Nature and Romanesque sites in the Rigart Valley. Route 13 Ripollès

The route starts at Toses train station, close to the R162 sign Toses. Cross the railway by the old road and climb up through a pathway on the left. Within minutes you gain considerable altitude and get clear views over Toses village on the other side of the valley. When you arrive at the R161 sign Baga de Toses continue towards Fornells entering into a shady forest. Every now and then you will come across with little streams coming down from the Montgrony mountain range. Just after one of these streams you arrive at a wide track which you have to follow downhill for roughly 50 meters to leave it for a narrow path entering into a pine forest to come out onto a forest without undergrowth.

Pay attention to the yellow marks and descend following a path which in a few minutes will take you to the meadows of Torrent del Llop where you will find the R163 sign Antic camí de Castellar de N'Hug. From here, follow downhill this thousand-year-old road coming from Castellar de N'Hug and cross the Rigart river near the road that links Toses with Planés. Go up through this road to the village of Fornells de la Muntanya, where you will see the R164 sign. It isworth to visit the church of Sant Martí to admire its great bell tower.

Leave the village uphill by the Pujada de la Quintana. At the end of this steep street you will find a path on your right that will take you above the village following the old trail that linked Fornells with Dòrria. Continue along this wooded trail until finding the road to Fornells. You must follow this road uphill until you see again the old trail below you. It will take you to the N152 main road. Go down following the N152 road until you arrive at La Polella, R165 sign. Climb up through the old path that linked Espinosa with Dòrria. In a short but steep climb you will arrive at Dòrria, one of the highest villages in Catalunya, where you will find the R166 sign. It is highly recommendable a visit to the church of Sant Víctor to admire its interesting Romanesque paintings.

Leave Dòrria by the main road, the path coincides in this section with the GR11. You will rapidly descend to the bottom of a ravine from where you will follow the old road that linked the Valley of Ribes with the neighbouring county of La Cerdanya. Despite being in the sunny side of the valley, the way crosses several streams coming down from Dòrria bringing coolness to this part of the route.

The views over the mountains and villages of this valley, popularly known as the dark valley, are spectacular. After crossing the Torrent de Lena stream the path becomes wider and in a few minutes will lead you to the R148 sign Serrat del Mestre. Go down towards Planés through the paved road passing by a water tank. Cross the N152 main road and keep going down passing by the Romanesque church of Sant Marcel until arriving at the Font dels Burros spring. You must go down through the Camí de la Coma pathway and then through the Camí de la Font.