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Bellver de Cerdanya (la Cerdanya-Pyrenees) is an open settlement with a long history of welcoming visitors. It is an attractive centre for holidaymakers, offering an extensive municipal territory containing fifteen small, picturesque settlements around the hamlet of Bellver. The area has several important items of cultural heritage, including the Romanesque architecture of Talló and, and its majestic natural patrimony, which offers a wide variety of ecosystems, including alpine, fluvial, steppe and forest areas. This is an interesting destination to come and explore!
The old quarter BellverVisitors are invited to take a trip through history. A walk around the historic part of Bellver de Cerdanya, which is also known as the Barri de la Plaça (or Square Quarter) and is the most emblematic part of the hamlet, is like taking a trip back to a time when settlements needed to be surrounded by walls in order to protect them from enemy attack. It is certainly well worth a visit!: PLAÇA DEL PORTAL The Plaça del Portal (Portal Square) is located just outside the walled area. It is just in front of the Pujada de Joan Alay, which used to be one of the two original entrances to the old settlement of Bellver: the Portal de Cerdanya (Cerdanya Gate). Going about half-way up the steps to the right, it is still possible to see the remains of the stones that had originally supported the gates. This gateway was originally protected by two towers. The right-hand tower, which is still standing, is the Torre de la Presó (Prison Tower), a name that derives from its former function. In fact, it was similar to the other watchtowers positioned along the wall. It is particularly interesting to focus on the embrasures, through which the local people used to defend one of the weak points of the settlement; they originally did this with arrows and later with harquebus fire. In his “Devil’s Cross” legend, the writer and poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer also located the local prison in this tower. CARRER DEL MIG
This street used to be called Carrer Jussà, meaning “below”, because it was here that the southern wall closed off the settlement. Carrer Jussà used to be the place where most of the day to day work was done. From the notary’s archives of Bellver, which date from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries and are kept in the Historical Archive of the Comarcal de Puigcerdà (Local District of Puigcerdà), it is clear that, above all, Bellver used to be a centre of textile production. On the façade of number 32, there is a ceramic image of Saint Antoni Abat, the patron saint of carters, and some rings on the walls which were used for tethering animals. There are others scattered around the settlement.
CARRER DEL CADELL and PLAÇA DE L'ABAT OLIBA The name of this street harks back to the baroque era (16th century and first third of the 17th century), when two rival gangs led by members of the former feudal aristocracy used to plunder the local paths, striking fear into the hearts of everyone who used them; these gangs were called the “cadells” and the “ nyerros”. Continuing up Carrer del Mig, over on the left, visitors will come to the old steps of Carrer Guifré el Pelós and to a well-lit square that looks out towards the south. This was another bastion and probably what remains of another defence tower. But the most striking feature of this site is the panoramic view that it offers over much of the shaded part of Cerdana, with its woods of Spanish pine, Scots pine and fir trees. From this point, it is also possible to see most of the small nuclei of settlements that lie within the municipal territory and the route through the Gosolans pass, which has now been restored and signposted, known as the Ruta dels Segadors (Reapers’ Route). It was along this route that people from the village of Gósol, and other parts of L’Alt Berguedà, used to come in order to harvest the local crops. It is also worth adding that, in 1906, the painter Pablo Ruiz Picasso and his then mistress, Fernande Olivier, visited the area after their stay in Gósol. It seems that Picasso spent a night in Bellver before returning to París, where he then lived. In fact, the word “Bellver” appears several times in his travel notebook. PORTAL DEL BARIDÀ Visitors going up to the top of Carrer del Mig will find Carrer del Castell. It is interesting to look at the bottom part of the right-hand wall, where there is a rounded rock with a flat, cut face: this is one of two stone posts that stand at the bottom of the columns of the gate. The wooden doors were fixed to the flat part of these stones. This gate was as important as the Cerdanya gate and provided access to the Plaça Major and the castle. OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST PARC DE PONENT The Parc de Ponent (West Park), which lies off to the right, stands at the foot of the settlement wall. This space was recovered by the local council when the old part of the settlement was redeveloped.
MIRADOR DE JAUME VILA This used to be the site of a castle that had a permanent garrison of soldiers. According to a document dated 19th June 1665, a bolt of lightening caused the arms dump to explode and the fortification was almost totally destroyed. From this point, it is possible to enjoy a privileged view of the area of Bellver that catches most of the sun; this is rougher and drier than the shaded part of the area.
