Rediscovering Girona, La Cerdanya and Ripollès by bike
El paisaje de Girona y su entorno natural, así como la llanura de Osona parecen diseñados para disfrutarlos todo el año, con un ritmo pausado que invite a saborear cada uno de sus rincones. La bicicleta es, sin duda, uno de los mejores aliados a la hora de descubrir un territorio que os emocionará a medida que lo recorráis, ya sea con tiradas cortas de reconocimiento o sencillos paseos en bici, como a través de largas salidas que agradecerán, al final del camino, el reposo de un buen alojamiento como los que ofrece Grans Hotels de Catalunya.
La gran flexibilidad de las Vías Verdes
Desde Girona las posibilidades de descubrimiento de la zona son múltiples. Tenéis un buen tramo de la Vía Verde a vuestro alcance, que de una manera segura y poco transitada os dirigirá hacia la Garrotxa, si vais hacia el norte, o hacia Sant Feliu de Guíxols si cogéis el tramo en ligero descenso hasta la Costa Brava. Son antiguos trazados del ferrocarril, hoy reconvertidos en caminos de tierra compactada y que os permitirán hacer los kilómetros que os apetezcan, con parada en varios municipios y descubriendo tradiciones y aspectos culturales de estos pequeños pueblos.
Para alojaros os recomendamos dos hoteles en la misma capital gerundense, el Hotel Carlemany, situado en el Eixample de la ciudad, o el Hotel Peninsular, en el corazón del casco antiguo de Girona.
The Hotel Carlemany is one of the leading hotels in Girona city centre, located just a few minutes from the Barri Vell and the city’s main cultural, shopping and gastronomic highlights. Its prime location makes it a great choice for couple getaways, family stays, including pets, sports breaks or business trips, with the added convenience of private parking right in the centre.
It offers 90 spacious rooms, all exterior-facing with plenty of natural light, decorated in a modern, functional style to ensure comfort for every kind of stay. Some rooms also feature a bathtub or even an in-room fireplace.
Gastronomy is another of its highlights. The El Pati Verd restaurant is one of the city’s most appreciated dining spots and an excellent venue for large celebrations and events. Indigo Restaurant serves a fresh, seasonal menu in a contemporary setting, and the Carlemany Cafeteria with its terrace has become a popular meeting point in Girona for both guests and locals.
It is also a bike-friendly hotel with secure bike storage, a workshop, a bike cleaning area and cycling routes around the region. A fitness room will be available soon, and the hotel is close to some the best golf courses in the province are within easy reach.
Hotel Peninsular Girona, located in the historic centre of Girona, is an elegant hotel in Girona city that has combined tradition and comfort since 1853. Its privileged location, in the Old Town and the train station, makes it one of the best places to stay for exploring the city on foot.
Its modern, comfortable rooms are designed to ensure a pleasant stay for both leisure and business travellers. Thanks to its central location, guests can easily reach Girona's main monuments, museums, restaurants and shopping areas.
The hotel is home to the historic Savoy Restaurant, welcoming both guests and visitors looking to enjoy authentic Catalan and market cuisine. Alongside a buffet breakfast featuring local produce, it also offers daily menus, vermouths and a pleasant terrace in the heart of Girona.
Hotel Peninsular Girona also features meeting and event rooms, ideal for business meetings, presentations, workshops and private celebrations. Combined with its central location, these facilities make it an excellent choice for blending work and leisure.
Staying at the hotel makes it easy to visit Girona's main attractions, including Girona Cathedral, the Onyar Houses, the Jewish Quarter, the Arab Baths and the medieval city walls. It is also an excellent base for exploring the Costa Brava, inland Girona and the province's renowned cycling routes.
Thanks to its history, outstanding location and welcoming atmosphere, Hotel Peninsular Girona is one of the best hotels in Girona city centre for a city break, discovering Girona's heritage and enjoying its gastronomy and culture throughout the year.
La subida a Rocacorba o al Santuario del Mont
Ambos establecimientos cuentan con servicios específicos para ciclistas, y si sois más de bicicleta de carretera desde aquí podréis iniciar dos de las rutas preferidas por los aficionados, y también por los ciclistas profesionales que han hecho de Girona su base de entrenamientos durante buena parte del año. Os hablamos de la ascensión a Rocacorba y la subida al santuario del Mont. La primera se trata de una escalada de 880 metros de desnivel con casi 14 kilómetros de subida desde Banyoles, con una segunda parte de ascensión bastante exigente. Una vez llegados arriba, el regalo para vuestra vista no tiene precio.
