THE CATALAN PYRENEES HIKING the Catalan Pyrenees the Catalan Pyrenees 02 Contents Contents 03
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THE CATALAN PYRENEES HIKING The Catalan Pyrenees The Catalan Pyrenees 02 Contents Contents 03 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 04 LEGEND 06 TRAVERSES IN STAGES 09 GR HIKING TRAILS 23 IDEAS FOR HALF-DAY WALKS 29 BEYOND HIKING 34 04 The Catalan Pyrenees The Catalan Pyrenees 05 The Catalan Pyrenees, Europe Pyrenees, Catalonia Andorra - La Seu Airport Lleida- Alguaire Girona Airport Girona-Costa Brava Airport Lleida Barcelona Barcelona Airport KNOW THE CATALAN PYRENEES? A place where the journey is every bit as important as the destination, where you can spend the whole day enjoying nature at its best and then relax in the evening by the fireside. A land characterised by its high mountains, its rich cultural heritage, and its exceptional cuisine. A pristine natural environment that invites you to come and practise sport, visit the only National Park in Catalonia and the many Natural Parks, and explore the age-old customs and traditions of the mountain communities. Discover and experience this inland paradise. The Catalan Pyrenees The Catalan Pyrenees 06 Hiking Hiking 07 LEGEND HIKING IN THE CATALAN PYRENEES FACT FILE CALENDAR Best time of year Route length (in km) for this route Cumulative elevation gain FURTHER INFORMATION Route type: linear Sustainable Route type: circular The Catalan Pyrenees The Catalan Pyrenees 08 Traverses in stages Traverses in stages 09 TRAVERSES IN STAGES ADVENTURES STEP-BY-STEP The Pyrenees are full of kilometres and kilometres of well- marked trails. Some can be done in just one day, whereas others need several days to complete. The following itineraries all take more than one day: their variety of landscapes and natural and cultural uniqueness have made them a must for nature-lovers wishing to enjoy an exceptional experience. The Catalan Pyrenees The Catalan Pyrenees 10 Traverses in stages Traverses in stages 11 TRAVERSES IN STAGES 2 1 SETAU SAGÈTH 1 3 5 VAL D’ARAN FACT FILE 9 4 PALLARS SOBIRÀ 10 ANDORRA 103 km ALTA FRANCE 6 RIBAGORÇA 7 9480 m 11 CERDANYA 17 18 ALT 16 ALT EMPORDÀ 8 URGELL Circular 12 15 RIPOLLÈS PALLARS 19 JUSSÀ 14 GARROTXA Self-guided itinerary in five stages walking trail. Baggage transport 13 Late May beginning and ending in Vielha. service available. to early BERGUEDÀ SOLSONÈS The route goes over three mountain Not to be missed: fabulous views of October passes: Coll de Guerri (2320m), the Aranese landscape; Val d’Aran Port de Rius (2340m), and Port de gastronomy and cultural heritage. Vielha, a history-laden pass and the culminating point of this traverse. www.setausageth.com The route mostly follows the GR211 LEGEND 2 PASS’ARAN 1 Setau Sagèth 11 Estanys Amagats FACT FILE 2 Pass’Aran 12 Cavalls del Vent 64 km 3 Camin Reiau 13 Route of the Cathars 4 Carros de Foc 14 La Ruta del Caracremada 10,205 m 5 Via Calda 15 Route of the Hermit Circular 6 Shepherds’ Route 16 Els Bastions 7 Route of the Three Valleys 17 Els Tres Refugis Discover this cross-border route Valier. Five mountain refuges and Summer in the central Pyrenees between gîtes enable you to complete the months 8 El Cinquè Llac 18 Refugis del Torb Catalonia and France, in the heart circuit without major difficulty. of the Castillonnais, Birós, and 9 Gate of Heaven 19 Serra de Monestirs Not to be missed: legendary peaks Aran valleys. The traverse takes along the way. 10 Mountains of Freedom in legendary peaks and mountain passes such as Crabère, Maubermé, www.passaran.com Barlonguère (Tuc d’Eth Milh) and The Catalan Pyrenees The Catalan Pyrenees 12 Traverses in stages Traverses in stages 13 TRAVERSES IN STAGES 3 CAMIN REIAU 5 VIA CALDA FACT FILE FACT FILE 150 km 88 km 12,000 m 4450 m Circular Linear All-year round hiking route along Not to be missed: churches in The Via Calda is a self-guided and then sleeping in the modern All year round Late May paths formerly linking the 33 villages Salardú, Arties, Bossòst, and Vielha; itinerary, providing a perfect Caldes de Boí hotel spa! to early in the Val d’Aran, of great interest flora and fauna of the Val d’Aran. combination of hiking plus the best Baggage transport service is also October to those who wish to immerse www.caminreiau.cat thermal waters in the Pyrenees: available for the Encantats and Gran themselves in the history, culture and Boí, Tredòs, Arties, Les, and Vielha. Bucle (Big Loop) routes. natural heritage of the area. Baggage transport service available Not to be missed: Val d’Aran and Vall for each stage. Imagine exploring de Boí; thermal circuits at Les, Caldes the Colomers Cirque and its 48 de Boí and Banhs de Tredòs. lakes in the Val d’Aran, visiting the Romanesque churches of the Vall de www.andandosinequipaje.com Boí (UNESCO World Heritage