Cycling around wineries in the Empordà
Writes about what there is to see and do around Girona/Costa Brava- one of the best travel destinations in the world!
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cycling
La Gola del Ter
La Gola is where the river Ter flows into the Mediterranean Sea, having started in the Pyrenees mountains around the ski resort of Vallter 2000 some 220 kms away.
The fields on either side of the Ter are very flat, fertile land where cultivation of fruit, wheat, corn and rice takes place. There are also wetlands which although cultivated, are also part of the Aiguamolls Nature Reserve, famous for a wide range of migratory birds.
There are many paths signposted telling you where to go and being flat the area is perfect for cycling and walking.
Of course no exercise is possible if at the end there is not a meal contemplated and in this case the local specialities involve rice and seafood which is one type of "arroz" and in other parts of Spain would be called a "paella".
A delicacy called "angulas" are found where eels breed in fresh water rivers producing millions of tiny eels which are caught at night in nets and currently retail for 500€ to1,300€ a kilo depending on season, if you can find them.
The small restaurants around La Gola are some of the few places you will be able to taste this amazing dish cooked in olive oil and garlic and hot peppers, once tried never forgotten!
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Charming spots: Sant Andreu de Pedrinyà
Many people visit the Dali/Gala castle at Púbol but do not realise that only a couple kilometres off the road there is a charming church hamlet to visit without any tourists, Sant Andreu de Pedrinyà.
Set off a country road which turns into a gravel path shortly after, but in a peaceful and beautiful location next to a stream with plantain trees which offer a cool place to rest and contemplate the small church.
Currently part of La Pera diocese there are some 20 inhabitants in the few houses surrounding the church.
The village goes back to the year 971 and the present church is documented from the 11th century and is a good example of Romanesque features revealed during the restoration in 1975.
The interior is simple stone with fragments of the original murals having been transferred to the museum of Girona for safekeeping.
The gardens are well kept and it is a nice spot to picnic if you are walking or biking in the area.
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Bike ride Celra to Bordils along river Ter
Both Celra and Bordils are not most people's idea of scenic villages as they pass through in their cars along the main road to the Costa Brava from Girona. However, get a little out of the town of Celra and a remarkable transformation takes place, with fertile land planted with different seasonal crops as well as a tree and shrub nursery which covers many hectares.
It is like cycling in Holland as the roads are paved and the area is flat but you see all sorts of interesting trees and plants being grown in straight rows with irrigation and space for tractor access.
There are plenty of other sights too, the church in Bordils is one of my favourites and there are many large farmhouses and chapels worth admiring.
The main purpose of our meandering along these paths once we reach the river Ter is to look for mushrooms in between the rows of poplars, hidden by the cover of fallen leaves. We spot a particularly tasty variety which needs to be consumed quickly as once picked they tend to deteriorate. When they are a few days old they are inedible as they slowly melt into an inky black mess which is how they got their name, the "ink" mushroom.
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Sant Feliu-Girona-Olot bike path Part 1
The Sant Feliu to Girona and on to Olot bike path or "carril bici" or just "carrilet" is an old railway line which has been converted into a great bike path. More suitable for mountain bikes or hybrids than road bikes because it is made mostly of compacted gravel and sand.
From Girona it is 58km but starting in Sant Feliu on the Costa Brava adds another 36kms to the trip. One crucial point to remember is that going from the coast to Girona only involves climbing about 50m from sea level but from Amer for the next 20kms it is a solid climb to nearly 700m before the descent to the valley of Olot.
So it is recommended to actually start from Olot as this way there is only some 5-7 kms of hard climbing before enjoying a long, steady downhill. The best way to get to Olot from Girona is by bus from the bus station (in front of the train station) and they take up to 5 bikes in the hold for a cost of 7.25€ per person one way. Just as easy is to get a bus from Girona to Sant Feliu de Guixols or to catch one from there if you want to cycle to the coast and end up with a cool swim which is highly recommended in the hot summer months.
Bikes can be rented in Girona, ask at the tourist information offices or send me an email to arrange it: discovergirona@gmail.com
This guide will give you the main sights and places to visit along the way.
See Part 2 for path details.
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The Tour Girona-Barcelona FIESTA!
The local Gironins are a fairly dour lot but the Tour de France brought out the crowds, waving, cheering and generally enjoying the festive spirit and the commercial circus of one of the greatest races on earth.
Cycling has put Girona on the map for a very important market niche, pro and keen enthusiast cyclists from all over the world have come here to enjoy the variety of terrain, moderate climate and relaxed atmosphere between the Mediterranean and Pyrenees.
This phenomenon is almost entirely due to one person, Lance Armstrong, who based himself and his then team, US Postal, here in Girona for some 5 years. We now have two professional teams, Columbia and Garmin, calling Girona home for a part of the year with all their riders and support staff adding an international flavour and economic boost to the area.
Personally I would erect a monument to Lance in the main Plaça Catalunya but the next best thing is to host the Tour and let's hope it re-enforces the position Girona has in the hearts and minds of many cyclists, past, present and future.
Filed under //
Barcelona
Columbia
cycling
Garmin
Girona
Lance Armstrong
Le Tour
Placa Catalunya
TDF
The Tour
Tour de France
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Lake Banyoles-sporting playground
Banyoles is only 20kms from Girona and is surrounded by wooded hills and rolling countryside but the outstanding feature is the large spring fed lake. This is where the rowing events were held for the '92 olympics and rowing is still important today with lanes and bouys a permanent feature.
Other sports have joined the mix including cycling, running, triathlon and swimming which is allowed in certain designated areas and makes Banyoles a bit of a training mecca for many athletes.
The colour of the clear water and the scenic boathouses built during the early 1900's make for pleasant strolls or bike rides around the lake, a distance of some 8kms.
On sundays the terraces are packed with families relaxing or cooling off with a "granitzat de limon" (iced lemon drink) so why not join them?
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Girona-Estanyol-Girona circular bike route
Heading out of Girona on the Olot bike path to km 8.3 where you take a left where marked to Cotec. From here path climbs sharply away from River Ter and passes through cork oaks and pine forest to a ridge where the views to the Guilleries hills and back to Girona are spectacular. Track ends at the Estanyol-Angles back road nr km 4.2 Proceed left towards Estanyol and either follow track marked BTT8 which cuts off a corner or just head along the road to Estanyol church off to the left. Keep going all the way to Bescano, the last part a long winding downhill. Go through the old town past the church and town hall, across the main road and rejoin the Girona -Olot bike path at km 6. Head back to Girona and come out at the Devesa park. Total length approx 25kms and time 2.5 hrs. Terrain for mountain bikes with some steep climbs and downhills. Rating 7.5/10. Summary: one of the most accessible and best circular rides from Girona.
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