Rupit i Pruit is a municipality located in the region of Osona, in the Sierra de Cabrera, Barcelona. It is made up of two town centres, Rupit and Pruit, as they were independent until 1977. The medieval village of Rupit emerged around the 12th century thanks to noble families. The most beautiful thing to see in Rupit y Pruït is its old town, which can be reached by a spectacular suspension bridge. Also not to be missed is the great Salt de Sallent, the largest waterfall in Catalonia with a free fall of over 100 metres.
Suspension bridge and old town
In order to discover the houses and alleys of the old town of Rupit i Pruit you must first cross a spectacular suspension bridge. This bridge was built in 1945 to cross the stream that lies at its feet. Going across it is quite an experience, as it swings more than you might expect at first, so they warn that no more than ten people can cross it at a time.
Rupit is a very beautiful town and also very small, so it is difficult to miss a street in its old town when visiting it. Next to the car park, on the outskirts of the village, there is a tourist office where they explain everything there is to see in Rupit i Pruit. However, you can also discover the town by walking around while enjoying the views offered by the stone houses that date from the 16th to 18th centuries. Some of them still have the date of their construction engraved on the stone lintel; some built more than 400 years ago. In addition, the houses have different coats of arms, large carved portals and windows as well as beautiful wooden balconies.
Some examples of places to see in Rupit are the house of the apothecary, the notary’s office Soler or the old smithy, whose legacy has been handed down from generation to generation by local familiesn.
As far as squares are concerned, they are not large open spaces, but respond to a medieval layout with a lot of charm. Thus, a visit to the Plaza Mayor, where you can have a drink, or the Plaza de Cavallers is a must. To complete the visit, among the few streets that make up the town, the Fossar street stands out, with beautiful corners and a steep slope. Here was the old cemetery of the village.
Church of San Miguel in Rupit
The church of San Miguel in Rupit is the parish church of the town; since until 1878 it was the church of San Juan de Fábregas. It is a seventeenth-century construction, although other versions of it had already been built in the tenth and thirteenth centuries, the latter in the Romanesque style. Currently, the church of San Miguel has a baroque style combined with neoclassical elements.
Inside the church, one of the most important elements is the Baroque altarpiece of San Esteban. This is curious, as the church is dedicated to Saint Michael but the altarpiece to another saint, Saint Stephen. The latter was in another church, San Esteban in Olot, for more than 100 years. However, in 1828 it was bought by the parish of Rupit as the Olot parish was planning to build a new one. As for its exterior, its high bell tower is striking.
Church of San Juan de Fábregas
The church of San Juan de Fábregas is one of the most popular Romanesque temples in the area of Rupit i Pruit. There is documentation of the castle and church of San Juan de Fábregas since 968. Much later, in 1878, the church of Rupit no longer depended on San Juan de Fábregas until 1959 when the municipality was renamed Rupit. Years later, in 1977, the municipalities of Rupit and Pruit were joined, around the time when the church was last restored.
Although it is a little further from the old quarter of Rupit than other buildings; you can get there by taking a step, as the route is approximately four kilometres long. The church of San Juan de Fábregas is built next to the castle of Fàbregues, of which few remains standing. At a height of about 800 meters, from the temple you can get good views of the region.
Hermitage of Santa Magdalena
On the outskirts of Rupit, one kilometre away, is the hermitage of Santa Magdalena. It can be easily reached from the centre of the village. It has simple lines and is built in the Baroque style. The first documents we have about it date from 1660. Restored in 1973, it has a stone altar located in the central apse. It also has a belfry with a single eye. From the hermitage of Santa Magdalena you can see a perfect view of Rupit.
The Sallent waterfall is the largest waterfall in Catalonia, so it is not surprising that it amazes anyone who visits it. It has a free fall of approximately 115 meters; so it is recommended to visit in the rainy season, when it causes a greater impact to see how the water falls to the pool that is at the bottom. You can find it in the Rupit stream, inside the municipal district. It is a tributary of the River Ter; which originates from torrents and springs that rise in the Collsacabra mountain range. Thus, it is one of the most relevant natural attractions of Rupit. Reaching it is not complicated, although you have to be careful if the ground is wet. A road of about six kilometers that is far from the village to the waterfall.
Rupit i Pruit is a municipality made up of two town centres, Rupit and Pruit. However, the urban nucleus of Pruit is very small. It consists of a square and the church of San Andrés. This Romanesque church dates from the 13th century. At first the church was also dedicated to Santa Maria and Santa Cruz. In the 18th century the side chapels were built, the nave was extended and the baroque bell tower was built. For its part, the portal had to be rebuilt after the Civil War, as it had been demolished. Although it is a small place, it is a corner that has the charm of tranquility, with some farmhouses and buildings around it.
