In the middle of autumn, I walked along the old paths of the smugglers' route. A route that starts in Beget (Ripollès), and passes through Rocabruna (Ripollès) and extends a few days later towards Prats de Molló (Vallespir). And if in Ripollès and Alta Garrotxa autumn was shy, once in Vallespir it explodes in a Northern Catalonia full of ochres and reds.
In the photo the Coll de Malrem. Right at the point where we reach Menera (Vallespir), autumnal, and we leave behind the green of the municipality of Beget. We walk with the feeling of having been autumn smugglers.
Rocabruna
We start in Rocabruna (Camprodon, Ripollès). A house surrounded by ash, cherry, green pine and beech trees, whose green colors are replaced by the reds and yellows of autumn. As the days get shorter, the trees receive fewer hours of light and the temperature drops, the leaves stop the food production process.
Church of Sant Feliu de Rocabruna
The facade of a 12th-century Romanesque temple, dedicated to Saint Feliu and restored in 1929, and an autumn ivy.
Smuggling routes
One of the charming bridges on the Rocabruna stream. These are the old smugglers' paths.
The devil's fingers
A mushroom that starts as an egg (the brown bag that is still visible in the photograph) and then sprouts red tentacles that extend like demon fingers.
Shy autumn on the bridge over the Arçoles stream
The green still dominates the bridge over the Arçoles stream.
The delicacy of the aspen
An aspen leaf hangs from a spider's web.
Rocabruna Castle
Rocabruna Castle, built on a hill, has views of the Beget Valley, Alta Garrotxa, Coll d'Ares, Coll Pregon and Coll de Malrem. In the photograph, the views are framed by the wall of the castle ruins.
The Beget Valley
The Beget valley and the Bestracà mountain, which casts a shadow over the Hortmoier valley.
The Beget River carves the rock
The rock, excavated by the passage of the water of the Beget river. This water will end up flowing into the Fluvià and in the Bay of Roses it will flow into the Mediterranean.
Autumn awakens
A poplar awakens the colors of autumn. We are starting to get close to Vallespir.
A river of leaves
A pond full of freshly fallen leaves, which paint the surface of the water.
Autumn coats
A flock of lambs near the ruins of Rocabruna castle.
Paths that are now fading away
"Paths that now fade away, paths that we must take alone, paths near the stars, paths that are no longer there," on this new road between Rocabruna and Beget.
Red marks the way
The color red marks the path that will take us to the forests that climb up the mountain.
Welcome to Vallespir
In the image, the Malrem pass right at the point where you reach Vallespir. In the foreground, the green of the municipality of Beget (Ripollès). In the background, the Menera awaits us, full of reds under the Comanegra hill.
Autumn dominates the landscape
We are in Vallespir, and the yellow and pumpkin colors of the maple trees already dominate the landscape.
Autumn sea in Prats de Molló
Autumn is bursting into the forests of Northern Catalonia and the imposing light of day has just given them strength.
Autumn in Prats de Molló
The forests near Prats de Molló have a much more vibrant autumn than on the southern slope.
Color thieves
We return to the beginning with the feeling that fate is full of the colors we have found in the great autumnal explosion of Vallespir.