Site), 4 CARROS DE FOC 6 SHEPHERDS’ ROUTE FACT FILE FACT FILE 55 km 50 km 9200 m 1400 m Circular Linear Classic high mountain route linking reached on the itinerary is Contraig Summer The route follows the paths and completed in 3-4 days, depending on All year up the nine mountain refuges in Pass (2475m). Five to seven days months trails used by shepherds since your physical fitness. round Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici are required to complete this route. time immemorial, helping you to Not to be missed: conversations National Park, the only one of its Not to be missed: numerous natural understand the lives and the history with the shepherds you will meet on kind in Catalonia. The refuges are lakes along the way. of the transhumant shepherds in Alta your way. located at an altitude of 1900 - www.carrosdefoc.com Ribagorça County. The route starts 2400 metres, and the highest point in the town of El Pont de Suert and www.larutadelpastor.com the four stages (maximum) can be The Catalan Pyrenees The Catalan Pyrenees 14 Traverses in stages Traverses in stages 15 TRAVERSES IN STAGES 7 ROUTE OF THE THREE VALLEYS 9 GATE OF HEAVEN FACT FILE FACT FILE 74.640 km 65 km + 3215 m 11,000 m Circular Circular A circular traverse through Boí, Not to be missed: waterfowl on the May to Five-stage route running through and Certascan Lake, the largest June to Barravés and Castanesa valleys, River Noguera de Tor; Romanesque October wild, impressive landscapes of natural lake in the Pyrenees. September the best way of enjoying these churches of Vall de Boí; spectacular beauty in the Alt Not to be missed: Certascan Lake incomparable landscapes beside Interpretation Centre (in Senet) Pirineu Natural Park (Catalonia) surrounded by mountains, with Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant and the Pyrénées Ariégeoises the dramatically located Pinet Maurici National Park and Posets- Maurici National Park Regional Natural Park (France), refuge; early-morning reflections Maladeta Natural Park, discovering www.ruta3valls.com with four mountain refuges along of the peaks in the lake waters; the local cultural heritage, and the way. The itinerary passes the climbing Pica d’Estats. sleeping in any of the picturesque emblematic Pica d’Estats (3143m), villages in the valleys. the highest peak in Catalonia, www.laportadelcel.com 8 EL CINQUÈ LLAC 10 MOUNTAINS OF FREEDOM FACT FILE FACT FILE 102.3 km 65 km 12,963 m 9500 m Circular Circular Medium-altitude mountain route and unexpected areas of the Pyrenees Spring to Route running through the Alt Pirineu south to escape the Holocaust. June to autumn September running just below Aigüestortes i until you reach Montcortès Lake (the Natural Park (Catalonia) and the Not to be missed: Ars Waterfall, Estany de Sant Maurici National “Fifth Lake”). Pyrénées Ariégeoises Regional Natural probably the most beautiful Park, accessible for all types of Not to be missed: the legends Park (France). This 4-stage itinerary in the Pyrenees; monuments hikers. Baggage transport service associated with each stage, which will is steeped in history as it follows the commemorating the Jewish exodus available. The route involves add a touch of magic to your route paths taken by refugees fleeing to in Tavascan and Aulus-les-Bains. overcoming the changing natural relief through the mountains. France to escape the Spanish Civil War of this mountain terrain, and takes and later by European Jews fleeing www.muntanyesdellibertat.com you through one of the most unknown www.elcinquellac.com The Catalan Pyrenees The Catalan Pyrenees 16 Traverses in stages Traverses in stages 17 TRAVERSES IN STAGES 11 ESTANYS AMAGATS 13 ROUTE OF THE CATHARS FACT FILE FACT FILE 73 km 189 km 3599 m 5530 m Circular Linear High mountain route running formerly used by pedlars and June to Tourist itinerary along the GR107 Most of the stages can also be done April to between mountain refuges. Discover frequented by smugglers. September hiking trail, following the escape on mountain bike. November the Alta Cerdanya area around Not to be missed: impressive views routes across the Pyrenees used by Not to be missed: panoramic views th the Cerdanya-Alt Urgell National of the mountains surrounding the the persecuted Cathars in the 13 of Pedraforca Mountain and the Cadí th Reserve. The itinerary also includes Andorran valleys; Cerdanya County; and 14 centuries. The trail starts Mountains; picnic at Molí del Salt the higher levels of Madriu Valley in valley of the River Segre; Cadí- at Queralt sanctuary in the town Waterfall. Andorra, a privileged environment Moixeró Mountains. of Berga and ends at Montségur surrounded by peaks of almost Castle in Ariège (France), and can be www.camidelsbonshomes.com 3000m high and a mountain pass www.rutadelsestanysamagats.com completed on foot or on horseback.