Things to do / Mountain and Snow / Protected natural areas / Parc Natural de les Capçaleres del Ter i el Freser

Parc Natural de les Capçaleres del Ter i el Freser

Situated in the county of the Alt Ripollès, and bounded by the French border to the north, the Parc Natural de les Capçeleres del Ter i del Freser offers more than 14,500 hectares of breathtaking scenery. It was awarded natural park status in 2015.

The sources of the rivers Ter and Freser are found in the park, hence its name. The park is set among Alpine and sub-Alpine woodland and, for centuries, the two rivers and their streams have carved out the valleys, creating deep gorges like the impressive Roques Tot-lo-Món: a 700-metre-high rocky wall with a sheer drop which is home to chamois deer and marmots.

The biodiversity of high-mountain flora and fauna is another of the most interesting features of the park. When you go hiking through the park you'll be treated to a breathtaking spectacle of flowers and plants comprising 30 protected species.

Activities and nature sports
Hiking, MTB routes, mountaineering and a climbing wall. Mountaineering: two of the legendary peaks of Catalan climbing, Puigmal (2,910 m) and Bastiments (2,881 m). Skiing and winter sports at the resorts of Vallter and Vall de Núria.

Cultural heritage
The park falls within the villages of Planoles, Queralbs, Ribes de Freser, Pardines, Vilallonga de Ter, Setcases and Molló. As you explore them on foot, you'll come across Romanesque buildings and architectural gems, like the Romanesque church of Sant Jaume de Queralbs. Some of the villages, like Ribes de Freser, have a medieval as well as an industrial past. From there, you can also ride to the top of the Vall de Núria on the unique rack railway. The valley is home to the shrine of the Virgin of Núria, which is of great ideological importance in Catalonia and a symbol of the region's identity.

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