Y el del santuario del Mont es otro reto para los ciclistas, que deberán ir hasta Banyoles y seguir hacia Crespià, desde donde se inicia la subida de 19 kilómetros y casi mil metros de desnivel. La cima que os espera es un espectacular balcón natural que os hará contemplar desde el Mediterráneo y las Islas Medas hasta las cimas ya un poco nevadas del Pirineo.
Descubrir la Cerdanya y el Ripollès a golpe de pedales
Otro territorio muy apropiado para descubrir en bicicleta es la Cerdanya, una zona que siempre apetece visitar. Disfrutad de una sencilla salida en bici que os permitirá conocer el entorno natural de la capital ceretana, a lomo de la bicicleta. Se trata de una ruta de 17 kilómetros que se puede hacer tranquilamente en un par de horas, saliendo de la estación de tren de Puigcerdà, y que es apta para todo el mundo, incluso para los poco iniciados en el ciclismo. Seguiremos la ruta marcada del GR 11 hasta llega a Vilallobent, y a partir de ahí tened en cuenta las señales verticales que os guiarán el resto de la salida. Pasaréis por Fontanals de Cerdanya y Bolvir, antes de volver a hacer entrada en Puigcerdà, disfrutando de un entorno rural y sorprendentemente silencioso.
Vamos ahora hasta el Ripollès, desde donde nos llega la propuesta de conocer los rincones de esta comarca de montaña a partir de la ruta del Remei, con salida desde Ripoll. Se trata de un itinerario corto y de poca dificultad, de unos 7 kilómetros. Saldremos de Can Guetes, y una primera parte de subida muy suave nos llevará hasta el Puente de Calatrava por el paseo paralelo al río Ter, enlazando con el camino de Agafallops para llegar a una pista pavimentada que nos llevará hasta la ermita del Remei. Y a partir de ahí, se inicia la vuelta en descenso por una pista forestal hasta el núcleo de Ripoll, donde volveremos al mismo punto de inicio. Y ya que estamos, os recomendamos una visita al Monasterio de Santa María de Ripoll, el Scriptorium y la Farga Palau, en un entorno incomparable flanqueado por los ríos Ter y Freser.
Para alojaros contáis con el confort del Hotel Calitxó, de Molló o el Hotel Grèvol de Llanars, y otras buenas opciones para disfrutar de los encantos de la comarca y conocer lugares donde también encontraréis múltiples propuestas para descubrir con la bicicleta son el Hotel la Coma de Setcases y el Hotel Els Caçadors de Ribes de Freser.
Hotel Calitxó, located in Molló, in the Camprodon Valley, is a welcoming mountain hotel in the Girona Pyrenees surrounded by nature. Its privileged location, close to the Headwaters of the Ter and Freser Natural Park and the Vallter 2000 ski resort, makes it an ideal destination for enjoying the mountains at any time of year.
Its comfortable rooms and spacious suites, all with views of the natural surroundings, provide the perfect setting for a relaxing getaway, whether as a couple or with the family. The hotel also offers independent apartments where pets are welcome, making it an excellent choice for travelling with your dog and discovering the Pyrenees.
The Hotel Calitxó Restaurant serves carefully prepared mountain cuisine, featuring locally sourced products such as Camprodon Valley foal, organic potatoes from Molló, and beef and lamb from the Ripollès region. In summer, the outdoor swimming pool and shaded sun loungers provide the perfect place to relax, while in winter the cosy lounge with fireplace is ideal after a day in the snow.
The hotel also features a wellness area with massage services and is a favourite among outdoor sports enthusiasts. As a bike-friendly hotel, it offers a secure bicycle storage area as well as exclusive parking for guests at the Vallter 2000 ski resort at a reduced rate with prior reservation.
From Hotel Calitxó, guests can enjoy some of the finest hiking routes in the Pyrenees, explore the Camprodon Valley, visit charming villages such as Molló, Camprodon and Setcases, or enjoy cycling, horse riding and winter sports. In addition, Vallter 2000, one of the ski resorts closest to Barcelona, is especially popular with families thanks to its relaxed atmosphere and excellent facilities.
Committed to sustainability and protecting its natural surroundings, Hotel Calitxó promotes responsible management, the use of local produce and the preservation of the Camprodon Valley landscape. Thanks to its location, gastronomy and excellent facilities, it is one of the best hotels in the Girona Pyrenees for enjoying nature, mountain activities and relaxation throughout the year.
