Camprodon, Spain: travel guide to the medieval Pyrenean town, the Pont Nou and the oldest biscuits in Spain

Camprodon is a medieval town in the Ripollès region of the province of Girona, in Catalonia, set at around 950 metres of altitude where the Ter and Ritort rivers meet in the eastern Pyrenees. With fewer than 3,000 inhabitants, it combines Romanesque heritage, an alpine landscape and a sweet tradition that has lasted well over a century.

For travellers searching for Camprodon Girona, beautiful Pyrenean towns, the Pont Nou or the oldest biscuits in Spain, Camprodon is one of the most attractive mountain destinations in Catalonia. Discovered as a summer retreat by the Barcelona bourgeoisie in the 19th century, it still keeps an air of discreet elegance.

History and town character

The medieval town grew up around its monastery from the 9th and 10th centuries, developing an urban fabric that still shows traces of its Romanesque and Gothic past. In the 19th century the arrival of well-to-do Barcelona families turned Camprodon into a fashionable summer resort, and large holiday houses lined its broad central promenade.

Main sights

The Pont Nou, or New Bridge, built in the 12th century with pointed arches over the river Ter, is the most recognisable image of the town. The Benedictine Monastery of Sant Pere, founded in the 10th century, is regarded as the most important Romanesque monument in the Ripollès, and the Gothic church of Santa Maria stands beside it. The Isaac Albéniz Museum honours the celebrated composer and pianist, who was born in Camprodon.

Biscuits and gastronomy

Camprodon is the cradle of the Birba biscuits, among the oldest in Spain, made by the Birba family since 1893. Their decorated tins are part of the memory of several generations, and buying a box has become a ritual for visitors. Local cured sausages, including the egg butifarra, round out the town's gastronomy.

Practical information

Camprodon is the gateway to the Camprodon Valley, with hiking, cycling and skiing nearby at Vallter 2000 and the villages of Setcases. Each season has its appeal, though the snow of winter gives the town a particularly magical atmosphere.