Ruins of the Iglesieta and Lake Balcère

Starting from Les Angles resort, discover the ruins of the Iglesieta and Lake Balcère on a hike that is mostly through the woods and not particularly difficult.

Details

1696348
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.83 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 212 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 212 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,839 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,655 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the centre of Les Angles, Chemin du Soula.

(S/E) Continue along Chemin du Soula, which leaves Les Angles and passes below the chalets. You will reach the fork leading to the Le Serpolet guesthouse.

(1) The path turns into a forest track and enters the undergrowth.
Stay on the main track and follow the sign for "Ruine Igleseta". Continue to a new fork in a hairpin bend.

(2) Keep left on the wide track and follow it until you reach the sign for "Ruine Igleseta".

(3) Continue straight ahead, cross the Rec de Vallsera, leaving the path on your left, and continue to the ruins of the Iglesieta de Vallsera.

(4) Turn left at a 90° angle at the Four à Chaux site to quickly reach another hairpin bend on the track.

From there, the trail is marked with yellow signs

(5) Leave the track by taking the path on the left, where a sign indicates Lac de Balcère. Reach the small footbridge crossing the Rec de Vallsera.

(6) Take the footbridge, continue west then south-west to reach another footbridge. Cross it and you will come to a new track.

(7) Turn left onto it and very quickly turn right off it onto the path.
Head east around the bend and reach the entrance to Les Angles at a small car park.

(8) Cross the car park and take the path that runs alongside a white building. Follow the path to a hairpin bend below the Jacetés chairlift.

(9) Pass under the chairlift and take the small path that runs alongside the ski slope.

(10) About 50 metres after crossing a footbridge, the path branches off to the right and leads to the road. Follow this road to return to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,663 m - Parking on Chemin du Soula
  2. 1 : km 1.81 - alt. 1,671 m - Track on the left
  3. 2 : km 2.87 - alt. 1,690 m - Hairpin bend crossroads
  4. 3 : km 4.34 - alt. 1,660 m - Signpost, straight ahead
  5. 4 : km 4.88 - alt. 1,661 m - Ruins - Iglesieta Santa Maria de Vallserra
  6. 5 : km 5.27 - alt. 1,665 m - Hairpin bend crossroads - Four à Chaux (el Forn de Calç)
  7. 6 : km 6.37 - alt. 1,674 m - Rec de Vallsera
  8. 7 : km 7.11 - alt. 1,761 m - Track on the left - Lac de Vallsera
  9. 8 : km 8.75 - alt. 1,838 m - Small car park
  10. 9 : km 9.7 - alt. 1,753 m - Jacetés chairlift
  11. 10 : km 10.14 - alt. 1,699 m - Fork to the right
  12. S/E : km 10.83 - alt. 1,663 m - Parking on Chemin du Soula

Notes

The circuit is not particularly difficult, with easy-to-follow tracks and paths, but it should be noted that for about 500 metres before and after Lake Balcère, the path is very stony with a fairly steep slope. This is the only difficult part of the hike.

Worth a visit

Continue along the path until you reach the entrance to Lake Balcere. The lake is about 300 metres to the left.
There is a path around the lake.

Iglesieta de Vallsera

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Flo et Jéjé
Flo et Jéjé

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike, no difficulties, picnic tables at the lake.

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Christine Caïos Baixauli
Christine Caïos Baixauli

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike with magnificent scenery. No particular difficulty

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jmg84
jmg84

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty, easy-to-follow hike through varied landscapes of meadows and forest. No technical difficulties. Lake Balcère is particularly beautiful. The return to Les Angles is well planned, avoiding paved roads.

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User 19779255

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk, our dog loved it as much as we did. Beautiful views!
Bring some cash if you want to stop for a bite to eat at Lake Balcere, as credit cards are not accepted.

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Vejapi
Vejapi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk through woods and meadows along the Vallserra river.
The car park at the start was inaccessible by car due to snow on the road, but there were magnificent views of the still snow-capped peaks.

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Lilou34730
Lilou34730
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy hike alternating between vegetation and snow at this time of year. Very well marked. A real treat.
I added the 1 km walk around the lake, which could be included in the itinerary.

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Chantal64
Chantal64
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb walk where you encounter cows, horses and water sources. An easy walk – when you arrive at Lake Balcère, you can walk around the lake and then walk back up to Les Angles

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christiantalon
christiantalon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed with a group of septuagenarians, everyone enjoyed themselves.
Those who don't walk can reach the lake by car.
Option to extend the hike with a more challenging round trip.
Perfect for a mixed group.

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leducelisa
leducelisa

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike through the woods but also in more open areas with cows and horses near the ruins of the iglesieta. Picnic facing the pond. We continued above the pond among the fragrant broom (4 km loop). The return to Les Angles was less interesting.

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meringue34
meringue34

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first part follows a road, but then the path is pleasant. The scenery is beautiful. There is an information board about the ruins. You pass an old lime kiln.
Lake Balcère was still partly frozen and magnificent.
On the way back to Les Angles, be careful not to take the path marked "retour aux Angles" (return to Les Angles), but instead cross the car park and walk down alongside the ski lifts.
Thank you for this beautiful hike

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segoleneemmery@yahoo.fr
segoleneemmery@yahoo.fr

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful, easy hike. The path is wide and quite busy with cyclists at the beginning, but the second part is much wilder and very beautiful. Lake Balcere is not particularly interesting and is very busy in August.

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gibirando
gibirando
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route starting from Les Angles (66) in Capcir. We enjoyed this walk, which was mostly through woodland, but not exclusively, as the arrival at Iglesieta is in a more open and green setting. I decided to enhance this walk by going around Lake Balcère, which is a charming and refreshing place. At the snack bar, the cold beer arrived just at the right moment. Although described as fairly easy, which is undoubtedly the case when you're young, our old septuagenarian legs faltered a little towards the end. In conclusion, it's a very pleasant walk to do when the weather is fine, of course. That was the case and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!

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jacomodo
jacomodo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk, enjoyable to do, no difficulty, ruins and a superb lake.
I recommend it for all levels.

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randonneuseretraitée
randonneuseretraitée

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

pleasant walk; not difficult - the ruins to visit are impressive - good documentation on site; thank you

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plombinA
plombinA

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk with many shaded sections. Take a short detour to the lake. Be careful at the end, as the trail is shared with downhill mountain bikes

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