HIKINGIN 09 Stretch ofthepath Miquel d’) (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-. 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. , 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 : 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 . 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 , 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 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.