SPAIN: Stone Villages in Catalonia’s Pyrenees Mountains

John and I both love the mountains, so checking out the Spanish Pyrenees mountain villages was a definite YES on our list of things to do in Barcelona.

Our first village to visit was Besalú, a medieval center in the lower foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains.

In its heyday, Besalú was a political, religious and commercial hub serving the surrounding countryside.

Its 12th-century Romanesque bridge over the Fluvià River is picturesque.

But it is more than just pretty.

 

The bridge controlled access to the town, including trade access. 

When trade is controlled, tax collection is also controlled. It can be safe to say, there has never been an escape from death and taxes.

Another role of the bridge was to defend the town from attacks.

Look at how the bridge angle bends – this was another defense mechanism because invading soldiers had to maneuver around the corner, slowing down troops and their artillery.

Inside Besalú, the town has narrow streets that also twist and bend.  

The stone houses are built from local stone with thick walls, small windows and steep slate roofs.

The homes in Besalú were designed to endure harsh weather and provide warmth. They were made to last, often expanding over generations as the families grew. 

They were repaired rather than replaced.

 This symbol is at entrances to old Jewish communities in Spain. There isn’t much of a Jewish quarter left in Besalú, but, it shows there had been a diverse and active community that had been involved in trade and scholarship.

I walked past this little plaque on a wall that intrigued me. Look closely.... there is a heart in the top centre. There is a musical instrument. Does the figure on the right have a crown on his head, a scepter to his right? But, is he dressed in simple clothing? Is it romantic or religious? Look at the symbol on the bottom right corner. Perhaps it was the initials of the intended recipient, or the giver, or the stone mason's signature? A mysterious little plaque that fuels the imagination.

We continued our Pyrenees Mountain village odyssey to the village of Rupit, perched on a rocky outcrop.

A suspended wooden footbridge over the river serves as the village entrance.

Historically, Rupit functioned as a defensive rural settlement where the surrounding land supported farming, livestock, and forestry. 

The stone houses are built on steep streets.

Houses cluster tightly together, sharing walls for warmth and stability. 

These stone houses were built for durability.

And shorter folks...

Wooden balconies were used for drying crops and storing food. 

This one is my favourite, with a beautiful view. I am not a coffee drinker, but I can imagine a morning coffee on the porch would be a great way to start the day.

Our trusty stead through the winding mountain roads was a Fiat 500 hybrid with manual transmission. 

John was missing the leather driving gloves, but still thought he was a race car driver.

I was happy to arrive back in Barcelona in one piece.