Vall de Núria

The Pyrenean Vall de Núria ( Valley of Núria ' ) located in the north of Catalonia, near the border with France in the comarca Ripollès, is an important religious place and a popular tourist destination that offers a variety of ski and hiking opportunities. A rack railway ( the Cremallera de Núria ) runs from the village of Ribes de Freser about Queralbs in the valley; at the mountain station located on 1,967 meters of the Sanctuary de la Mare de Deu de Núria, the sanctuary ( sanctuary ) of Our Lady of Núria, the hermitage of Sant Gil, a hotel, a small hydroelectric power plant and several lifts.

Before the sanctuary there is a reservoir that supplies in the winter the water for snowmaking equipment. Above the dam there is a youth hostel. The Vall de Núria is the starting point for hikes to several scarce three thousand meter peaks in the Pyrenees.

Tourism

Summer

Deals around the sanctuary: walking trails, rowboat rental, picnic area, lawn, children's amusement park with a giant slide, horse and pony rides. The expansive and almost treeless area around the Sanctuary also offers off the beaten numerous hiking opportunities that are consistently well signposted. From the ridges and nearly 3000 m high summits there is a magnificent view over the French and Spanish Pyrenees Orientales. Some mountain bike tours are also signposted.

Hiking

• Queralbs ( Station of Cremallera de Núria, 1236 m) - Sanctuary in the Vall de Núria ( 1,967 m) over the past Cami Vell (, Old Way '): 3.5 hour walk
• Sanctuary ( 1,967 m) - Coll de Noucreus - Pic de Noucreus ( 2,799 m) - Coll de Noufonts - Sanctuary: 4 hours of walking
• Sanctuary ( 1,967 m) - Coma d' Eina - Pic d' Eina ( 2,789 m) - Pic de Noufonts ( 2,861 m) - Coll de Noufonts - Sanctuary: 5 hours walking
• Sanctuary ( 1,967 m) - Coll de Finestrelles - Puigmal de Segre ( 2,843 m) - Collada d'Er - Puigmal d'Er ( 2913 m) - Sanctuary: 5.5 hours of walking
• Sanctuary ( 1,967 m) - Puigmal d'Er ( 2913 m): 2.5 hour walk

Winter

The ski area in Vall de Núria includes 4 lifts ( 1 gondola, 1 chair lift and two platter lifts ) that open up a total of 10 ski runs of all difficulty levels. Ski equipment can be hired locally; Moreover, instructors are available. In the sanctuary there are also a toboggan run, a toboggan area for toddlers and a paid "Snow Park " for 3 - to 10 -year-old children. Snowshoes can be rented; offers guided snowshoe walks are offered.