Last week was my annual summer walking trip with my sister. For the sixth consecutive year we chose an ATG Independent Footloose holiday; our first in Spain. I say Spain, but we were very much under the impression that we were in a country called Catalonia with its own language, flag, foods and distinctive geography.

Here are the main features of the walk from Rupit to Besalu from the ATG website :

§ WALK FROM THE CRAG-TOP VILLAGE OF RUPIT TO THE MEDIEVAL TOWN OF BESALU
§ FOOTHILLS OF THE PYRENEES – SOME OF THE MOST DELIGHTFUL SCENERY IN SPAIN
§ HIGH PLATEAUX, WOODED HILLS, FERTILE VALLEYS, MANY DORMANT VOLCANOES
§ WONDERFULLY PRESERVED VILLAGES; PICTURESQUE ROMANESQUE CHURCHES
§ RICH VARIETY OF FLORA AND FAUNA, AND DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS (there were many beautiful wild flowers and interesting trees along our route)
§ WIDE VARIETY OF BIRDS OF PREY – INCLUDING LAMMERGEIER AND GRIFFON VULTURES (we didn’t see these!)

It just happens that this year a new flight was instituted by Jet2 from Leeds Bradford Airport direct to Girona/Costa Brava Airport so we were well set up. On arrival a booked taxi met us and whisked us up into the foothills of the Pyrenees to our hotel in Rupit. We arrived at lunchtime, met our route  manager for the initial orientation and set off on an afternoon’s circular walk.

Rupit is situated at an altitude of 840m on top of a rocky promontory, around which runs the Rupit stream. It’s a delightful place. It preserves its medieval ambience with cobbled streets and a jumble of stone and slate-roofed houses.

The circular walk around medieval Rupit, visits the Sallent waterfall and Sant Joan de Fàbregues church, one of the best examples of Catalan Romanesque architecture in the area. On the return to town is the church of  St Magdelana and the Hanged Bridge which you cross to reach the hotel. (4.3 miles, 2 hours).

Rupit from Circular Walk

Above Four Views from Sallent

The Romanesque church of Sant Joan de Fabregues in its spectacular setting. One of the best examples of Catalan Romanesque in the area. Originally built in the 10th century and restored in the 15th century. Today the attached rectory is used as a summer camp for children

Returning to Rupit

Humble Baroque Capella de Santa Magdalena built in 17th century and restored in 1973

The so-called ‘Hanged Bridge’ constructed in 1945 by local smiths, a bricklayer and an innkeeper over the Rupit stream to create a direct access to the village

Ancient Street in Rupit : The Fossar. A limestone street with houses from the 16th and 17th centuries which has been reproduced in the El Poble Espaynol in Barcelona

Rear of Hotel Estrella, Rupit

Hotel Estrella, Rupit as we left on the first day