Discover Riudaura: Trails, History and Traditions

Riudaura lies in a valley through which the Riera de Riudaura flows. The Riera de Riudaura runs right through the village of Riudaura.

Nature and Trails

The old mule track from Vallfogona to Riudaura passes through the hamlet of Artigues and climbs up to the Coll de Canes. This means that both a hamlet and a named pass are recorded along this historic route.

The Boscos de Riudaura hiking route begins in Riudaura and climbs to the Collada del Macià in the surrounding hilly landscapes. The route offers views of three named destinations: the volcanic zone, Alta Garrotxa and Puigsacalm. The hiking route also includes a visit to Gorg Gran on the Riera de Riudaura. The starting point, ascent, landscape and named viewpoints therefore all belong to the same described route. Gorg Gran adds another location on the Riera de Riudaura to this route.

Culture

The Santa Maria de Riudaura Monastery was founded in 852. The Torre Rodona is the oldest surviving part of the Riudaura monastery complex. The Santuari de Sant Joan de la Font has Romanesque origins; a gathering takes place there in June.

Carrer de la Terrica preserves the medieval structure of a village street in the Garrotxa. Its steep gradient gave the street the nickname “Rompeculs”. Gambeto’s Square is located in the medieval centre of Riudaura. The village thus features the monastery complex, sanctuary, village street and square as named elements of its recorded local history.

Traditions and History

The Ball del Gambeto has been danced continuously since the Middle Ages at Whitsun on Plaça del Gambeto.

In the vicinity of Riudaura, a secret meeting between Generals Arsenio Martínez Campos and Francesc Savalls took place at Hostal de la Corda on 26 March 1875 during the Third Carlist War; it effectively contributed to the end of Carlist resistance in Catalonia. The place is therefore also linked to a specific event in Catalan military history.

The Missa dels Pastors is an old Christmas Eve tradition in which lambs are worshipped before the infant Jesus. The Ball del Gambeto, the gathering in June and the Missa dels Pastors represent different times of the year.

Other places on the same destination level are Sant Hilari Sacalm, Sant Miquel d'Aro, Das, Sant Miquel De Fluvià, Sant Aniol De Finestres, El Port De La Selva, Cruïlles, Monells i Sant Sadurní de l'Heura and Fontanals De Cerdanya.

Public Places

The Centre Cívic de Riudaura reopened on 20 December 2025 after renovation work. The renovation improved safety, energy efficiency and accessibility. The date marks the reopening after the completed works.

The Centre Cívic de Riudaura is a low-rise multi-purpose building with a paved forecourt, a rear courtyard and a play area. The Els camins dels carlins. Ruta 6 Garrotxa route ends at Plaça Tiradors below the Centre Cívic. The building, courtyards and the route’s endpoint are therefore named at this section of the village.

For the higher-level travel overview: Girona.