Nature, history and heritage for everyone in the Ripollès
At the Núria Valley rack railway station, a monitor from the MAP Foundation’s supervised flats pushes a user’s wheelchair onto the train. A mobile ramp allows access. Image by Diego Espada.
Ripollès is known as the cradle of Catalonia. It is a Pyrenean county, a mountainous territory with emblematic landscapes such as the Núria Valley. Romanesque architecture can be found in every corner of the county, where you can breathe the essence of high mountain villages. In this land of counts and abbots, you will find museums and interpretation centres where you can learn about the most deeply-rooted legends and traditions of this territory. There is no lack of mountain sports with routes and activities adapted to all levels and abilities.
Part of this offer can be discovered in Els sentits de la descoberta (The senses of discovery), the digital book of inclusive experiences in the Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees, in which several hosts from the area with different abilities guide us through the experiences. The publication includes audiovisual materials with the testimony of these hosts, the tourism organisations and professionals in the sector who work for inclusive tourism.
All audiovisual materials include subtitles in English and SSI interpretation. Welcome to Ripollès.
A unique valley
The Núria Valley can be reached by rack railway. Some of the trains are fully accessible, while others have a step. In this case, there is a mobile access ramp. The Núria Valley has an app with a free downloadable audio guide that allows you to find out more about the valley. Access to the sanctuary is also accessible thanks to an elevator that allows you to overcome the stairs.
Land of monasteries, millenary history
The Ethnographic Museum is located in the county’s capital, Ripoll. It has an easy-to-read guide and an audio and sign-guide. The space is also accessible for people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users. Another space full of history is the Monastery of Santa María. The visit uses visual and graphic elements that help to understand the story and make it a participatory experience.
In Ripoll you will also find Can Guetes, an employment integration project and meeting place managed by the MAP Foundation, where you will find local and ecological products. Can Guetes is the starting point for the Iron and Coal Route, an accessible greenway that links Ripoll with Sant Joan de les Abadesses. A visit to the monastery, a jewel of Romanesque architecture accessible to wheelchair users, is a must.