Sant Quirze de Besora
Barcelona · Cataluña
Sant Quirze de Besora (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsaŋ ˈkiɾzə ðə βəˈzɔɾə]) is a municipality in the comarca of Osona[1] in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the banks of the Ter river in the north of the comarca. It is on the main communication route between Barcelona and Puigcerdà, served by the C-17 road and a station on the Rodalies de Catalunya railway line. It is also linked to Prats de Lluçanès and the Berguedà by the C-149 road. There is a tradition of textile manufacture in the town, as well as a distillery and a hydroelectric power station. Sant Quirze de Besora became part of Osona in the comarcal revision of 1990: previously it formed part of the Ripollès.
Sections the premium town hall can edit · Fixed sections of the guide
Origins
There's no information in this section yet. The village's profile can complete it from the panel.
History
Sant Quirze de Besora was founded as a town in 898, although there is evidence of human presence from the Iberian and Late Roman periods. The origin of the parish of Sant Quirze came about due to the repopulation policy initiated by Wilfred the Hairy. From the year 898, the farmers living in the area became an organized community due to the security provided by the Besora castle. Around the 11th century, Countess Ermessenda of Carcassonne regularly stayed in Sant Quirze de Besora, being considered the most powerful woman in the history of Catalonia. Ermessenda became the wife of Count Ramon Borrell, and was therefore the mother of Berenguer Ramon I and the grandmother of Ramon Berenguer I. After her husband's death, she took control of the counties of Barcelona, Girona, and Osona. She lived through times of change and embodied the power of the House of Barcelona, especially when she served as the guardian of her grandson Ramon Berenguer I. Ermessenda became the clearest representation of the old power of the House of Barcelona, facing the rebellious nobility. Her role was crucial in halting the power ambitions of the nobility. As for her connection to Sant Quirze de Besora, we can say that the Besora castle was one of many castles under her control. Within this castle, she stayed sporadically, as her usual residence was in Barcelona. However, she retired there, already defeated by her grandson Ramon Berenguer I, in 1057. Countess Ermessenda died on March 1, 1058, in a house next to the church of Sant Quirze de Besora. Currently, one of the town's squares is named after her.
During the industrial era, several bourgeois business families, such as the Guixà and Juncadella, attracted by the power of the Ter River, established significant textile factories in Sant Quirze, which would drive the industrial revolution and the workers' movement in the municipality.
Monuments
Iglesia de San Quirico, del siglo XVIII
Capilla de Montserrat
Destil·leries Bosch
Fuente de l'Espadaler
Plaza Bisaura
Parc del Ter
Acampades el Solà
What to visit
•Mirador de la Rovira
•Castell de Montesquiu
Gallery
Festivals
September 2026
Festivals this month
- No festivals recorded this month.
What's on
Street market
Mercadillo semanal: Viernes, de 09:00 a 15:00 · Plaça Major
Gastronomy
There's no information in this section yet. The village's profile can complete it from the panel.
Trails and hiking
•Camí Oliba (GR 151, 239.54 km)
•Ruta del Ter (GR 210, 220 km)
•Sender d'Orís (PR-C 54, 13 km)
•Sender de Torelló (PR-C 45, 23 km)
•Castell de Montesqiu-Coll dels Tres Pins (8.1 km)
•Obaga de les Codines (6.2 km)
•Obaga del Castell (2.4 km)
•Serra dels Bufadors (PR-C 214, 12 km)
•Del Castell de Montesqui al Castell de Besora (SL-C 129, 10.2 km)
•Sant Moí (SL-C 130, 10.3 km)
•Solell de les Coines (3.4 km)
•Sant Salvador de Bellver (8.5 km)
Routes passing through Sant Quirze de Besora
Services
Do you have a business in Sant Quirze de Besora? Advertise it for free and go premium whenever you like. List my business for free
Famous people
•Cristina Gallach, periodista española
•Laia Aubert Torrents, esquiadora de fondo española
•Ramon Espadaler, político español
•Joaquima Júdez i Fageda
•Rosa Vestit Villegas, político de España
•Big Mama, Cantante y guitarrista de blues
Town hall
Alcaldía: David Solà i Rota
Web oficial: http://www.ajsantquirze.cat/
Town hall of Sant Quirze de Besora
Alcaldía: David Solà i Rota Web oficial: http://www.ajsantquirze.cat/
Here goes your town hall's profile or your website address. Are you from the town hall? Go premium to complete your profile and edit your village's content. hola@ciudadesypueblos.es
How to get there
- 🚗 61 km from Breda (about 43 min by car)
- 🚗 78 km from Sabadell (about 55 min by car)
- 🚗 100 km from Barcelona (about 71 min by car)
🧭 Travelling around the villages of Spain: a practical guide — Opening hours, transport, money and customs, before you set off.
- ✈️ 63 km from Girona-Costa Brava airport (about 44 min by car)
- ✈️ 113 km from Barcelona-El Prat airport (about 80 min by car)
Practical info
🅿️ Where to park
- Where to park · 0.3 km away
- Where to park · 0.3 km away
- Where to park · 0.4 km away
🏧 Nearest cash machine
- BBVA · 7.1 km away
⛽ Nearest petrol station
- Benzinera El Túnel · 0.8 km away
- Esclatoil · 6.2 km away
- Petro Voltregà · 6.4 km away
ℹ️ Tourist office
- Tourist office · 2.7 km away
🔭 Viewpoints
- Viewpoints · 1.1 km away
- Mirador de la Rovira · 1.8 km away
- Viewpoints · 5 km away
🏖️ Where to swim
- Piscina Municipal · 5.8 km away
- Piscina Municipal · 5.8 km away
Buses
Está situado junto a la autovía C-17, de Barcelona a Ripoll. Tiene una estación ferroviaria que pertenece a la línea Barcelona-Ripoll.
Se sitúa a 20 km de Vic, a 80 de Barcelona y a 50 de Francia.
Pharmacy and health
•Farmacia Farmàcia Besora Molins, Àgata i Éric — carrer Pont 45
•Farmacia Farmàcia Utgés Gabarró, Núria — carrer S.Boi 3
Wall and news
Log in with your profile to post. Posting on the walls is free.
This wall is still quiet.
Obituaries
There are no obituaries published right now in Sant Quirze de Besora.
In loving memory
There are no memorials in Sant Quirze de Besora yet.
Videos
Discover Sant Quirze de Besora on video: