Ripoll Things to Do Tips by mikey_e

The Cloisters are, of course, part of the Monastery, and the ticket you purchase to enter the Monastery will give you access to the Cloisters as well. Nevertheless, they seem a world apart from the church, which is dark and musty, whereas the Cloisters include a bright, airy garden with plenty of cedars and scultped hedges. The masonry of the Cloisters has been very well restored, and it is hard to imagine that monks and abbots had been living in this place for almost 6 centuries. Although the Monastery was begun in 977 and not completed for another 60 years, the Cloisters themselves were begun in 1180 and not finished until the 14th-15th centuries. What's most notable about them is the series of corinthian columns, a feature that seems a bit out of place given the cold climate of the region during the winter. The walls of the Cloisters are adorned with artefacts from the mediaeval period of the Monastery, although many are explained in Catalan only.

Leave a Comment

Address: Plaça de l'Ajuntament (I think)
Directions: Simply look for the main square. If you come by train, you have to pass through the shopping district.

The Monestir de Santa Maria de Ripoll is pretty much the biggest attraction in all of Ripoll. That's not to say that it is not an interesting place in and of itself, but this is likely to be the only structure in Ripoll to retain your interest for more than 30 minutes. The monastery was founded in 880 by Guifré el Pilós, a count of the lands recaptured from the Moors. Both Guifré's son Radulf and daughter Emma stayed in the region to become figures of great religious importance (Radulf was the Bishop of Urgell, Emma founded Sant Joan de les Abedesses, another monastery near Ripoll). The church was consecrated in 888, and again in 935, 977 and 1033. It was a place where Cenobites lived, and a major centre of conversion and manuscript copying.

The Church is remarkable for its dark, Gothic interior and the intricate carvings of the portico, which depict both harvest scenes and scenes from the Bible. The true draw, however, is the serious of tombs in the interior, which contain the counts of Barcelona up to the founder of Catalunya, Raimond Bereguer IV. This is one of the places that combines spirituality and nationalism, which makes the absence of larger crowds a bit puzzling (national heritage is a big thing in Catalunya). Nevertheless, its still a must see for anyone interested in the history of Catalunya and the power of identity for many voters.

Leave a Comment

Address: Plaça de l'Ajuntament (I think)
Directions: Simply look for the main square. If you come by train, you have to pass through the shopping district.

The Monastir de Santa Maria de Ripoll was famous for its manuscript copying, so it is a bit surprising that the Monastery has no examples of the manuscripts on display. The reason for that is that the documents are all kept in a more suitable museum in the new part of town, called the Scriptorium. This museum is in fact a combination of traditional displays of a manuscripts and virtual tours of the process of manuscript writing and illumination. All very interesting, and bit unexpected in a sleepy time like Ripoll.

Leave a Comment

Phone: +34 690 692 816
Address: Raval de l'Hospital, s/n
Directions: On the street west of the street on which the Station is; near the Pont d'Olot

The Statue 27 of May is a monument to the resistance of the people of Ripoll during Spain's first Civil War, the First Carlist War. In 1839, the people of Ripoll, a Liberal town, resisted the attack by Carlist forces for eight days. Eventually, the town fell, several inhabitants were killed and buildings were destroyed. To commemorate the resistance of the town, the city elders erected this monument to the martyrs of the town. It is sculpted with the shield of the city in one hand, and a palm frond, representing martyrdom, in the other.

Leave a Comment

Address: Plaça de l'Ajuntament
Directions: Right in front of the Ajuntament, near the Monastir de Santa Maria de Ripoll

The town hall seems like an odd tourist attraction, but in truth there far more than meets the eye when it comes to this seat of municipal government. The building is, actually, a part of the larger Monastery and Cloister construction next door, and was built in the 17th century. In the 19th century, when the State was busy chopping up monastic estates, this building was converted into a municipal structure. The more modern façade of the building owes to the fact that the original structure was badly damaged during the Carlist Wars. Still, its pretty pink façade very much helps liven up the entire Plaça de l'Ajuntament.

Leave a Comment

Address: Plaça de l'Ajuntament
Directions: Right next to the Monastir de Santa Maria de Ripoll