In an artistic landscape

To see art in Ripoll, there is no need to spend money or queue up outside a museum. The passeig dels Aurons on the outskirts of the town is an example of land art, an artistic movement in which the landscape is considered an art form. On this circular itinerary of around six kilometres we come across a host of open-air sculptures before arriving at the hermitage of Sant Bartomeu, which provides a beautiful example of Romanesque art in a natural setting.

The route begins at the start of the Ruta del Ferro bicycle path, very near the centre of Ripoll where the Olot bridge and carrer del Progés intersect. After following a stretch of the Ruta del Ferro, we soon get to the passeig dels Aurons, a pleasant area with riverside vegetation with plenty of the maple trees from which the area takes its name. However, apart from the natural surroundings, this area provides a number of surprises in the form of works of art integrated into the landscape. They are the creations of Eudald Alabau, a local artist who uses the natural environment to frame his works.

Some wooden walkways then take us through the trees we come across Alabau's creations: imaginary doors, artificial mushrooms, sculptures on the tree trunks, towers of branches and stones or giant nests made of recycled wire. It all makes a magical universe that surprises and stimulates visitors in equal measure.

After passing through the passeig dels Aurons, we return to the Ruta del Ferro path and after taking a few narrow pathways we get to the Sant Bartomeu hermitage, which dates back to pre-Roman times but which was redesigned in the 12th century.

Finally, we return to Ripoll along a narrow steep path that passes through oak trees and leads to a collection of allotments. From here, we enter a wood of hazel trees and continue to the Amoroset spring, which provides an opportunity to refresh ourselves before finishing once more in the town centre.