Rupit: medieval village and Sallent waterfall

Rupit is built on volcanic rock in a spectacular location where two ravines meet. The village seems frozen in time, with medieval stone houses, cobbled streets and traditional architecture perfectly preserved.

Key features of the village:

• Stone houses: built from local volcanic tufa (tuff) stone, with wooden balconies and tiled roofs
• Narrow streets: winding cobbled lanes barely wide enough for a cart
• The hanging bridge: a suspension footbridge spanning the ravine, connecting the village to the car park
• Church of Sant Miquel: Romanesque church dating from the 11th century
• Medieval quarter: the upper part of the village preserves medieval fortifications

The village has been designated a Cultural Asset of National Interest for its architectural heritage. Cars are not permitted in the old town, preserving its medieval atmosphere.

Park in the designated area outside the village (3-5 EUR) and walk across the hanging bridge - a thrilling entrance with views down to the Rupit stream below.

Key spots in the village:

Carrer del Fossar:

• The main street, lined with artisan shops selling local products
• Honey, jams, sausages, wooden crafts

Plaça de l'Ajuntament:

• Small square with the town hall and cafés
• Stone fountain and benches

Casa Fortó:

• 16th-century fortified house, now a small museum of rural life
• Shows traditional farming tools and domestic items
• Entry 2 EUR

Viewpoints:

• Several spots at the edge of the village offer spectacular views over the gorges and surrounding forest

Allow 1-2 hours to explore the village thoroughly, including time for coffee and shopping.

The Salt de Sallent (Sallent Waterfall) is a spectacular 100-metre waterfall in a narrow gorge, one of the highest waterfalls in Catalonia. The Sallent stream plunges over a cliff into a deep pool, surrounded by vertical rock walls and vegetation.

How to reach it:

• From Rupit village, it's a 3 km walk (45 minutes) along a marked trail
• Alternatively, drive to the Rupit-Tavertet road and park at the waterfall viewpoint (5 min walk to the top of the falls)

Viewing the waterfall:

• Upper viewpoint: from the top, you can see the water plunging down (with safety railings)
• Lower viewpoint: a more challenging trail descends to the bottom of the gorge for views looking up at the falls (45 min down, 1 hour back up, steep)

The waterfall is most impressive in spring (after snowmelt) and after rain. In summer drought, flow can reduce to a trickle. In winter, it sometimes freezes into ice columns.

The falls are free to visit. Be extremely careful near the edge - the rocks can be slippery and the gorge is deep.

Rupit is famous for traditional Catalan mountain cuisine, particularly grilled meats. Several restaurants specialize in:

• Grilled lamb chops and sausages: cooked over wood fires
• Wild boar: stews and roasts (autumn/winter)
• Wild mushrooms: seasonal, especially autumn rovellons (saffron milk caps)
• Trinxat: mashed potato and cabbage with bacon
• Local desserts: mató (fresh cheese) with honey, traditional pastries

The most famous restaurant is Estrella, an institution since the 1940s, known for its massive grills visible from the dining room. Other traditional restaurants line the main street. Expect to pay 20-30 EUR for a full meal.

Book ahead on weekends and holidays as Rupit is popular with Barcelona day-trippers.

Morning: Drive from La Tor de Montclar to Rupit (1.5 hours via C-16 south, then C-25 east towards Vic, then local roads north to Rupit). The drive itself is scenic, through forests and volcanic landscape.

Arrive around 10:30am. Park outside the village, walk across the hanging bridge, and explore the medieval streets, visiting shops and viewpoints. See Casa Fortó museum if interested.

Late morning: Either walk to the Sallent waterfall (3 km, 45 min each way) or drive to the waterfall viewpoint.

Lunch: Return to Rupit village for a traditional grilled lunch at one of the medieval restaurants.

Afternoon: More exploration of the village, perhaps visiting the church or walking the surrounding trails. Alternatively, drive to nearby Tavertet (10 minutes), another cliff-top medieval village with spectacular views over the Sau reservoir.

Drive back to La Tor de Montclar (1.5 hours).