Else Beekman
Tucked deep inside the Catalan hinterland, far from the Mediterranean bustle, stands a village that continues to captivate the world. Rupit i Pruit—an ancient settlement perched on a basalt plateau—has been named by the UN World Tourism Organization as one of its “Best Tourism Villages”, a title that international media have since echoed as Spain’s most beautiful village.
Its charm lies not in grand monuments or headline-grabbing attractions, but in how effortlessly it preserves its medieval soul. Here, heritage, landscape and sustainability work hand in hand rather than in competition.
A landscape shaped by cliffs, silence and sky
To reach Rupit i Pruit, travellers leave the highways behind and slip into a region defined by steep escarpments, wooded valleys and quiet rural life. The Collsacabra range rises around the village, its cliffs catching the last light of the afternoon.
This is one of the few corners of Catalonia where light pollution remains minimal. At night, the sky settles into a deep, velvety black, making stargazing a quiet ritual for visitors and residents alike. The lack of traffic contributes to a stillness unusual in modern Spain.
A village frozen in time
Rupit’s fabric feels untouched by the pace of the wider world. Stone houses crowd narrow lanes, wooden balconies lean over cobbles, and crests weathered by centuries mark once-powerful families. A wooden suspension bridge sways gently above the Riera de Rupit, connecting the two halves of the municipality and serving as its most photographed landmark.
The origins of the settlement stretch back to around the year 1000, when a castle was carved into the crag above. Generations of merchants and craftsmen shaped the village from the 17th century onwards, and their handiwork remains present in lintels, carved symbols and markings above doorways.
Paths that lead straight into wilderness
For many, the beauty of Rupit i Pruit lies in how seamlessly it blends village life with the surrounding terrain. Within minutes of leaving the centre, visitors find themselves walking towards the Salt de Sallent, Catalonia’s tallest waterfall. The trail begins on the old stone streets, crosses the suspension bridge and drops into a valley framed by cliffs more than 100 metres high.
Those wanting a deeper immersion in volcanic landscapes can continue onwards to La Garrotxa, a natural park dotted with extinct cones, ash fields and ancient lava flows—one of Spain’s most remarkable geological areas.
Why the world has taken notice
International recognition has little to do with Instagram fame and everything to do with stewardship. Rupit i Pruit protects its character through strict rules: façades are restored using local stone, modern interventions must follow traditional methods, and new buildings are heavily restricted.
Cars are kept outside the historic centre, preserving both the visual harmony and the air quality of the steep lanes. These measures, combined with careful management of local biodiversity, have turned the village into a model of rural sustainability, one reason global tourism bodies highlight it year after year.
A slower, more deliberate kind of travel
Rupit i Pruit is not for crowds. Instead, it offers the slower pleasures of rural Spain: the sound of the river passing below the cliffs; the faint echo of footsteps on medieval stones; the tranquillity that settles once the day-trippers head home.
For travellers used to the noise of Barcelona or the coast, the quiet can feel almost startling. It is perhaps this unhurried rhythm that most visitors remember long after leaving.
Planning a visit
The village sits roughly 100 kilometres northeast of Barcelona. The final stretch of the drive winds through mountain scenery, so taking it slowly is part of the experience. Spring and autumn bring ideal conditions, with cool air and bright colours sharpening the views across the plateau.
A handful of guesthouses and rural hotels provide accommodation that matches the village’s understated nature – small, welcoming and rooted in local tradition.
Why this Catalan gem lingers in the memory
Whether Spain’s most beautiful village truly exists is a matter of personal taste. Yet Rupit i Pruit’s mix of heritage, landscape and thoughtful preservation explains why so many believe it deserves the title. It represents a version of Spain where time stretches, the scenery steals the show, and the past quietly guides the future.
Its significance lies not only in how it looks, but in how it has chosen to protect what makes it special.
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