Fontcoberta brings together distinctive natural features, Romanesque architecture and traces of the past. The Platja d’Espolla, walking trails, notable trees and several buildings each offer a different focus for a stay.
Platja d’Espolla and Fontcoberta’s natural surroundings
The Platja d’Espolla is a temporary pond. Its water comes from underground flows, not from river water flowing in from the surface. This unusual water supply makes it a rare type of lagoon; in the surrounding region, it is the best-known example of its kind. Life in the pond is also remarkable: amphibians and aquatic invertebrates can live there without major aquatic predators such as fish. If you are interested in bodies of water and habitats, this is a concrete reason to explore the area’s natural features.
Fontcoberta’s natural features also include some striking trees. In the hamlet of Fares stand the Alzines Reclamadores, two monumental trees. The Pi Gros d’en Famada, meanwhile, has the largest known trunk of a stone pine (Pinus pinea) in the comarca. Its circumference is 3.70 metres. The two tree sites therefore have distinct characteristics: the Alzines Reclamadores are notable as a pair of monumental trees, while the Pi Gros d’en Famada is a single tree with a precisely stated measurement.
Walks and trails
The Ruta de la platja d’Espolla is a flat walking trail and suitable for pushchairs. This is useful information if you are specifically looking for a level route. Another option is the Ruta de les fonts i del patrimoni de Fontcoberta: this local walking trail passes through the municipality’s landscapes and visits several springs, heritage features and the Alzines Reclamadores. Nature and architectural history come together along this route.
The municipal directions for the church of Santa Caterina describe an approach from Banyoles via Vilavenut. After about another two kilometres, a well-maintained unpaved road branches off to the right and leads to the church on a small hill. As access directions may change, check the route locally before setting out. This makes the information useful for planning your actual journey without confusing it with the directions for the walking trails.
Romanesque buildings and traces of the past
The Església Parroquial de Sant Feliu de Fontcoberta dates from the late 12th century and was built over an earlier structure from the 10th century. The church contains a polychrome marble image of the Verge del Patrocini from the 14th century. The ensemble also includes the Campanar de Fontcoberta, a square bell tower in the Lombard-influenced Romanesque style, built at the same time as the church. The construction date, earlier structure and artwork offer several specific historical and architectural aspects to explore during a visit to the church.
Another Romanesque building is the Ermita de la Mare de Déu de la Font. It dates from the late 12th century and was documented in 1261. The remains at Castell d’Espasens are of a different kind: it was a fortified house from the 14th and 15th centuries and is now completely in ruins. Roca Foradada adds an archaeological focus to these historic sites. The Palaeolithic site lies on the northeastern side of the Espolla depression.
A festival in Pla de MartĂs
In Pla de MartĂs to the north, the festival of Sant Galderic has been celebrated every year since 12 October 1990. The date 12 October marks the start of this tradition; it is not automatically the date of the festival in every year you travel. If you would like to combine your stay with the festival, check the date of the event in advance. This way, the natural and cultural heritage sites that can be visited year-round are complemented by a recurring event, whose exact date matters when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Campdevà nol, Ordis, El Port De La Selva, Argelaguer, Alp, Maiá de Montcal, Vilopriu, Montagut.
For the broader travel overview: Girona.
