Ogassa

The municipality of Ogassa

• Origins

  The history of Ogassa dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was some land and a few houses that belonged to the Church under key figures such as Abbot Oliba and Abbess Emma and to noblemen such as the Oriols and Wilfred the Hairy. Centuries later, coal mining and the cement industry would be central to the success of Ogassa.

• Did you know that…?

  It was largely thanks to the need to transport Ogassa’s coal to Barcelona that a railway line was constructed in El Ripollès in 1880. The section from Sant Joan de les Abadesses to Toralles remained in operation until the mines were closed in 1967 and the section from Sant Joan de les Abadesses to Ripoll saw its last journey in 1980. Now you can hike or cycle along the route taken by the train on the Ruta del Ferro i del Carbó, an accessible trail named in honour of coal and the iron horses that transported it.

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  Museum

  This “museum made by the townsfolk” allows you to see how the miners worked and how briquettes were made. It forms part of the municipality’s industrial heritage associated with its coal mines.

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  Mines

  Over a dozen coal mines were active in Ogassa at the industry’s height and were key to its progress.

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  Church of Sant Martí de Surroca

  The church of Sant Martí de Surroca, which is on the Coll de Pal path in the northeast of the municipality, was built in the Romanesque period and has undergone many changes over the centuries.

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  Peaks

  In the municipality of Ogassa there are such important peaks as Taga at 2,040 m above sea level, Sant Amand at 1,851 m, Puig Estela at 2,013 m, Puig de Coma d’Olla at 1,938 m, Puig from Pla de les Pasteres at 1,894 m or Portella d’Ogassa at 1,790 m. Come and visit one of the most emblematic peaks of Ripollès!

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  Church of Sant Martí d’Ogassa

  The church of Sant Martí d’Ogassa, which dates back to the 10th century, stands some 1,370 m above sea level on the Coll de Jou path. In July it holds a congregational meeting devoted to Our Lady of Puig de França.

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  Church of Santa Bàrbara

  The church of Santa Bàrbara, which is located in the neighbourhood of El Prat del Pinter, was built by miners in honour of their patron saint in the hopes that she would protect them against the dangers of the mines.

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  Springs

  Ogassa is awash with springs, including El Freixe, which supplies the municipality with its water, La Font Gran, which can be found on a path alongside the stream of the same name, and El Miner, on Avinguda de les Mines.