First Accommodation in the Pyrenees
We spent quite some time in Montserrat, so we drove straight to a hotel in the village of Ribes de Freser in the eastern part of the Pyrenees for the evening. The hotel was Hotel Els Caรงadors de Ribes, a lovely small hotel. The room was somewhat small, but the hotel had a nice rooftop terrace with a hot tub that guests could reserve. Next to the rooftop terrace was a cozy relaxation room themed like the moon, equipped with a bio fireplace. It was a very comfortable hotel for spending a night or two.
The next morning, we continued deeper into the Pyrenees mountains, and our first stop was the village of La Pobla de Lillet. It was a beautiful, small mountain village built around a river. We briefly stopped here to admire the old buildings and enjoy the mountain atmosphere before continuing our journey towards the village of Bagร .
Bagร Village
Bagร is a small and beautiful mountain village with old medieval houses, greenery, and small local shops that create a very cozy atmosphere. We wandered through the streets, admired the surrounding landscapes, and enjoyed the peaceful ambiance.
Here, and in many other places later on, we encountered the challenge of adjusting to the Spanish siesta culture. The siesta typically lasts from around 1 to 5 p.m., during which cafes, restaurants, and shops close as people take a break. It took us some time to get used to this, as our usual rhythm often aligned with this time period. Fortunately, we found a small kebab restaurant that was open, so we grabbed some food to enjoy in the park.
Mirador dels Orris
Continuing from Bagร , we spotted a viewpoint called Mirador dels Orris on the map, so we decided to head there. The viewpoint was a short walk from the nearest parking lot.
The drive here was along stunning winding mountain roads, reminiscent of driving in the Alps. Towering mountains surrounded us as the road meandered upwards. We parked the car at a small parking lot along the mountain road, from where the trail to Mirador dels Orris started. The hike to the viewpoint was about 1.5 kilometers.
Along the way, we encountered some free-roaming cattle, which made us a bit nervous as they were right beside the trail. We hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed without disturbing the animals. Eventually, we decided to give them a wide berth and continued calmly. They didn’t seem to pay us much attention, thankfully.
The trail to the viewpoint was a well-maintained and easy-going dirt path, relatively flat with no significant elevation gain, offering pleasant views of the forested mountain landscape.
Upon reaching the viewpoint, the vistas were absolutely breathtaking. The view stretched far into the valley and towards the mountain range beyond. We spent some time admiring the scenery and, as usual, enjoyed a snack break. It was definitely a worthwhile stop for a brief walk and some stunning views.
As the evening approached, we headed to our next accommodation. But before heading to the hotel, we took a drive further along the mountain road and stopped at the summit to admire the views.
We found our next lodging in the village of Soriguerola, near the slightly larger village of Alp. The hotel was SM Hotel Fontanals Golf, relatively new and clean, with a meticulously maintained courtyard. Our room had a terrace overlooking the swimming pool and beautiful mountain scenery. We were now quite close to the French border, only about 6 kilometers away as the crow flies.
