Tour of the Estany de Banyoles

Car park next to the Camp Well Esports Arena (stadium).

There are no signposts, but to go round the lake, always keep to the left-hand side at junctions.

(S/E) With the stadium on your left, head to the far end of the car park and climb the small hill to reach a paved path (Brancal del Pla de l’Estany). Turn left onto this path until you reach the junction at the end of the stadium in front of a building. Turn right for 100 metres, cross a road and continue straight ahead to reach the lakeside at the Bany bar.

(1) Turn right onto the dirt path that runs alongside a cycle path (watch out for the many bicycles!). When you reach the Club Natació, you cannot stay by the lakeside; turn right to go round the building, then turn left onto the pavement along the Passeig Anthoni Gaudi. At the end of the sports facilities, turn left to rejoin the lake. Turn right onto the paved path that continues along the lake, past the fishermen’s huts, until you reach the reconstruction of a Neolithic village (Palat Neolític de la Draga).

(2) Continue as close as possible to the lake, following a sign for ‘Zona de Bany – Caseta de Fusta’. The path enters a more wooded area, passes the bathing area and reaches the Mirador de la Torre del Rem, a multi-level viewing platform offering an elevated view of the lake. The path continues along the lakeshore before veering away from it briefly to turn south and reach a signposted junction.

(3) Turn left towards the Llacuna dels Amaradors (an area equipped for anglers with a small pond).

(4) Turn back and return to the junction on the main path.

(3) Continue to the left; a little further on, you’ll find an access point at the lakeside signposted ‘Refugi de Fauna Salvatge’ and, further on, ‘Refugi de Pesca’. At each point, walk there and back, then return to the main path and set off again to the left. Pass in front of the Font del Camp de Baix, then the path joins the roadside. Please note that this section of the path shares the route with the cycle path.

(5) Follow the path on the left-hand side of the road, which is marked by a small kerb.
When you reach a house, turn left towards Punta Cuaranya and its viewpoint.

(6) Return to the main path and continue to the left along the roadside. Pass several jetties built for anglers and follow the path to the left towards Punta Freixenet and its two viewing points.

(7) Return to the path alongside the road and continue keeping to the left. Pass a fishing shelter on your left and reach a fork in the path at a large bend.
Follow the path to the left, which moves well away from the road and curves to the right after 50 metres.
About a hundred metres further on, you’ll reach a junction behind a church. Turn right and take the six steps on the left, which lead out onto the road. Follow this road to the left until you arrive in front of the Church of Santa Maria de Porqueres.

(8) After visiting the church, with your back to the building, cross the car park and look out for a path opposite which goes down to the left of the road, cutting across the bend to rejoin the cycle path. Carry on, as before, following the road along the designated section. Cross the Riera dels Tenyers and arrive opposite a holiday camp. Turn left towards the Mirador del Vilar.

(9) Return once more to the main path. Continue left again, passing between the lake and a pond on your right to reach the entrance to Banyolès. Follow the path and, at the start of the avenue of plane trees, take a look at the Font del Ferro on your left.
Carry on along the lake, passing several fishermen’s huts and the Tourist Office, until you reach Bar Bany.

(1) Turn right and follow the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Parking is available north of Banyolès on the C-150a road; from there, head to the lakeside at the Palat Neolític de la Draga (Neolithic village) (2) to begin your anti-clockwise walk around the lake.

An area marked by buoys, reserved for rowing, runs across the lake from south to north-east.
The entire eastern part of the lake is reserved for boating and, in some places, swimming.
The entire western part is reserved either for swimming or for areas protected for wildlife.

Lake Banyolès

Small houses built on the shores of the lake in the late 18th century, which served as platforms for fishing and provided moorings for boats. Later, they became holiday homes in their own right. Each has a different architectural style. Their distinctive character has earned them protection from the Generalitat.

The Church of Santa Maria de Porquerès is a 10th-century Romanesque church.