Navès: Serra de Busa, Vall d’Ora and Sant Pere

The church of the former monastery of Sant Pere de Graudescales is located in the Vall d’Ora, within the municipality of Navès. The 12th-century Romanesque church stands at the foot of the cliffs of the Serra de Busa and beside the Aigua d’Ora River. Rocky cliffs, the river and the history of sacred architecture come together at this particular site.

Other destinations include Granyanella, Baqueira-Beret, Escaló, Sant Cristòfol, Sant Guim De La Plana, Abella De La Conca, Tírvia and Guixers.

Nature

The Serra de Busa is located in the municipality of Navès and consists of cliffs with formations reminiscent of Montserrat. The highest point of the Serra de Busa is the summit of Cogul, at approximately 1,526 metres above sea level. The Serra de Busa and Capolatell are part of the protected natural area of Serres de Busa, els Bastets i Lord (PEIN).

History

Sant Pere de Graudescales is the only surviving building of a former Benedictine monastery. The church has a single-nave layout and a floor plan in the shape of a Latin cross.

Culture

The Ecomuseu de la Vall d’Ora presents activities that were carried out in the valley until the middle of the 20th century. The Molí de Ca l’Ambròs has two millstones and can produce wheat and barley flour. The Museu Diocesà i Comarcal is a museum in the area around Navès. The Castell de l'Espunyola, a castle, is located in the vicinity of Navès. The summits of Cap dels Plans, Serrat de Moneda, Serrat de Malla and Tossal de Vilella are also located in this area.

In the wider region around Navès are the Castell d'Espinalbet, a castle, and the Museu de la Colònia Vidal de Puig-reig, a museum. The named cultural destinations thus range from the former monastery church and the Ecomuseu to castles and museums in the nearby and wider surrounding area. The Ecomuseu and the Molí de Ca l’Ambròs link the history of the valley with a specific technical detail: the two millstones and the production of wheat and barley flour. For a visit to the Ecomuseu, current opening hours should be checked before travelling.

Hiking

The route through the Vall d’Ora to Pla de Busa and Sant Pere de Graudescales is a circular trail. It starts at the car park of the Ecomuseu de la Vall d’Ora and ends there, so the starting and finishing points coincide. Along the way, it passes through the Escala, a narrow, rocky gully approximately 50 metres long. This section includes a 10-metre-long metal ladder followed by wooden steps.

Before setting out, current trail conditions and the conditions at the Escala can be checked, as the passage is narrow and rocky and includes a metal ladder and wooden steps.

For the overarching travel overview: Lleida.