Ulldeter Mountain Hut

The Refugi d'Ulldeter is a mountain hut located at 2,236 metres in the Ulldeter cirque, within the municipality of Setcases in the Ripollès comarca of Catalonia, Spain. It is owned and managed by the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya (CEC), Catalonia's oldest hiking and mountaineering club. The hut sits at the southern end of the Racó Gran de Morens, below the Ulldeter cirque and beside the Gra de Fajol massif, very close to the Vallter 2000 ski resort. It serves as a base for hikers and climbers exploring the surrounding peaks, including Bastiments, Gra de Fajol, and the Dona, and as a stopover on long-distance traverses toward Núria, Carançà, Mentet, Costabona, and Canigó. The original hut, known as the Refugi Vell, opened on 25 July 1909 at an altitude of 2,393 metres. It is considered the second mountain hut built in Catalonia (after the Xalet de Cortalets, opened in 1899) and the first in Spain. Constructed in the Noucentista style, it operated until the Spanish Civil War, after which it was closed and abandoned. It was partially dynamited by Francoist forces to prevent its use by maquis guerrillas and eventually fell into ruin; only some remains and a commemorative plaque survive today. The current hut, the Refugi Nou, opened on 29 June 1959 at 2,221 metres, lower in the cirque and closer to the road that leads to the Vallter 2000 ski resort, which was built in the late 1970s. The hut is guarded and has 57 places, with an additional unguarded section of 8 places when the guardian is absent. It offers indoor hot water and outdoor water, electricity, bunk beds with foam mattresses, stove heating, toilets, showers, an emergency radio, and first-aid equipment. The nearest village is Setcases, about a three-hour walk; the nearest other huts are Coma de Vaca (3 hours) and Costabona (4.5 hours). Vehicular access is via the road from Setcases to the Vallter ski resort, with a well-signposted path on the left before the resort leading to the hut in about 30 minutes on foot.

The idea of building a network of mountain huts in Catalonia began in 1906 under the initiative of Cèsar August Torras, then president of the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya (CEC). The first hut was to be built in the Ulldeter cirque. In May 1907, a subscription was launched to raise funds for construction. The project and execution were carried out by the CEC's Architecture Section, directed by its president, the architect Jeroni Martorell. In late June 1907, a commission along with residents of Setcases and a bricklayer from Camprodon, Mr. Pagès, ascended to the Ulldeter plain and chose a site on a hill about 100 metres from the springs that give birth to the Ter river. The location was also suitable for easy access to the peaks of Bastiments, Dona, and Gra de Fajol, and for starting traverses to Núria or Carançà via the Coll de la Marrana to the west, or toward Mentet, Costabona, or Canigó to the east. The Setcases town council wanted to cede the land for free, but CEC investigations found that the land belonged to the State. Through a petition sent to the Ministerio de Fomento on 18 June 1907, permission was requested to occupy one hectare of land to build the chalet-refuge. After much bureaucratic effort, authorization was obtained in July 1907, along with permission to use existing stone and wood. In early August, Mr. Pagès, the master builder in charge, and his brigade of 15 people began constructing a barrack to house themselves as a preliminary step. In late September 1907, work had to stop until 5 July 1908 due to cold and bad weather. By then, the walls had reached the first floor and the discharge arches that would support the vault. Despite bad weather that summer, on 13 September 1908 they celebrated the Revellosa festival marking the completion of the roof without any accidents. Bad weather in the summer of 1909 forced the postponement of the inauguration until 25 July 1909, as well as the start of the second module for muleteers and horses. The chalet-refuge had a ground floor of 160 m² and two upper floors, with a spacious dining room, kitchen, WC, and dormitories for about twenty beds. The construction base was masonry and cement with iron beams. The Sociedad General de Asfaltos y Cementos Portland de la Pobla de Lillet donated 200 quintals of cement. All material except stones was brought up from Camprodon by mule trains. By August 1907, 9,903.90 pesetas had been raised. The Diputació and the Barcelona city council each contributed 2,470 pesetas. The municipalities of Camprodon, St. Joan de les Abadesses, Ripoll, and Ribes de Freser also contributed, as did the Cercle del Liceu and the summer colony of Barcelona bourgeoisie in Camprodon. The CEC organized parties (two at Park Güell, one at Frontó Comtal, and the first "Catalan football tournament") to raise funds. By late summer 1908, 21,377.90 pesetas had been raised. The total cost, according to the Memòria published by CEC in 1914, reached 48,178.62 pesetas. The restaurant and administration service was entrusted to Mr. Antoni Rigat, an innkeeper from Camprodon, with fixed rates: 3.5 pesetas for lunch or dinner and 2.5 pesetas for sleeping for non-members, and 1.5 for members. On 18 September 1909, the season ended due to the first snowfalls. The operation of the chalet-refuge had produced a profit of 121 pesetas. This first Ulldeter hut, located at the top of the cirque at 2,393 m, opened on 25 July 1909. It is considered the second mountain hut in Catalonia (the Xalet de Cortalets in Taurinyà, Conflent, opened in 1899) and the first in Spain. Built in Noucentista style, it remained open until the Spanish Civil War, when it was closed and later abandoned until it was partially dynamited by Francoist forces to prevent maquis from sheltering there. Over time it fell into ruin; today only some remains and a commemorative plaque stand. The new hut opened on 29 June 1959 at 2,221 m, lower in the cirque and closer to the road to the Vallter 2000 ski resort, which was built in the late 1970s. The nearest village is Setcases, about a three-hour walk. From the Santuari de Núria it takes 5 hours. The nearest huts are Refugi de Coma de Vaca (3 hours) and Refugi Costabona (4.5 hours). Vehicular access is via the road from Setcases to the Vallter ski resort; before reaching the resort, a well-signposted path on the left leads to the hut in about 30 minutes on foot. The hut is owned by the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya and is guarded with 57 places and an open section of 8 places when the guardian is absent. It has indoor hot water and outdoor water, electricity, bunk beds with foam mattresses, stove heating, toilets, showers, emergency radio, and first-aid equipment.

• 1970

  The Vallter 2000 ski resort is built in the late 1970s, improving access to the hut.

• 1959

  On 29 June, the new hut (Refugi Nou) opens at 2,221 m.

• 1936

  The hut closes at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and is later abandoned.

• 1909

  On 25 July, the first hut (Refugi Vell) opens at 2,393 m, becoming the first mountain hut in Spain and the second in Catalonia.

• 1908

  On 13 September, the Revellosa festival celebrates the completion of the roof.

• 1907

  In May, a subscription is launched to fund construction. In June, a site is chosen. In July, authorization is obtained from the Ministerio de Fomento. In August, construction begins.

• 1906

  Cèsar August Torras, president of the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya, initiates the idea of building a network of mountain huts, starting with the Ulldeter cirque.

Historic, club-owned mountain refuge in the Catalan Pyrenees, offering basic accommodation and services for hikers and climbers.

• Refugi Vell (old hut)

  Historic hut opened in 1909 at 2,393 m, now in ruins with a commemorative plaque.

• Refugi Nou (new hut)

  Current hut opened in 1959 at 2,221 m, with 57 guarded places and 8 unguarded places.

1. 1Refugi d'Ulldeter - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Refugi d'Ulldeter - Viquipèdiaca.wikipedia.org