The monastery that dominated the sea

The first Route of this Collection takes you to the spectacular monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes. Perched on top of the Rodes mountain range, you will have a privileged view of the Cap de Creus natural park. This is a long route of almost 100 kilometers in which you drive mainly on quiet secondary roads.

You start the Route in Figueres, next to the station. Barely three kilometers after leaving, you come to the first stop: the canonical church of Santa Maria de Vilabertran, in the town that bears the same name. After visiting this Augustinian monastery, one of the best preserved in Catalonia, you continue on your way to another monastery: Sant Quirze de Colera. To do this, you head north, alternating stretches of highway and dirt tracks, gently ascending towards the Sierra d'Albera. After going through towns like Cabanes or Mollet de Peralada, you arrive at Rabós. From here starts a lonely and narrow road that takes you directly to the monastery of Sant Quirze de Colera. Only in the last few meters does the pavement turn to gravel.

After visiting this monastery, which is located in a small and beautiful inland valley, you retrace your path until you reach the road that leads to Rabós. In this way you continue now to Vilamaniscle and Garriguella. Shortly after leaving this town you arrive at the Castell de Quermançó, a spectacular fortification located in a place of great strategic importance between Spain and France.

After passing through Vilajuïga, in a section by road, the ascent to the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes begins. It is a nine kilometer climb with an average gradient of 5.5%. The road is wide and in very good condition. Before reaching Sant Pere de Rodes, you pass by the hermitage of Santa Helena de Rodes, surrounded by the remains of the old medieval town of Santa Creu de Rodes, a civil and commercial center closely linked to the monastery.

Pay attention when leaving Santa Creu de Rodes to return to the road: take a paved road that has some steps. Take the opportunity to get off your bike and contemplate from there the imposing silhouette of the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes and the bay of Port de la Selva, the beginning of the Cap de Creus natural park.

After crossing the Port de la Selva your next destination is Roses. The tour is done by road with excellent views over the bay of Roses. In this town you stop at the Ciutadella de Roses, an enclosure that dates back to the Renaissance but that houses ruins from different eras inside. Among them is the Romanesque monastery of Santa Maria de Roses.

Leaving Roses, 20 completely flat kilometers await you to return to Figueres, in which you travel most of the way along a segregated service road parallel to the main road.