – Ripoll) is a municipality in Spain, which is part of the province of Girona in the autonomous community of Catalonia. The municipality is part of the Ripollès district.

The city is located in a picturesque green mountain gorge where you can find the confluence of two rivers: Ter and Freser.

The first mentions of the presence of people in Ripoll belong to the Bronze Age (1500-600 BC). This information refers to small, disparate settlements near the Ter and Freser rivers, surrounded by mountains. The findings of bronze objects and tools confirm these assumptions.

In the IX century, residents of the surrounding areas began to concentrate around the place that today is called the city of Ripoll. The initiator of the settlement in this area was Count Guifré el Pelós (840-897).

Ripoll, because of its strategic location at the crossroads and because of its early industrial and business activities — the cradle of Catalonia’s industrialization — has always been the focus of French and Spanish military conflicts throughout history.

Throughout its history, Ripoll served as a major industrial center, primarily associated with metallurgy and iron processing. For example, in the 16th and 18th centuries, the city was known throughout Europe for its connection with the production of firearms, mainly cannons and muskets.

However, the equally important role of the city is the cultural heritage of Catalonia. Not without reason, at the end of the 19th century the phrase “Ripoll – the cradle of Catalonia” appeared. And one of the best Catalan writers of all time, Jacint Verdaguer, in his Canigó poem describes the city in the 11th song:

“In Ripoll, we discover the quintessence of modernism in architecture, created during technological progress and industrialization in the vicinity of the Ter and Freser rivers”.

Major tourist attractions and what to see:

The main architectural landmark of the city is the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll. This is one of the most famous and memorable historic buildings in Catalonia. Gothic basilica, vaults and arches make it a must-visit for art lovers. Many famous names in Catalan history are associated with the monastery: Count Gifre the Hairy (Guifré el Pelós), considered as one of the fathers of the Catalan nation, Abbot Oliba, Count Ramon Berenguer III and IV, Bishop Josep.

Opening hours:

Summer schedule (from April 1 to September 30)

Morning: from 10:00 to 14:00.

Afternoon: from 16:00 to 19:00.

Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 14:00

From June 26 to September 11

On Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00.

Winter hours (from October 1 to March 30)

Morning: from 10:00 to 13:30.

Afternoon: from 15:30 to 18:00.

Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 14:00.

December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 6: CLOSED

December 24 and 31 and January 5: from 10:00 to 14:00.

The Ethnographic Museum of Ripoll is also a must-visit as it is considered to be the main ethnographic museum in Catalonia.

The museum, in particular, features the L’Scriptorium Archive, an important tourist attraction in Ripoll. The archive contains the original manuscripts written by the Benedictine monks of the monastery of Santa Maria. Many of the documents date back to the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries. The archive in Ripoll is named as one of the most important artefacts of Europe from a paleographic, textual and artistic point of view. In particular, in the archive you can see the originals of two great handwritten Bibles from the 11th century.

The L’Scriptorium Archive is a permanent exhibition that, interactively and didactically, makes it possible to discover the cultural past of the Monastery of Santa Maria.

Opening hours:

September to June

From Tuesday to Saturday: from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 16:00 to 18:00

Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 14:00

July August

From Tuesday to Saturday: from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 16:00 to 19:00

Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 14:00

* Mondays of August: from 10 to 14 hours

Prices: 4 euros. The last Sunday of every month is free.

Address: Plaça de l’Abat Oliba s / n 17500 Ripoll, telephone: 972 703 144

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Thermal tourism and SPA. Hydrogen sulfide baths with hot water in the open air. Saint-Thomas-les-Bains, East Pyrenees, France

Thermal tourism and a healthy lifestyle. Hydrogen sulfide baths with hot water in the open air. Saint-Thomas-les-Bains, East Pyrenees, France

Imagine an amphitheater made of stone, in the center of which is a blue lagoon, and next to it is a round pool for children. This is the outer part of the thermal complex of San Thomas (Saint-Thomas-les-Bains).

The thermal water of the San Thomas complex is one of the warmest Pyrenean springs (it can reach 58°C). The water temperature in the lagoon ranges between 34° to 38° (depending on the time of year).

The outdoor pools are equipped with a jacuzzi, massage jets and temperature-controlled “sulfuric” showers.

