The mountain-pass route - 205.00 Km -


Bossòst is a beautiful Pyrenean hamlet that borders on France and has a population of 1,200. It stands on the banks of the River Garonne, at an altitude of 710 m, stretching out along the last part of its course through the valley. One of the most notablñe attractions in the valley is the (12th century) Romanesque church of La Purificació de Maria. On the opposite bank of the river stands the small neighbourhood of Sant Fabià, with its chapel and cemetery; it is connected to the main nucleus by a small bridge. To the north, and just above the neighbourhood of Sant Roc, stand the remains of a medieval construction. This is where you will also find Aran Park, which is a space dedicated to the flora and fauna of Aran and the Pyrenees. From this settlement, you can embark on an interesting one-day route to discover the Lleida Pyrenees by motorbike. To do this, take the N-230 and head south for about 16 km until you reach Vielha. You will then get an idea of the interesting profile of the roads and scenery that will accompany you throughout the day.

Vielha is the capital of the comarca (local district) and also the tourism, commercial and service capital for the valley and its 5,500 inhabitants. In Vielha, it is interesting to visit the church of Sant Miquel, with its imposing bell-tower and 12th century Romanesque carving of Christ. Then, to discover the best motorcycle touring environment, head out along the C-28 on a 40 km ride that will take you to El Pallars Sobirà, via Salardú and the Bonaigua Pass. This last stretch is an area of mountain passes, at an altitude of 2,076 m, which lies on the border between El Pallars Sobirà and the Val d'Aran and connects the villages of Salardú and València d'Àneu.


Arties, with the Romanesque church of Santa Maria and what were once the tower and chapel of the house of the Portolà family (and are now the Gaspar de Portolà Parador), and Salardú, with the church of Sant Andreu, which is famous for its octagonal belfry and polychrome Romanesque carving of Christ, are both well worth a visit.

On the Aran side of the ridge, the Baqueira-Beret ski resort – which is the winter sports resort with the largest skiable area in the Pyrenees (2,166 ha) - is connected to the Bonaigua Pass. At Bonaigua, there is a crossing to the other side of the Pyrenees, and the Val d'Aran, which stands on the Atlantic side of the mountains. The River Bonaigua, which runs eastward, is a tributary of the River Noguera Pallaresa and therefore forms part of the River Ebro basin. The great height of this area and the fact that it is the entry point for Atlantic depressions heading towards the southern slopes of the Pyrenees explain why the weather is often bad here. In fact, in winter, the pass is often closed for many days due to large accumulations of snow and the danger of avalanches, which can block the road as they run down the mountainside.

After Valencia d'Àneu, you should leave the C-28 and follow the River Noguera Pallaresa along the C-13, for about 60 km. After you reach Esterri d'Àneu, where you can visit the Ecological Museum of the Valls d’Àneu, and Escaló, which has conserved its walled village and also the monastery of Sant Pere del Burgal, you will come to a spectacular river and reservoir (the Torrassa Reservoir). After many bends, and some truly wonderful scenery, the road will then take you on to Sort.

Sort, with its 2,300 inhabitants, is the capital of the comarca of El Pallars Sobirà. Its main tourist resources are its unspoilt nature and the River Noguera Pallaresa. It has also recently become famous for its lottery centre (La Bruixa d'Or), with many people stopping off here to try their luck. Once at Sort, take the N-260 and follow one of the most talked about motorcycle tourism routes in Catalonia, Spain and Europe. A section of the Eix Pirinenc will then take you on to La Seu d'Urgell, the capital of L'Alt Urgell. Ahead of you is a 50 km ride full of curves, peace and quiet, outstanding views and truly extraordinary scenery. Along the way, there are a number of vantage points and places where you can stop off to enjoy the views to the full. The highest point along the route is the Coll del Cantó pass, at 1,720 metres, which provides access to the Alt Pirineu (High Pyrenees) Natural Park.

Llavorsí is a small hamlet, with just over 350 inhabitants, which stands on the River Noguera Pallaresa and at the head of the Àneu valleys. It is located in the Aurati valley and offers a beautiful panoramic view of the mountains that surround it. Active tourism activities such as rafting, canyoning and kayaking, among others, have given new life to a settlement which is well-known for the Sheepdog Trials, which are held every August, and for its rugged, mountain scenery, which is typical of the Pyrenees. You are now going deeper into the Pyrenees and will enter an area of mountain passes. Take the L-504, which is a local road, for a 20 km ride through Pyrenean scenery that will take you to Tavascan. The road runs passes mountain meadows and woodlands and runs through several small, picturesque villages, which include Esterri de Cardós, with its interesting Romanesque-style church of Santa Maria.

La Seu d'Urgell is a town of some 12,000 inhabitants which is located in the centre of the Catalan Pyrenees. It is the capital of L'Alt Urgell, the seat of the Bishopric of Urgell, and was once the most important settlement in the ancient County of Urgell. Its most outstanding tourist attractions are its cathedral, which is the only Romanesque-style cathedral in Catalonia, and the El Segre Olympic Park, which was a venue for the Barcelona Olympic Games of 1992. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Segre and Valira and L'Alt Urgell is also the gateway to the small state of Andorra. In fact, the proximity of La Seu d’Urgell to Andorra and its economic activity largely explains the town’s current importance within a larger area that includes L'Alt Pirineu (High Pyrenees) and Aran.

La Seu boasts a number of establishments that are already well-known to motorcycle tourists. You will find the best options available on our website.

Today, however, you should go on for another 30 km, heading towards the provincial border, until you reach Prullans, via the N-260. Along the way, you will enjoy fantastic views of the rocky walls of the Cadí Sierra.

Martinet is a small village on the River Segre. It houses the Bunker Park, which is a tourism proposal related to the historic memory of the Spanish Civil War and World War II, and the Casa del Riu (River House), which provides explanations about the local fauna and fluvial ecosystems.

Prullans is a hamlet, with only about 200 inhabitants, which stands on the border between the provinces of Lleida and Girona. It is closely linked to Lleida province but belongs to the comarca of La Baixa Cerdanya. It is a place with an important cultural legacy and privileged setting, which offers various services to motorcycle tourists. This is a good place to end your route and relax.



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