Can Rigall Pyrenees is a wonderful mountain estate perched 800 meters high on an alpine meadow in French Catalonia close to the Mediterranean coast, and only 2-3 hours drive from Barcelona in the south or Montpellier in the north. Can Rigall can best be described as an “eco-luxury hotel”, and is part of the Basecamp Explorer Group founded by Svein Wilhelmsen, which include properties in Masai Mara in Kenya and unique lodging in Spitsbergen, Norway . Basecamp Explorer is a non-profit organization that works with communities to create sustainable tourist destinations in Africa and India through the Basecamp foundation.
At Can Rigall, the owners have patiently restored a 300-year old Catalan farmstead, preserving its authenticity. The resort promotes ancient traditions that we call today organic, bio-dynamic, sustainable, free-range or chemical-free. They use solar panels, bio-diesel and a wind turbine to generate the energy for the hotel. The kitchen uses organic vegetables, herbs and fruits produced on site, and they compost and recycle waste.
Can Rigall is surrounded by 142 hectares of wilderness and has awe-inspiring views of the rugged Pyrenees. Amenities include a wonderful natural swimming pool carved into the rocks, excellent local Catalan cuisine, individually designed rooms with extremely comfortable beds and sheets (which I have tried and enjoyed), a large cozy common room with a fireplace and free Wi-Fi. The location, not far from the village of Arles-sur-Tech, and the town Ceret with its famed modern art collection, offers countless hiking and mountain biking trails.
If you are going to this area, you can stop over in Carcassonne to view the medieval citadel (see our recommendations in Carcassonne) and stay overnight to savour the history and beauty of the region.
Can Rigall Pyrenees
66150 Arles-sur-Tech, France
About Arnon Kohavi