Hotel Grèvol Spa, located in Llanars, in the heart of the Camprodon Valley, is a welcoming mountain hotel in the Girona Pyrenees that combines stone and wood to blend harmoniously with its natural surroundings. Surrounded by forests and mountains, it offers a warm and peaceful atmosphere, perfect for enjoying the Pyrenees.
Its spacious rooms, decorated in an elegant mountain style and overlooking the surrounding landscape, make the hotel an ideal destination for both a romantic getaway and a family holiday. During winter, the valley's frequent snowfall can be admired from the rooms or from the spa area.
Grèvol Spa features a complete wellness area with a hydromassage pool, waterfalls, jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, gym and relaxation areas. The experience is complemented by personalised massages and treatments, offering guests the perfect opportunity to unwind in the heart of nature.
One of the hotel's most inviting spaces is its lounge with a central fireplace, ideal for relaxing after a day in the mountains or enjoying cosy winter afternoons. The café-bar and communal areas invite guests to embrace the peaceful rhythm of the Pyrenees.
Recognised as a Gastronomic Hotel, its restaurant serves refined Catalan cuisine prepared with local and seasonal products from the Camprodon Valley. Breakfasts also stand out for the quality of their ingredients.
The hotel also features a games room with billiards and table tennis, making it an excellent hotel for families with children. It also offers spaces for celebrations, business meetings and small events.
The location of Hotel Grèvol Spa allows guests to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, cycling, golf, horse riding and skiing. Its status as a bike-friendly hotel and its proximity to the Vallter ski resort make it an excellent base for discovering the Girona Pyrenees at any time of the year.
Hotel La Coma is one of the best hotels in the Girona Pyrenees, located in the charming village of Setcases, in the heart of the Camprodon Valley. Surrounded by mountains, forests and rivers at an altitude of 1,279 metres, it offers a privileged setting to discover the natural beauty of the Catalan Pyrenees throughout the year.
Its location makes it an excellent starting point for hiking routes, mountain excursions and outdoor activities. The hotel is also close to some of the valley's most beautiful natural pools and waterfalls.
The proximity to the Vallter ski resort, one of the closest ski resorts to Barcelona, makes Hotel La Coma an ideal choice for winter sports enthusiasts as well as for travellers wishing to enjoy the Pyrenees at any time of the year.
The hotel offers 22 rooms spread over three floors, as well as apartments and independent rural apartments in the centre of Setcases. Its facilities make it a hotel ideal for children and families, thanks to its spacious leisure areas, playground, games room, table tennis, pétanque and gardens.
Among its main attractions are the outdoor swimming pool, perfect during the summer months, and the spa with heated pool and sauna, also accessible to children. The hotel also features a gym and cosy lounges with fireplaces.
Its restaurant offers excellent Catalan mountain cuisine, prepared with local products from the Camprodon Valley, turning every stay into an authentic gastronomic experience connected to the region.
Hotel Els Caçadors de Ribes, located in Ribes de Freser, is one of the best hotels in the Girona Pyrenees. Situated next to the Vall de Núria rack railway and close to ski resorts such as La Molina and Vall de Núria, it is the perfect base for enjoying the mountains all year round.
Its modern rooms and apartments combine tradition and comfort, with accommodation options for every type of getaway. Highlights include cosy rooms with a private jacuzzi, ideal for a romantic getaway, as well as family rooms and independent apartments for longer stays.
Gastronomy is one of the hotel's greatest attractions. The Els Caçadors Restaurant, open since 1920, serves outstanding traditional Catalan cuisine prepared with seasonal local produce. As a member of the Fundació Institut Català de la Cuina and Slow Food Catalunya, it has become a gastronomic references in the Ripollès.
After a day of hiking, cycling, skiing or exploring the Vall de Núria, relax in the heated outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the Torreneules mountains, unwind in the exclusive Moon Room with fireplace or enjoy the terrace with solarium. The hotel also features a games room, ideal for both families and groups of friends.
Combining gastronomy, wellness and nature, Hotel Els Caçadors de Ribes is an excellent choice for discovering the Girona Pyrenees. A mountain hotel where you can enjoy gastronomic, romantic or adventure getaways.
¿Quieres más? Aquí encontrarás los mejores hoteles en Gironès en Cataluña.
Fotos: Tristan Cardew, Jase Wilson, Maria Geli, Pilar Planagumà, Àlex Gosteli, Archivo de Imágenes PTCBG.
