The village, the hanging bridge and carrer del Fossar

What it is

Rupit is a stone village built on a rock, on the Collsacabra plateau, at 850 m altitude. Its name comes from the Latin rupes, rock, and it grew around the castle built on that crag around the year 1000. It had its best period between the 16th and 18th centuries, and from then it preserves its cobbled streets and the rustic houses of the 16th and 17th centuries. You enter by crossing the stream on a hanging bridge, and from above the remains of the castle dominate it. In 2022, UN Tourism recognised it as one of the world's Best Tourism Villages.

This walk covers the old town in an hour, free and independent.

The walk step by step

It follows the same route as the tourist office's guided tour:

1. The tourist office, on camí de Sant Joan de Fàbregues. Ask there for the map.
2. The hanging bridge. Cross the Rupit stream on the hanging bridge, the village's best-known image.
3. Carrer del Manyà and carrer de l'Església.
4. The church of Sant Miquel. Its neoclassical bell tower was carved between 1786 and 1789. At weekends and on public holidays you can climb the bell tower.
5. Plaça Major, the centre of the village.
6. Carrer de Palau and carrer del Fossar. Carrer del Fossar, stepped and cut into the rock, is one of the most characteristic streets in Rupit.
7. Plaça dels Cavallers.
8. Carrer del Coll del Castell, towards the castle rock.
9. Carrer del Bac de l'Era, where the route ends.

Where to park

The Town Council has a large municipal car park at the entrance to the village, designed so as not to clog the narrow streets of the centre. Rates for cars: free up to 45 minutes, €2.50 up to 2 hours, €3.50 up to 3, €4.50 up to 4 and €6 for 4 to 24 hours. It has four charging points for electric cars. Motorhomes and camper vans pay €8 a day and €16 with an overnight stay, with a maximum of 15 at a time.

Next to it there is a picnic area with three tables, a ping-pong table and an open space, between the car park and the stream, and a playground at the entrance to the village. In summer the municipal swimming pools open.

Getting there

Rupit is on the C-153, between Vic and Olot: about 28 km and 45 minutes from Vic, 26 km from Olot. From Barcelona, take the C-17 to Vic, the C-25 towards Girona and exit 183 towards Roda de Ter; it is about 106 km and two hours. There is a Sagalés bus from Barcelona and Vic, with few services.

When to go

Rupit receives thousands of visitors a year, especially at weekends and in high season. For a quiet stroll, go on a weekday or first thing. In early January the living nativity is held. After days of rain, the Salt de Sallent carries more water: a good time to extend the walk.

With children and with a dog

The hanging bridge is what children like most. With a pushchair, the cobbles and the steps of carrer del Fossar make it harder: a baby carrier is better. Dogs can come, on a lead; on the bridge, keep them close.