The chemical composition of the water (1 litre):

Sodium Sulfur – 0.0222

Sodium – 0.0210

Sodium bicarbonate – 0.0478

Silicon Dioxide – 0.0620

Sodium Chloride – 0,0150

Sodium Sulphate – 0,0110

Lime sulfate, lime and magnesia – 0,0200

Nitrogen substance – 0,0600.

The healing properties of water are known to moisturize the skin, heal wounds, and can be used for relaxation therapies.

In addition to the three outdoor pools, the thermal complex includes a visit to the steam bath (hammam) with eucalyptus essential oils and a course of color therapy. Inside the complex there is also a sauna and jacuzzi. Among the procedures of massage rooms you can find mud baths, wraps, modern methods of facial and body care. There is also a tea room.

Age restrictions (internal SPA)- children up to 12 years.

Near the complex is a laboratory which manufactures cosmetics.

The baths were reconstructed in 1993.

Opening hours:
Sunday 10 AM-7:40 PM
Monday 10 AM-7:40 PM
Tuesday 10 AM-7:40 PM
Wednesday 10 AM-7:40 PM
Thursday 10 am-7:40 pm
Friday 10 am-7:40 pm
Saturday 10 am-7:40 pm

How to get there?

From Andorra: take the N145, N260 and N152 to Puigcerda, then the N152 and N154 to the border of Spain and France, then the D63 and D30 to N116 (road to Perpignan). After the village of Haut-Conflent, turn onto the CD28, which leads to the village of Saint-Thomas (1099 m), and then follow the signs to Saint-Thomas-les-Bains (altitude 1156 m).

From Perpignan: N116. After the village of Haut-Conflent, turn onto the CD28, which leads to the village of Saint-Thomas (1099 m), and then follow the signs to Saint-Thomas-les-Bains (altitude 1156 m). The road is very picturesque! The nearest village is Fontpédrouse (2, 5 km).

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Bassella Moto Museum in Catalonia, Pyrenees

Bassella Moto Museum in Catalonia

The Bassella Motorcycle Museum gives continuity to the task performed by Mario Soler (1907-1991), a devoted motorbike and mechanics fan, who for many years, in his small workshop in Bassella (Lleida), with his hands and talent, recovered a great number of motorcycles. Thanks to this effort, he became a reputable restorer and one of the first collectors in Spain.

At the time of opening, back in 2002, it was the first museum specifically focused on the world of the two wheels to be operative in Spain. Nowadays, it is recognized as one of the best motorcycle museums in Europe and it has become an icon for all motorsport fans and an obligatory stop on the route to Andorra.

About 5000 visitors come to see an exhibition every year.

The rarest exhibits in the collection are Neracar 1929, as its name shows, “near a car”, it pretended to become a car but could not reach it, or the Corgi Excelsior Spirit 1944, used during the Normandy landing (World War II) in order to support the ground troops. Among the most ancient exhibits are two French motorcycles – Clement, 142cc from 1902 and Peugeot 200cc from 1909. Each bike of the museum has its own story, some of them very curious.

The motorcycles are from all around the world: France, England, Spain, Italy, the USA, Switzerland, Germany and others.

Latest main purchase was a unique Peugeot from 1909.

It is a private initiative managed by the Motorcycle Museum Foundation Mario Soler, a non-profit entity that works in order to promote the motorcycles values, its past, present and future and is in charge of the Bassella Motorcycle Museum as well.

The museum covers more than 1000m2, split into two different open plan halls to discover the fascinating motorcycle world through a wide selection of national and international brands.

On the ground floor of the museum, the visitor can see some of the models produced at the start of the 20th century fitted with gas lights, like a Clement from 1902 manufactured in France or a spectacular 4 cylinders FN with a wicker side-car from 1914.

As well as an evolution along the mythical European brands, BSA, Norton, Triumph, Ducati, and some rare interesting units like a Gillet España that was used by the Spanish police and of which only 50 units were manufactured.

American brands are exhibited there as well, such as an Indian from 1925 or a Harley-Davidson with side-car used as a taxi in Barcelona.

