Experiment the nature

Railway Route

The exploitation of the coal mines in the mountains of "Ogassa" and "Surroca" in the middle of the nineteenth century is the origin of the railway line Granollers-Ripoll-Sant Joan-Toralles. The line was inaugurated in the year 1880. In the year 1967 the stretch between Sant Joan-Toralles stops functioning, coinciding with the closing down of the mines the same year. The stretch Sant Joan-Ripoll gradually falls into disuse until the final closing down on its centennial, in 1980.

The Railway Route again follows the trajectory of the train from Toralles, passing by Sant Joan, up to Ripoll. The 12 km of railway track has become an ideal path for enjoyment, on foot or bicycle, of a natural surrounding and the familiarisation of an inedited industrial past.

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Route of the Hermitages

This is a matter of a small journey with a length of 20.6 km. With a circular route, it passes by four hermitages in the municipal boundary of Sant Joan, three of them of Romanesque architecture: Sant Antoni de Pàdua, Santa Llúcia de Puigmal, Sant Ponç d'Aulina and Santa Magdalena de Perella. This route combines the art and landscape: from Sant Antoni there is a splendid view of the valley and a picnic area under the pine trees and with barbecues so as to enjoy a good meal in the middle of nature.

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Sant Antoni:

Situated at the height of a hill of 1.040 m, it presents an excellent view of the Serra Cavallera, the Puig Estela, the Taga, the Sant Amand and, further on, the Pedraforca and the Serra del Cadí.

The first reliable information about the existence of the hermitage dates back to 1635. It was destroyed various times, whereby the present one dates back to 1852. On the Sunday nearest to June 13th, Sant Antoni's saint's day, a gathering that is a great tradition of the village is celebrated there.

Santa Llúcia de Puigmal

Located in the region of La Garrotxa, it was already mentioned in documents of the year 890. The present construction dates back to the twelfth century. It is a matter of one sole nave, of a rectangular shape, ample and with a semicircular apse, covered with a rounded vault followed by one fourth of a sphere. The construction has been restored, whereby the additions of the bell tower with the belfry has been left as it was. Alongside you will find a fountain with a table and benches in order to recuperate yourselves.

Sant Ponç d'Aulina

It pertains to the municipal boundary of La Vall de Bianya. It formed part of the possessions of the monastery of Sant Joan. The present construction is of the twelfth century.

Santa Magdalena de Perella

On April 21, 1145, the landowner named and his wife, Cordovana, owners of the farmhouse Perella, together with their children, offered the Monastery of Sant Joan the church of Santa Magdalena that they had recently constructed in the allodium of Perella, this belonging to the monastery. It is a matter of a simple nave, covered with a pointed vault and without an apparent apse. The bell tower and the sacristy were added on subsequently.

Route of the fountains

This short journey passes by the most emblematic fountains of the municipal boundary. Its length is of ??? km with only a slight unevenness. It combines the walk through the village and nature, since most of them are found within the centre of the town.

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The Fountain of the Puda

This is a fountain of sulphurous water. In 1828 it was channelled and in 1840 it was urbanised due to the upcoming popularity of the thermal springs. During this time, it was much frequented by people who went to the springs for medicinal purposes. There have been different attempts to construct thermal springs, the first one in 1891, but never has this gone any further than agreements made on paper.

Fountain of the Prat

At the bottom of the Camí Ral (highroad), beside the Hermitage of the "Mare de Déu del Prat", there are some stairs that lead down to the Fountain of the Prat, near the Torrent of the Mentides.

Fountain of the Cubilar

It is probably the best known fountain within the entire boundary due to two reasons: because the popular lunch and the "tornaboda" (celebration on the day after the wedding) on Tuesday of the Main Festival since 1880 and because Joan Maragall wrote his famous poem of La Vaca Cega (The Blind Cow). A stone monolith with the text of the poem recalls this fact. The fountain is to found just behind the house with the same name.

 

 

Fountain of the Vermells

This was one of the most habitual walks of the people from Sant Joan during the first decades of the twentieth century. The stretch of road that went from Sant Joan to the fountain was illuminated and in 1921 it was equipped with some tables and benches so that the people could go there to have a picnic.

Fountain of the Cucut

This is situated at the forest track that leads to the farmhouse denominated "Les Llances" and in the municipality of "Vallfogona del Ripollès". It is a fountain that very much accuses rain and drought.

Fountain of the Poi

This is to be found at the bottom of the "Pg. de la Plana", alongside the last house where there are stairs that lead to it. It presents an excellent view above the River Ter and the Serra Cavallera.