Shady mixed forests, river gorges and Romanesque architecture reveal very different sides of Queralbs. The Camí Vell de Núria leads from Plaça del Raig through ever-changing mountain scenery to views of the lake and the Sanctuary of Núria. There are also riverside trails, churches in Queralbs and Fustanyà, and the remains of a castle. When planning your trip, it is worth treating nature and culture as separate focuses—and accounting for Vall de Núria’s special access arrangements.

Hiking trails between forest, rock and water

The Camí Vell de Núria starts at Plaça del Raig in Queralbs. Along the way, shady mixed forests of ash, hazel, rowan and oak give way first to scrubland and then to a scree zone. The trail then runs along the rock face of Roc del Dui and through the gorges of Núria, following the river past several waterfalls. Higher up, it reaches viewpoints overlooking the lake and the Sanctuary of Núria, surrounded by high mountains. Forest, rock and water shape distinct sections of the same route.

Another hike in Queralbs passes through the Bosc d’Estremera and follows the River de Tosa to a passage between two massive rock walls. Compared with the Camí Vell, this route focuses on the forest, river and narrow rock formation. The two descriptions therefore offer different landscapes without needing to be combined into a single route.

The municipality’s share of Parc Natural de les Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser also gives an idea of the importance of the protected landscape to Queralbs: the municipality accounts for 54 percent of the park’s area. This share may change if the park boundaries are adjusted.

Vall de Núria: mountain sports with special access arrangements

Vall de Núria lies at an altitude of 2,000 metres and is a ski resort and mountain sports centre in the eastern Pyrenees. It is within the municipality of Queralbs. Activities are available there year-round, although the options and access arrangements may vary by season. Vall de Núria can only be reached by rack railway or on foot.

If you are planning a stay that includes a visit to Vall de Núria, take this access requirement into account when preparing your trip. Check the current activities and access arrangements in advance. This will help you plan this outing separately from the hikes and cultural sites highlighted in the other sections.

Romanesque architecture and traces of local history

The Església de Sant Jaume de Queralbs was first mentioned in 978 and rebuilt in the 12th century. Its portico is especially striking: six round arches built from voussoirs rest on five columns. It is considered one of the finest examples of Catalan Romanesque porches. The number of arches and columns, along with their construction, gives this feature a distinct architectural character.

More Romanesque architecture can be found in the settlement of Fustanyà, home to the church of Sant Sadurní. The remains of Queralbs Castle also lie in the lower part of the village. Its strategic position served to defend the population quickly. In Serrat, you can see old bread ovens built against the walls of houses. These examples complement the churches by offering different perspectives: religious architecture, defence and traditional everyday building practices.

If you would like to focus on culture during your trip, the churches of Sant Jaume and Sant Sadurní and the castle ruins can form the basis of your itinerary; for a focus on the landscape, consider the trails described above.

Discover more destinations: Bolvir, Sant Miquel d'Aro, Porqueres, Llanca, Saus, Camallera i Llampaies:Camallera, Palafrugell, Viladamat.

For the regional travel overview: Girona.