PLAÇA DELS COMTES DE CERDANYA Behind the Ajuntament (seat of the local council), and in the shade of the lower part of the building, it is possible to see the entrance to the Sala Bonaire, a hall which was once the cellar of the former Comú de la Vila (communal store). Inside, there are several examples of catapult shot that were found during renovation work on the Barri Antic (Old Quarter). To the left of the parish church there is a large door that gives access to the garden of Ca les Monges. ESGLÉSIA PARROQUIAL DE SANT JAUME Before entering the garden, visitors will pass the entrance to the parish church of Sant Jaume, the patron saint of Bellver. This is a fine gothic building whose existence was first documented at the end of the 12th century. PLAÇA MAJOR DEL 27 D'ABRIL
The Plaça Major del 27 d’Abril (Main Square of 27th April) is a tidy space of elegant proportions that is almost cloister-like. The square, which recalls medieval times, originally dates from the 14th century. It is a pleasure to contemplate its various archways and arcades and the houses that still help to conserve a sense of proportion and elegant unity. This square used to be the commercial and administrative centre of Bellver. It was where the weekly market was held and also the site of the annual fair.
CA LES MONGES At the end of the 19th century, the religious order of the Sagrada Família (Holy Family) established a centre in Bellver, where it provided education to generations of young girls over a period of almost a hundred years. When the order finally left the settlement, the local council acquired the building and rehabilitated it. Today it contains three exhibition halls and a garden.
CAL PANATÓ i PLAÇA GUSTAVO ADOLFO BÉCQUER This street has a romantic anecdote. In 1860 the writer Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer spent some time at Cal Patanó, which was then an inn. It was a very profitable stay because it was associated with the writing of one of his best known legends, “La Cruz del Diablo” (The Devil’s Cross), which was set in the medieval period and in places that existed in the municipal territory, including its Main Square, the alleys of the Old Quarter, the Prison Tower and Sant Martí dels Castells. A commemorative plaque on the main façade of this house now commemorates the stay of the illustrious poet from Seville. ThePlaça de Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer is a square in the Old Quarter which now hosts recitals of music and concerts; as its name suggests, it is dedicated to Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer.
Caves the Bellver
LA FOU DE BOR This cave, which is one of the most relevant in Catalonia, is located in the Quera ridge, near Bor, and in the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park. To date, some 3,173 galleries have been identified in its network of subterranean labyrinths. As with all the caves in the Cerdanya area, the local people used to think that it was inhabited by fairies or other magical creatures. Prehistoric remains that were found inside the cave are now kept at the Museu Arqueològic de Catalunya (Barcelona). To book a guided visit to the cave, it is necessary to telephone the Tourist Information Office of Bellver de Cerdanya.LA COVA D'ANESThis is the most important cave in the exposed part of Cerdanya and is located near theCasa d'Anes. The entrance is, in fact, in the municipal territory of Prullans, but most of the route lies within the municipal territory of Bellver de Cerdanya (La Cerdanya –<>Pyrenees).
The reaper's Route
The Reapers’ Route, which starts at the village of Gósol is also known as the Road to Cerdanya, as it leads to Bellver de Cerdanya (La Cerdanya - Spain).
Description of the route Route Map Information provided by:· Gósol Mountain Activities Organizing Centre.
LES TRADITIONS DE BELLVER17th JANUARY, CELEBRATION OF THE FESTIVAL OF SAINT ANTONI ABAT EASTER MONDAY, GATHERING AT TALLÓ MONTH OF MAY, “BOTIFARRADA” (SAUSAGE PARTY) AT BELLVER 25th JULY, MINOR FESTIVAL OF BELLVER 11th AUGUST, HUNTERS’ FESTIVAL 15th AUGUST, MAIN FESTIVAL OF RIU DE SANTA MARIA 16th AUGUST, FESTIVAL OF THE BARRI DE SANT ROC THIRD WEEK IN AUGUST, ANTIQUES AND FIRA SALÓ D’ANTIGUITATS I BROCANTERS
Where to eat?
LA MUGA (Bar-restaurant) JOU VELL (Bar-restaurant) BELLAVISTA (Bar-restaurant)
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Bellver de Cerdanya
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Bellver de Cerdanya
Patronat Comarcal de Turisme de la Cerdanya - Cruïlla N-152 amb N-260 |
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