There is a Catalonia far from the beaches but made up of ancient and peaceful villages, of only local tourism towards the countryside and mountains. I happened to find this “homely” dimension while visiting Camprodon, a town at the foot of the Pyrenees, very close to France and in the Ripollès region.
There is no lack of greenery here, and the mountains are a stone's throw away, so much so that in the nineteenth century the town became a favorite holiday destination for the Catalan bourgeoisie due to the excellent climate in summer. This class past is testified by the stately homes of Passeig Maristany, as well as from the villas and numerous hotels.
In the middle of the town flows the River Ter, which you cross to enter the center thanks to a ancient bridge dating from the 12th century, very spectacular both for the humpback shape and for the door at one end, which leads to the city. The bridge is called Pont Nou. Inside the center the houses are made of stone, the streets are silent, the size of the villages of the past.
Walking on the central streets of Camprodon you will be impressed by the large amount of pastry shops, which display sweets, biscuits and chocolates of all shapes. Some rooms are antique and retain their original furnishings.
A curiosity is the local Manufacture de Galletas y Bizcochos Birba, dating back to the 10s of the twentieth century. In all the grocery stores of Campredon you will find the beautiful boxes of Birba biscuit tin, with a vintage design; inside the delicious biscuits, wrapped one by one and made with natural ingredients and without preservatives. (www.galletasbirba.com)
Going up the valley of the river Ter you can reach Vallter 2000, a ski resort in the Pyrenees: 13 slopes and 2000 meters high.
