Vía Verde Ruta del Ferro i del Carbó

Water, iron and coal. The presence of these three elements created an important mining and iron forging industry in the Catalan region of Ripollès, which prompted the construction of a train line that connected the region with Barcelona. This train line, now in disuse, has become a greenway that connects the towns of Ripoll, Sant Joan de les Abadesses and Sant Pau de Segúries. On this route I suggest you go along the old railway line and enjoy the charms of the Ruta del Ferro i del Carbó greenway. In this video you can get an idea of what you will find:

In this case, the Route goes in a descending direction, it starts in Sant Pau de Segúries and ends in Ripoll, but it can be done in both directions, since the unevenness is very gentle (an average of 1% in its 18 kilometres). The greenway is paved with asphalt conglomerate, so you can use practically any bicycle.

You start from Sant Pau de Segúries to cross the river Ter by a bridge and enter the greenway. You now descend through the Ter valley to the Perella bridge, built in stone and with a single semicircular arch. This valley forms one of the typical landscapes of the area: a mosaic made up of leafy forests and harvest meadows dotted with small horticultural plots. Your next destination is Colònia Llaudet, where some of its residential buildings still fulfill their original function. Immediately you arrive at Sant Joan de les Abadesses, where a visit to the monastery and its collection of sacred art is a must.

Leaving Sant Joan de les Abadesses you cross its old bridge, known as Pont de Sant Joan, which has a spectacular Gothic arch with one of the largest lights in the entire Iberian Peninsula. Now continue through the valley in the direction of Ripoll, where the end of the Route awaits you and another monastery that is worth visiting: the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll, also founded by Guifré el Pilós. You cannot miss its portal, from the 12th century, one of the most important works of Catalan Romanesque.