The paths of the Bishop and abbot Oliba

Presentation

The paths of the Bishop and Abbot Oliba is a route through the Romanesque art which links up the counties of Bages, Osona and Ripollès using the Bishop and abbot Oliba as the common linking connection.

Of all the architectural and artistic tendencies that have existed up to the present day, there is no doubt that the most wide-spread is the Romanesque. The counties of Osona, el Bages and Ripollès are the counties most representative of this huge heritage. All of the cities or town in our counties have, or have had, a church or other type of building constructed in this style. Romanesque art brings us together and gives meaning to this project.
Therefore Romanesque art and architecture are present as an integrating force in “Catalunya Central”, and they constitute an ideal reason for reconsidering the importance of each part of the territory, getting to know the landscape, the cuisine, the traditions and all that Central Catalunya can offer tourism.    

Objectives

The principal reasons for creating a grand route to be travelled on foot are the following:

• The abundant Romanesque Heritage in these counties.
• Historically the means of transport used artists, monks and others to make the pilgrimages was mostly on foot.
• To establish a main route that joins together the inland counties of Catalonia and which has a common denominator: Romanesque art, and to use as the connecting theme a recognized historical figure, as is the bishop and abbot Oliba.
• To offer touristic products enabling the visitor to get to know Romanesque art, and in general the history of our land, starting out from hiking.
• To generate interest in pilgrimages, permitting the history and heritage of the territory to be discovered.