* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia
In this photograph captured in Vic, in Osona, for Las Fotos de los Lectores de La Vanguardia, we can see the chimney of the Sugar Factory, on the left the Puigmal and on the right, the mountains that surround Vall de Núria.
The Fàbrica del Sucre was built in 1892 and is the best example of industrial architecture in Vic. It made sugar from the bleda-rave and operated until 1970.
At the time, it became the first factory in Catalonia (1891) to use beets as raw material to obtain red sugar, the basis for refined sugar.
The chimney was the central axis of the patio of the factory complex. Its construction is designed to take advantage of the hot air from the factory boiler to heat the house or family residence. Originally, the doors and windows were colored, with a unique added element: the Viennese-style ceramic stove.
After the sugar business in Vic went down, the City Council bought the building, which was restored and equipped to house various institutions and public facilities.
Puigmal with 2910 meters of altitude is located between Queralbs (Ripollès) and Err (Alta Cerdanya). Meanwhile, the Vall de Núria is surrounded by peaks, such as Noucreus, Noufonts, Eina or Finestrelles.