Gratis gids 10 verborgen natuurplekken in Europa. Meld je aan voor onze nieuwsbrief en ontvang inspirerende reistips en routes voor je volgende groene reis.
Art and Nature in Seurí: How Santi Moix Brought a Forgotten Pyrenean Village Back to Life
After a 3.5-hour drive from Barcelona, I arrive. At an elevation of 1,210 meters, in a hamlet in the Val de Lleida in the Spanish Pyrenees. Seurí. Yeah, just look at the map below—I couldn’t find it either. It’s also sometimes called Saurí.
An old man with a cane and a hat is sitting on the edge of a low stone wall. “What a beautiful photo,” I think immediately. You can almost hear the silence. The village seems deserted. The names of the 15 residents are listed on a wooden sign attached to a building’s facade. A steep path leads further up into the medieval village. This seems like a place where time stands still.
And then I arrive at the destination of my trip: the 12th-century church Església de Sant Víctor. Unremarkable from the outside, but inside…
A forgotten little church as a canvas for modern frescoes
The guide is already waiting for me in front of the church and immediately begins telling me about the unique art project that began here 11 years ago. The church had been severely neglected. Cracks in the walls, moisture problems, peeling plaster. The idea arose to ask Santi Moix to undertake a restoration. Not just any artist, but someone who had spent his childhood in the village.
Moix hesitated at first, but decided to take on the project. In 2015, he began a radical transformation of the interior. He used traditional fresco techniques and achieved a complete metamorphosis in thirty days. And you can feel it the moment you walk in.
Overwhelming beauty
I step inside, and… I’m completely overwhelmed. Brightly colored frescoes of flowers, plants, people, and animals dance across the walls. No religious icons or saints—just pure nature. Tears roll down my cheeks. The guide nods: “That happens quite often.”
This is not a museum, nor is it a tourist trap. It is a place where art and nature come together in pure simplicity. The combination of the desolation, the light, and the unexpected beauty leaves a deep impression.
The guide explains that Antonio, the old man sitting on the bench at the bottom of the village, keeps an eye on her whenever she comes to Seurí. That’s how he knows there are visitors, and he waits on the bench to see how people react when they return from the little church. I understand why.
Nature as a Source of Spirituality
For Moix, nature is the foundation of his work. Inspired by the teachings of Francis of Assisi, he shows how every aspect of the natural world has meaning and value. His frescoes depict insects, flowers, flowing water, and stars. Every detail contributes to a sense of harmony—a connection between people, nature, and something greater.
Hanging in the center of the church is a 250-kilo ceramic flower, the symbolic heart of the work. It is a tribute to creation itself and a sign of new life after death.
Not only is the concept beautiful, but it’s also exceptionally well painted. The longer you look at it, the more you discover. Santi Moix wants the space to help enrich your inner world, spark your curiosity, and bring about harmony. In my case, it certainly succeeded.
A hidden gem in the Pyrenees
The village of Seurí is located in a remote corner of the Catalan Pyrenees, surrounded by meadows, mountains, and old farmhouses. The church had long been forgotten. Thanks to Moix’s work, it has become an obscure yet awe-inspiring art venue—and a reason to visit this valley.
Please note: Not accessible to people with limited mobility
A guided tour lasts about an hour and is highly recommended.
Who is Santi Moix?
Santi Moix was born in Barcelona in 1960. After spending his childhood in Seurí, he moved to New York at the age of 26, where he established his career as an artist. He still has a home in the village. His work, ranging from painting to sculpture, often explores the relationship between humans and nature.
His choice of the fresco technique at Sant Víctor is a nod to the Romanesque artistic tradition in this region. It is a complex technique that requires great skill: painting on wet plaster, without the possibility of making corrections, using natural pigments.
Why You Shouldn’t Skip This Place
I actually wanted to keep it a secret. But some places are just too special not to share. As far as I’m concerned, Moix’s frescoes in the church in Seurí are one of the most impressive artistic experiences in Europe. And all this in a little village that isn’t on any tourist map.
Let yourself be surprised. Let yourself be moved. And take the time to look. To really look.
I looked up Moix’s work online, and yes, it’s for sale. I’ll keep saving up for a little while longer.
Fresco Painting
Fresco painting is the technique Santi Moix has chosen to ensure the work’s durability and to pay homage to the great masters of Romanesque art, who brought light and color to many of the churches in the Pyrenees.
It requires collaboration between the artist and the plasterer. The painting technique is applied to a surface covered with two layers of lime mortar: a thicker layer consisting of slaked lime, sand, and water; and a second, thinner layer consisting of marble dust, slaked lime, and water.
The pigment is applied to this final layer while it is still damp. This means the painter must work quickly, within a few hours of applying the mortar. The greatest difficulty with this technique is that corrections are not possible, because once the pigments are applied, they are immediately absorbed by the surface. Furthermore, you must anticipate the resulting color, as the shade changes as it dries.
This technique was used extensively in the church. A synthetic material that adheres to the lime mortar was also used for the flowers and plants. The central flower in the church is made of terracotta and porcelain.
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
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Peloponnese Hiking Tour
A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.
We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.
In September, I walked the Cammino Materano. Communicating with Madelon about the booking was a pleasure. To be honest, I was quite nervous because it was my first time doing a multi-day hike—alone and in a region I wasn’t familiar with—but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hike to Matera was beautiful, and I was able to complete it without any trouble thanks to the clear on-site signage and the routing and advice provided by the GPS app. The rest of the organization was top-notch as well. My luggage always arrived on time at the right destination, and the hotels and B&Bs were of high quality. In addition, the organizers were easy to reach via WhatsApp if I had any questions. Highly recommended!
Slovenia was absolutely amazing. A beautiful country, friendly people, lovely hiking trails, and truly top-notch hotels. The staff at the local organization were also very easy to reach and helpful. The hiking was manageable. As Dutch people, we’re not used to high altitudes, of course, so it was pretty tough at times. But it was also a lot of fun.
We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.
Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.
Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again.
Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat.
I highly recommend them!
Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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