DATE: May 7 at 8 a.m.
A very complete excursion to the northern Catalan region of Conflent (France) that will allow us to visit the Romanesque monastery of Sant Miquel de Cuixà and stroll through two of the most beautiful towns in the region: Vilafranca de Conflent and Eus (both towns appear on the list of the most beautiful villages in France).
– MONASTERY OF SANT MIQUEL DE CUIXÀ, JEWEL OF THE ROMANESQUE AND CRADLE OF CATALAN
At the foot of Canigó, the sacred mountain of the Catalans in France, we find the Benedictine monastery of Sant Miquel de Cuixà which, together with Ripoll, was a powerful religious, political and cultural center during the Middle Ages. The birth of the monastery dates from the year 879, but it was with the arrival of Abbot Oliba, bishop of Vic, founder of Montserrat and introducer of the Lombard Romanesque in Catalonia, when the monastery began to acquire its current form.
Sant Miquel de Cuixà has the honor of being considered, together with Organyà, the birthplace of the Catalan language. Possibly, the famous Song of Santa Fe came from Cuixà’s desk, a hagiographic poem that is considered one of the oldest literary examples in a Romance language, although it is disputed whether it is from Occitan or Catalan.
Among the many illustrious names linked to Sant Miquel de Cuixà we will find those of the architect and archaeologist Josep Puig i Cadafalch, in charge of the restoration campaigns for the monastery carried out in 1938, and that of the famous cellist and composer Pau Casals. , which inaugurated the Prada Classical Music Festival in 1954.
– VILAFRANCA DE CONFLENT, WORLD HERITAGE SITE THANKS TO VAUBAN
Surrounded by solid walls, the medieval town of Vilafranca de Conflent, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its fortifications, is on the list of the most beautiful villages in France. Its walls and portals; the picturesque street of San Juan; the Saint-Pierre bridge over the Têt; the bell tower of the Town Hall; the church of Santiago; art Galeries; Souvenir store; and local craft stalls are some of the charms of Vilafranca de Conflent.
– EUS, ONE OF THE PRETTY VILLAGES OF FRANCE
Perched on top of a hill between the Conflent valley and Mount Canigou, it is considered one of the sunniest villages in France and is proud to be on the list of the most beautiful villages in the country. Eus is worth a visit not only for the views it offers of the surrounding landscape, but also for its beautiful sloping alleyways paved with pebbles and crowned by the imposing church of San Vicente de Arriba.
THE PLAN
– 8h: We meet at Plaça Universitat (at the main entrance of the University of Barcelona) to catch our private bus. We stopped for breakfast on the way.
– 11-12h: Arrival and guided visit to Sant Miquel de Cuixà
– 12-12.30h: Bus to Vilafranca de Conflent
– 12.30-14h: Guided tour to discover Vilafranca and learn about the fascinating history of the Conflent region
– 14-16h: Free time to eat
– 16-16.30h: Bus to Eus
– 16.30-17.30h: Guided walk to discover Eus
– 17.30h: Return bus, arriving in Barcelona around 8:30 p.m.
Languages: Spanish and Catalan
DATE: May 7, 2022
ACCOMPANYING GUIDE: Toni Bellido
| DEPARTURE PLACE | Plaça Universitat (main entrance of the University of Barcelona) | ||||
| DAY AND HOUR | Saturday, May 7, at 8 a.m. | ||||
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