Discover Fígols: Romanesque architecture, mining history and Fumanya

Different themes can shape your travel plans in Fígols: Romanesque heritage, the history of coal mining and the palaeontological traces at Fumanya. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can choose one based on which of these themes interests you most. The sites differ in whether they invite you to explore buildings, historic infrastructure or a route with specific points along the way.

Romanesque buildings and cultural memory

Castell de Peguera is protected as an Asset of National Cultural Interest (BCIN) under the decree of 22 April 1949. The churches each have different points of interest: Sant Mateu de Fumanya is a Romanesque church in the hamlet of Fumanya. Sant Miquel de Peguera is one of the oldest religious buildings in Fígols. Despite its ruined state, it retains the character of a single-nave Romanesque mountain church.

The “Fígols i la vall de Fumanya” route also highlights the Romanesque church of Santa Cecília in Fígols. It dates from the 11th to 12th centuries. When visiting the buildings, you can therefore pay attention both to their Romanesque forms and to their different dates.

Cultural tradition also includes the Cançó del Pegaire, an exceptional example of Catalan oral folklore. It preserves the memory of the now-vanished trade of the pegaire. The song focuses on a specific task: the pegaire gets up early, takes an axe and goes into the forest to make pitch, which was used to seal vessels made of clay or wood. This offers a way to explore the area not only through its buildings, but also through a traditional occupation and its purpose.

Mining history and routes

The Tramvia de Sang was the first mining railway in Berguedà and transported coal from the Fígols mines to Berga. The transformer tower in Peguera adds another dimension to this theme: in connection with early 20th-century mining, it was part of the infrastructure that supplied electricity to the miners’ colony and the coal extraction facilities. Together, these examples illustrate different aspects of mining history: coal transport and energy supply.

The “Fígols i la vall de Fumanya” route leaves the GR 270 and follows the PR-C 73 towards Fígols. It passes the entrance to the Curro Mine, which illustrates the area’s mining history. Before setting out on this route, check the mountain conditions and trail markings.

Near Fígols, a restored section of the Tramvia de Sang offers a walk between Sant Jordi de Cercs and Berga. The path passes through wooded areas, tunnels and over footbridges. This gives you a choice of routes described in different ways: the “Fígols i la vall de Fumanya” route is identified by its markings and direction, while the restored section is described by its endpoints and the features along the way.

Fumanya: site, exhibition and trail

The Fígols-Vallcebre de Fumanya palaeontological site is 65 million years old, covers more than 38,000 m² and features 3,500 dinosaur footprints. The “Dinosaures Fumanya” exhibition displays dinosaur bones, dinosaur eggs and an exceptional fossilised skin impression. It also includes displays on geology and open-pit mining.

The Ruta del Cretaci offers another perspective: it crosses the Fumanya site via a walkway that leads visitors to two life-size sauropod replicas. The site, exhibition and trail each focus on something different: footprints, displayed finds and exhibits, and a walk across the site to the replicas.

The Font del Bullidor, also known as the Font de la Llet, is another landscape feature. It is near the path to the Fumanya palaeontological sites and has served as a resting place for hikers and day-trippers over the years.

Discover more destinations: Sant Cugat Sesgarrigues, Valldoreix, Cervelló, Cantallops, Moia, Santa Eulàlia De Ronçana, Montcada, Sitges.

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.