Great bike trip through Catalonia by bike, easy and without too much difficulty to discover a great variety of landscapes: from the volcanoes of La Garrotxa to the wild coast of the Costa Brava.
The medieval bicycle route offers the perfect combination of nature and culture, passing through medieval towns and cities such as Olot or Girona.
The second part of the trip runs along a Greenway where a train used to pass, passing through rural landscapes and picturesque villages and heading towards the coast of the Costa Brava.
The medieval bicycle route is a good option for those who want to combine active tourism with cultural tourism.
The journey begins in Besalú, a charming town in Girona.
Next to the Mediterranean Sea in Sant Feliu de Guíxols
Olot, Girona and Sant Feliu de Guíxols
Besalú offers a splendid setting to begin this journey through the north of Catalonia by bicycle. In the Middle Ages, Besalú was an important city and the capital of a vast territory. Its medieval bridge makes you feel that great past. It is a perfect place to spend the first night!
After the introduction to the tour, the region and testing the bikes, the journey will begin ascending to a forgotten valley with almost no inhabitants. We will enter the volcanic landscape through a very peculiar path full of curves. After enjoying the valley and passing through a picturesque mountain town, you will reach some river pools to cool off with fresh volcanic water. Thus you will arrive at Santa Pau, another beautiful medieval settlement.
Today you will cycle along quiet lava trails, cross the scarred black and red ground, and past volcanoes and beech forests. On the way to Olot, you will cross the Fageda de’n Jordà, a magical beech forest for all who dare to come here. It is truly a unique and unusual place for this type of forest to grow. The origin of the forest is a historical lava flow from the Croscat volcano. It almost looks like you’re stepping into a movie!
Today will be a quiet day through a Greenway where the railroad passed. Leaving Olot, you will cross the mighty Vall de’n Bas, passing through crops and cattle ranching areas. There is the possibility of a short detour to take a quick dip in a nearby river.
Following the greenway, crossing rivers and charming towns, you will reach the city of Girona. The old part of the city is definitely worth a visit, as well as a walk across the Gustav Eiffel Bridge and a walk along La Rambla. On a hot summer night, a rooftop city terrace is the perfect place to relax and unwind.
Today we will continue pedaling along the Vía Verde that we took in Olot and that will take us to the sea in Sant Feliu de Guíxols. This city was called for many years the beach of Girona, as many took the train to spend a day on the coast from the nearby city. You will enjoy a nice, relaxed bike ride today without many slopes, passing farmland and villages on your journey. A well-deserved pleasure at the end of the trip is a salty dive in the Mediterranean when you arrive at the Costa Brava.
