Just two hours from Barcelona, hidden among green valleys and imposing mountains, hides a small but imposing mountain destination ideal for those looking to escape the heat and summer overcrowding without giving up refreshing baths or the essence of the high mountains.
Setcases, the mountain village with beach
Its stone streets, wooden balconies and the environment of forests and rivers make it an authentic Pyrenean postcard but with a dissonant note: a beach in the middle of a Pyrenean village.
A few minutes walk from the center, the city council has conditioned the “platgeta”, a small river beach on the crystal clear course of the river Ter. This corner becomes a natural oasis when the sun is hot: hammocks, umbrellas and river sand to lie down or rest after an excursion, always respecting the environment. The water, which comes directly from the snowmelt, never exceeds 15°C in summer, guaranteeing the necessary cool bathing.
In addition, the medieval past is present in the church of Sant Miquel, with its baroque altarpiece, one of the few that survived the Civil War. In addition, during the year, Setcases celebrates traditional events such as the Bolet (mushroom) Festival, where you can taste the local products of its forests.
Some hiking trails from Setcases
Setcases is the starting point of multiple routes through the Natural Park of the Headwaters of the Ter and Freser, ideal for all levels. The main one would be the trekking to the source of the Ter, which allows you to walk from the village to the source of the river, between high mountain landscapes and alpine meadows.
On the other hand, the circular route through Coll de la Marrana and Les Borregues, with mountain paths that allow to crown peaks and enjoy panoramic views of the entire eastern Pyrenees. Then there is the GR11, the mythical Pyrenean route that passes through Setcases and crosses the entire Pyrenees from east to west.
How to get to Setcases from Barcelona
To get to Setcases from Barcelona you have several comfortable options both by car and by public transport. The fastest route is by car: it is about 140 km by road following the C-17 towards Ripoll, then towards Camprodon and finally to Setcases; this journey will take you about 2 hours and goes through spectacular mountain scenery.
If you prefer public transport, you can take a train from Barcelona-Arc de Triomf station to Ripoll (line R3), and then connect with a bus to Setcases, usually passing through Camprodon. The train and bus journey takes about 4 hours in total and is operated by Rodalies and TEISA. There is also the option of taking a direct bus from Barcelona (Gran Via, 658) to Camprodon, and from there take a local bus to Setcases.
And speaking of rivers, there is nothing like a bathing break in this heat wave, so we leave you with some outings to go bathing in the marshes of Catalonia and enjoy a dip in the mountains.
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