Queralbs

Queralbs is a municipality in the Spanish Pyrenees, at 1236 level with 185 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2013). It lies north of Ribes de Freser, west of Vall de Núria Setcases near the in the comarca Ripollès in Catalonia.

Community structure

• Queralbs
• La Farga
• Fustanya
• Núria
• Rialb
• Serrat
• Vilamanya

History

In the vicinity of Queralbs there are numerous caves in which Stone Age finds have been made ​​, the evidence of early settlement of the area.

The first written mention of the town Cairosalbos can be found in a document to the consecration of the Cathedral of La Seu d' Urgell from the year 839 from the 10th century comes the Romanesque church of Sant Jaume. Until the 12th century, the pastures of the area belonged to the monasteries of Sant Joan de les Abadesses and Santa Maria de Ripoll. 1273 leased the Catalan crown the country then directly to the people of Queralbs and Fustanya.

In the 13th and 14th century the village belonged to the rule of different feudal lords: from 1280 Pere de Montclar, from 1339 Ramon de Ribes and from 1383 Pere Galceran de Pinós.

On February 2, 1428 Queralbs was severely damaged by an earthquake in which many of its inhabitants were killed.

Economy

In addition to farming and the recorded 1903 operation of hydroelectric power plants, tourism, especially since 1931, the cog railway Cremallera de Núria is the main source of income of the place makes on the line from Ribes de Freser in the Vall de Nuria in Queralbs station. Among the best known - recurring - guests of the resort, the former president of the Catalan government (1980-2003) Jordi Pujol counts (* 1930).

Attractions

• Sant Jaume, Romanesque church from the 10th century
• Exhibition on the history of the gear train at the station
• From Queralbs the historical Cami Vell leads (, Old Way ') in 3.5 hour walk to the sanctuary in the Vall de Núria at 1,967 height