The exhibition also includes a selection of the main national Spanish brands, like Montesa, Bultaco, OSSA, Derbi, Sanglas, Rieju, Lube, and the consequences of the Japanese brands’ invasion with specific examples as is the case of the Montesa-Honda created in 1986.

The basement floor of the Bassella Motorcycle Museum is devoted to competition models, from those handcrafted prototypes at the start of the 20th century to the most sophisticated bikes of today like the Honda 125cc with which Emilio Alzamora won The World Championship in 1999. The tour includes several off-road types (trial, enduro and motocross) where the national brands played a very important role during the 60s and 70s. There are also mythical models that participated in several races like the Dakar Rally or the popular endurance race 24 Hours of Montjuic, that took place in the old urban circuit of Barcelona between 1955 and 1986.

Finally, in the centre of the museum the original workshop stands out, where Mario Soler refurbished the majority of the motorcycles that shape the present collection. Everything was carefully transported piece by piece from its former location in Bassella, keeping all the elements and original details which constitute one of the most remarkable areas in the Museum, where time stopped more than 20 years ago.

More information about museum

Сероводородные ванны с горячей водой на открытом воздухе: Saint-Thomas-les-Bains, Восточные Пиренеи, Франция

Термальный туризм и здоровый образ жизни. Сероводородные ванны с горячей водой на открытом воздухе. Saint-Thomas-les-Bains, Восточные Пиренеи, Франция

Представьте себе амфитеатр, сделанный из камня, в центре которого расположена голубая лагуна, а по соседству с ней – круглый бассейн для детей. Это внешняя часть термального комплекса Сан-Томас (Saint-Thomas-les-Bains).

Термальная вода комплекса Сан-Томас входит в число самых теплых пиренейских источников (она может достигать 58 ° C). Температура воды в лагуне – от 34 ° до 38 ° (в зависимости от времени года).

Внешние бассейны оборудованы джакузи, массажными струями и “серными” душами с регулируемой температурой.

Химический состав воды (на 1 литр)

Натрия сульфур – 0,0222

Натрий – 0,0210

Бикарбонат натрия – 0,0478

Диоксид кремния – 0,0620

Хлорид натрия – 0,0150

Сульфат натрия – 0,0110

Cульфат извести, известь и магнезия – 0,0200

Азотное вещество – 0,0600.

Целебные свойства воды – увлажнение кожи, заживление ран, релаксотерапия.

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Самая крупная в мире Одейлийская солнечная печь способная вырабатывать температуру более 3000 градусов за секунды

Одейлийская солнечная печь (Le four solaire d’Odeillo) — самая крупная в мире солнечная печь, способная вырабатывать температуру более 3000 градусов Цельсия.

Фото: all-andorra.com

Экологические проблемы (глобальное потепление, Киотский протокол), а также рост цен на нефть привели к тому, что учёные Национального центра научных исследований Франции (CNRS) задумались над вопросами преобразования солнечной энергии в электричество и водород. В связи с этим во Франции начались исследовательские программы, и в 1970-х годах была создана лаборатория PROMES, которая расположена при научном комплексе французского городка Одейо (рядом с Фон-Роме) на юге Франции, недалеко от границы с Андоррой.

Одейлийская солнечная печь — самая крупная в мире солнечная печь. Место выбрано в связи с колличеством и качеством солнечного света и чистотой атмосферы. Печь была введена в эксплуатацию в 1970 году.

Солнечные установки PROMES Национального центра научных исследований Франции способны производить очень высокие температуры (более 3000 ° C). Они оснащены широким спектром реакторов и модульным оборудование, спроектированным и разработанным в лаборатории для обширных научных исследований.

Максимальная температура 3500° может быть получена в течение нескольких секунд. Печь обеспечивает быстрое изменение температуры и, следовательно, позволяет изучать влияние термических ударов. Области исследования распространяются на авиационную и аэрокосмическою промышленности.

В центре работает около 150 учёных. Преимущество исследований в том, что здесь нет загрязняющих элементов, так как объекты, который исследуются, нагреваются только с помощью излучения.

Надпись: “Cиликатный тигель для плавки металлов… Руками не трогать. Опасно для жизни. Дополнительная информация, относящаяся к экспонату: в 10000 сильнее, чем солнце”.

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