6+3. A municipality made up of nine villages: six above water and three underneath.
Bassella Municipality Consists Of Nine Villages: Aguilar, Altés, Bassella, Castellnou De Bassella, La Clua, Guardiola, Mirambell, Ogern And Serinyana. As Fate Would Have It, Three Of The Nine Were Flooded During The Construction Of Rialb Reservoir.
Even so, the sense of belonging of the people who used to live in the drowned villages of Bassella, Aguilar and Castellnou de Bassella remains as strong as ever and shows in everything they do. This is why Bassella is still said to be a municipality made up of nine villages: six above water and three underneath.
9
Villages
1
Reservoir
1
River
62
Classified masies (farmhouses)
4
Castles
12
Churches
Heritage
Bridges and viaducts span the river, connecting houses, people and stories and bringing a bygone age to life. The vestiges of medieval history sprinkled around Bassella retrace the footsteps of time up until the present day.
The churches and bridges in Bassella are an invitation to discover its past and present, as are the surviving remains of castles and fortresses and the magic of the medieval redoubt in Ogern.
Ogern old village
Ogern, a medieval village with winding streets and stone houses with gable roofs, is the largest settlement in Bassella.
Its church, dedicated to Saint Saturnin, is perched atop one of the highest points in the village. Also worth a mention are Ca l’Isidro and Cal Ganyet, two towers from the 10th century. King James I stayed in one of them in 1259.
La Clua village and castle
La Clua is one of the most charming villages that make up Bassella. Its location on the rocks jutting out of the middle of the reservoir has blessed it with picture-postcard scenery. Make sure to visit the castle, Saint Martin’s Chapel and Saint Sebastian’s Church if you happen to drop by.
Saint Sebastian’s Church is a Romanesque temple from the 12th century. Another Romanesque building, Saint Martin of La Clua’s Chapel, is just a short walk away, in the vicinity of the village.
The act of consecration of La Seu d’Urgell Cathedral mentions the parish of La Clua d’Aguilar. Arnold Bonfill donated La Clua Castle, the sanctuary and half of the church to Saint Mary’s Cathedral in 1091.
As you can see, this corner of Bassella goes over a millennium back!
Ogern Bridge
Ogern Bridge, a Romanesque four-arch bridge, straddles the Ribera Salada river. Flooding swept away two of these arches in 1964, but they were rebuilt in 2016.
Saint Saturnin of La Salsa’s Church
The old road from Ogern to Oliana leads to La Salsa, an 11th-century parish church dedicated to Saint Saturnin. It commands a stunning view thanks to its prime location.
If you have the time to take a stroll, you will find two hidden gems in its surroundings, one of which has to do with the living Nativity scene that takes place in the municipality every year.
Water
It would be impossible to recapitulate the history of Bassella without talking about water. Rialb Reservoir, which stretches from north to south, and the Ribera Salada and Segre rivers are part and parcel of life in this corner of the world.
In the past, the bridges and footbridges used to link the various villages of Bassella and provide a way across the rivers. Since the construction of the reservoir, they have retained a key role in connecting the villages that make up the municipality.
Everyone who lives in Bassella has a treasure trove of memories and experiences related to the Ribera Salada and Segre. Water is inextricably linked with life in Bassella, where everyone has spent summer afternoons splashing about in the pools of the Ribera Salada and walked or pushed the pedals on the banks of the reservoir.
Rialb Reservoir
Rialb Reservoir, fed by the Segre, Rialb and Ribera Salada rivers, dominates the landscape of Bassella.
Its construction began in 1992 and left three drowned villages, marking a turning point in the history of the municipality and the people who call it home.
Ribera Salada
Everyone who lives in Bassella has a treasure trove of memories and experiences related to the Ribera Salada and the reservoir. Water is inextricably linked with life in Bassella, where everyone has spent summer afternoons splashing about in the pools of the Ribera Salada and walked or pushed the pedals on the banks of the reservoir.
Motorcycling and cycling tourism
Bassella is undeniably a motorcycling haven. The Bassella Motorcycle Museum put the municipality on the map and has become a pilgrimage site for adrenaline junkies on two wheels.
Bassella has long been a major destination for motorcycling tourism, but cycling has also been gaining ground in recent years. The combination of paved roads through the heart of nature and an intricate web of tracks in the forests of the village make Bassella a cycling paradise.
Bassella has a panoply of cycling routes, from flat and easy tracks ideal for family outings to eye-watering slopes for riders hungry for a challenge. When it comes to riding on two wheels, Bassella has something for everyone!
Bassella Experience
Adrenaline junkies and petrolheads are in for a treat in Bassella.
Bassella Experience provides off-road experiences on two and four wheels in a unique setting with a breathtaking panorama of Rialb Reservoir.
Motorcycle Museum
The Motorcycle Museum is the place to be for motorcycling fanatics. It offers a unique experience and shines a light on the values of motorcycling from multiple angles and perspectives.
A pleasure for the senses, it takes grown-ups on a trip down memory lane and children on a journey of discovery.
Road cycling and mountain biking
The roads that weave their way through beautiful natural landscapes to connect the villages of Bassella make it a dream road cycling destination.
Mountain bikers, on the other hand, will find challenging tracks that put their abilities to the test, as well as easier ones perfect for family outings.
Nature
Nature can be found in every nook and cranny of Bassella. It is hard to find a place where nature does not dominate or at least colour the landscape. Boasting a multitude of pristine locations virtually untouched by the human hand, Bassella is an authentic destination wildly popular among people who want to touch grass or live a bit slower.
Birdwatching in Rialb Reservoir
Birdwatching is a golden opportunity to discover the wildlife in and around Rialb Reservoir. Multiple spots reveal the species that live in the reservoir, their signature traits and how they live and move around.
Feast your eyes on the views from the shore of the reservoir as you go from one spot to the next. The easy-peasy route makes it a great family experience.
Nature trail from Ogern to Altés
This 2 kilometre trail is an ideal family hike. Children will discover the wildlife typical of this riparian forest. The trail is dotted with wooden activities to teach them to identify native species, what they eat and how they interact with each other.
Outdoor play and leisure area
On the banks of the Ribera Salada, near Ogern, there is a play and leisure area where the singular nature of the riparian forest meets the magic of the river. People of all ages can give in to their playful side or just kick back and relax here. Grown-ups can exercise to boost their health while children have a blast on the adventure trail.
Living Nativity scene
In the run-up to Christmas, the Agrupació Baixa Ribera Salada turns Ogern and its medieval alleys into a living Nativity scene.
Locals young and old play roles and bring the various characters to life.
The route steps out of the village and into its natural surroundings to the delight of visitors.
Village fêtes
Each of the villages that make up Bassella has its own fête. Here are the main ones:
- OGERN: fourth weekend of September
- AGUILAR: first weekend of June
- CASTELLNOU: second Sunday of October
- ALTÈS: Holy Rosary/Pentecost
- LA CLUA: October Holy Rosary (village fête)
- MIRAMBELL: 6 October
- BASSELLA: last Sunday of August
Alt Urgell
Bassella is a gateway to Alt Urgell, a comarca packed with experiences for the five senses. Foodies can treat their taste buds to locally grown artisanal products from local producers.
Visitors who are into nature and active tourism will be spoilt for choice, with numerous trails and routes of varying difficulty suitable for different people.
A vibrant cultural scene awaits those who get goosebumps from festivities and traditions from time immemorial.
Accommodation
You have different options to spend the night in Bassella.
Here are their contact details, so you can find out more about each of these places:
