Fast climb to crown the Besora Castle

This simple and rewarding circular route from Santa Maria de Besora led us to complete another summit for the 100 FEEC Peaks list, combining physical effort with a deep dive into local history. The walk took place in the afternoon, right after a previous geological outing at the Bufadors de Beví, offering an ideal landscape and thematic contrast to close the day.

The highlight of the route is, without a doubt, the hill hosting the ruins of Castell de Besora, a key medieval fortification in the Bisaura region. Although the castro Bisora was reported as early as 885, the castle itself, documented since 895, was the territorial center of an extensive area. Unfortunately, the building was reinforced during the Remensa War (15th century), but its final fate was demolition in 1839 by Carlist troops. Today, the most visible and impressive remains belong to the former Church of Santa Maria, where Romanesque architecture, such as the semicircular apse with its characteristic Lombard arches, is clearly observable—vestiges of a structure documented since 898 and consolidated in 2017.

Beyond the ruins, the site is an exceptional viewpoint that allowed us to enjoy 360º views. From here, one can survey a wide panorama that includes the Serres de Milany, Serra dels Bufadors, Bellmunt, the majestic Puigsacalm, and the horizons of Lluçanès and Berguedà, with the Pyrenees as a backdrop. The final surprise of the itinerary was the peculiar hill of La Valona during the descent, a vegetation-free sedimentary rock formation that creates a striking visual contrast with the intense green of the surrounding forest, where we also made some findings of saffron milk caps (mushrooms). A perfect afternoon blending nature, history, and an accomplished challenge.