We want to introduce you to a medieval town where rural tourism can be a unique and very special experience. Sant Joan de Les Abadesses (Girona) is located in the Ripollés region, bathed by the waters of the Ter river, being part of the San Juan Valley.
Do you know its history? Well, although there are vestiges of ancient populations back in the Paleolithic, it was founded with its well-known monastery with the same name in the 9th century, when this town began to gain popularity.
The Monastery of Sant Joan de Les Abadesses was the only one in Catalonia inhabited exclusively by women until 945.
It was rebuilt in the 15th century, as part of the building was destroyed by an earthquake, showing a mixture of styles, predominantly romantic.
From the 13th century on, the walled enclosure began to be built, part of which is still standing and can be visited. This enclosure is the Vila Vella, where the Romanesque architecture still exists, and the old trade guilds delimited the neighbourhoods.
The Plaza Mayor is the meeting point of the old town until this day. It was also centuries ago since it was the place where people of the town traded and exchanged their products.
Are you taking this tour with us? To enter this beautiful town, we must first cross the Old Bridge. It previously had a Romanesque style but, it was destroyed after an earthquake. It was built again with Gothic architecture, making it one of the most beautiful bridges in the peninsula.
We follow the route to the Church of Sant Pol, which was the place of worship of the lower class people in its time. It's originally from the 12th century and, a large part of this Romanesque construction it's still preserved.
And finally, we recommend that you go to the Palau de l'Abadia, a beautiful 14th-century construction, which over time some Gothic elements has been added to its original Romanesque architecture. It's worth highlighting the cloister inside. It's also the headquarters of the Tourist Office and hosting an exhibition made up of models of Romanesque buildings.
Has so much travelling made you hungry? The gastronomy of Sant Joan de Les Abadesses is made up of the typical dishes of the Ripollés region, where local products, such as Ripollesa sheep, potatoes or different types of meat, are the basic ingredients.
Economically, it is fed mainly by industry and also by agricultural and livestock activities. Likewise, it's opening the way in rural tourism, offering complete and varied accommodation options that welcome visitors who come in search of a space in which to disconnect from the big cities.
