HIKINGIN ANDORRA 09 Stretch ofthepath Miquel d’Engolasters) (from SantMiqueldePrats toSant INTER-PARISH PATH 09 nature at thesametime. at nature through timeandstrolling hydroelectric plantwhiletravelling you canlearnallthesecretsofa a visittothehydroelectricpath, where DON’T MISS... fountain circuit. road, whichhasabotanicgarden, andthe passes through theCanalpath,LesPardines and windows) twin of floors three with tower architectural feature isits square-shaped bell bard-style buildingwhosemostcharacteristic golasters (a12th-centuryRomanesqueLom Sant MiqueldePratsandd’En This pleasantstroll connectsthechurches of or instretches. points, andthatitcanbecompletedwhole equipped withresting placesandwater It should be mentioned that this route is advisable foracalmwalkwiththefamily. long, itispracticallyflat,makinghighly des-Engordany. Eventhoughitis11.6km parishes ofCanillo,EncampandEscal- The inter-parish route passesthrough the andorrawo Our Lady of Our Lady Ecology rld (Primula elator) (Primula Oxlip DID YOU KNOW? coming fromRàmio. Ransol, andtheMadriucanal, from the Valira canal, comingfrom country). The lakereceiveswaters (15%ofconsumptioninthe power hydroelectric a damtogenerate Engolasters lakecurrentlyhas - - sides, thisbird isabout40centimetres long. dove. Grey in colour with white spots on its on (Columbapalumbus),awildrelative ofthe a yellowbreast, andthecommonwoodpige- long bird withaskyblueheadandwings the blue tit (Parus caeruleus), a small, 11-cm- As for wildlife, it is easy to hear the singing of arberry andalpenrose. tion oftheunderstoryismadeboxwood,be- pine andthebirch. Themore substantialvegeta- minant trees beingthemountainpine,Scots dows throughout theroute, withthemostdo- In termsofplantlife,youwillseegrassymea- pe perspective. areas makes it very interesting from a landsca- panoramic viewsoverthevalleyandwooded of open The areasalternation with magnificent Tunnel inCanillo meaning “irrigation channel”. meaning “irrigation From theLatin Engolasters: meridiem From Mereig(fromtheLatin Meritxell: TOPONYMY Tunnel inLesPardines “mid-day”, “sunny”). in aquale aster aquale in , LOCATION DISTANCE TIME COORDINATES DESCRIPTION TOPOGUIDE DROP 7 ORIENTATION 6.300 m 2h N42 31.711 You’ll pass through a large tunnel. Continue ahead TABLE (+5 m) E1 35.148 to Montuell river and La Molina river. You’ll come VIEWPOINT upon the orientation viewpoint, where there is an 1.635 m unforgettable view of the parish of Encamp. Opposi-
CANILLo te is Our Lady of Ecologia.
8 Inter-parish path 09. Inter-parish ENGOLAS- 7.620 m 2h 20’ N42 31.345 After observing the plants in the botanic garden, TERS LAKE (-10 m) E1 34.340 you’ll come to a picnic area. The path continues to 1.625 m Engolasters lake.
9 ELS MATXOS 9.280 m 2h 50’ N42 31.050 Follow the forest trail from Engolasters lake until PATH, FOUN- (+5 m) E1 34.256 you reach a road on the left. Continue to the inter- TAIN CIRCUIT section, where you’ll turn to the right. Go down a DATA SHEET * You can return by following the same 1.630 m few metres and take the Els Matxos path. N route, or by taking the Escaldes-Engolasters O E parish bus. For more information contact the 10 S Escaldes-Engordany Tourist Office. SCULPTURE 9.800 m 3h N42 30.856 The fountain circuit swerves to the right. Follow 4h LOCATION DISTANCE TIME COORDINATES DESCRIPTION COMMEMORA- (+15 m) E1 34.064 straight ahead until Les Ordigues fountain. The path DROP TING THE 25th continues on the righthand side over a little climb. 4h 30 min ANNIVERSARY On the left, you’ll find a sculpture on which you can +110 m 1 OF ESCALDES- read a quote from Jacint Verdaguer. PRATS -- -- N42 33.621 Leave the roundabout in the centre of Canillo, ENGOLASTERS -185 m (--) E1 35.629 take the road on the right, and after approximately 1.575 m 1.645 m 11.800 m 1 kilometre you’ll see the Romanesque church of Sant Miquel de Prats in the town of Prats. 11 NO* INTERSECTION 10.160 m 3h 20’ N42 30.528 Follow the circuit to Les Molleres fountain. On the 2 COMING (-15 m) E1 34.198 left, you’ll find some steps. The path continues APPROXIMATE FIRST 550 m 15’ N42 33.431 On the road, about 200 metres ahead, you’ll see a DOWN FROM alongside a construction without walls until the WALKING TIMES VIEWPOINT (+65 m) E1 35.670 small wooden bridge. Cross it. On the right-hand ENGOLASTERS intersection. ROUTE 1.640 m side will be Meritxell path. This is where the first 1.630 m viewpoint is located. SIGNPOSTING 12 3 LA CLOSA 11.100 m 3h 45’ N42 30.576 Afterward, you’ll have to go down through the SECOND 1.200 m 30’ N42 33.120 There is a tunnel before you reach the second view- FOUNTAIN (-110 m) E1 33.885 forest until coming to another picnic area and La VIEWPOINT (+5 m) E1 35.638 point. From here you can see the town and the Sanc- PICNIC AREA Closa fountain. WRONG WAY 1.645 m tuary of Meritxell. On the other side of the road, you’ll 1.520 m see the huts of Molleres. 13 4 CHURCH OF 11.800 m 4h N42 30.701 Take the forest trail on the right until you reach the HUNDRED- 2.350 m 50’ N42 32.607 You’ll pass by a third viewpoint. Up ahead, on the SANT MIQUEL (-20 m) E1 33.624 road, where you’ll turn to the left. Continuing down, YEAR-OLD (-10 m) E1 35.791 right, you’ll see Els Solans path, in the middle of D’ENGOLASTERS you’ll reach the end of the inter-parish path and the SCOTS PINE which stands a hundred-year-old pine tree. 1.500 m church of Sant Miquel d’Engolasters. 1.635 m 5 ROUTE PROFILE ELS 3.950 m 1h 20’ N42 31.984 Cross Els Cortals river over the wooden bridge. CORTALS (+15 m) E1 35.893 Further along, on the left, you’ll take the Allau path. ROAD Soon you’ll come to Els Cortals road. 1.675 m 1.650 m 5 2 3 6 9 10 11 1.650 m 1.625 m 4 7 8 1.600 m 6 1.575 m 1 LES PARDI- 4.460 m 1h 30’ N42 31.812 Descend along the Els Cortals road (CS-220) for 1.550 m NES PATH (-20 m) E1 35.926 about 700 metres until you come to an intersec- 1.525 m 12 1.500 m 13 tion. You’ll have to follow the road, on the left, until 1.630 m 0 2,4 km 4,8 km 7,2 km 9,6 km 12 km you reach Les Pardines path.