Three signposted circular trails lead through the Estany de Sils natural area. Together with the history of Santa Maria de Sils, they offer two different ways to choose what to explore during your stay: getting active in a protected wetland landscape or taking a closer look at the town’s history.
Estany de Sils: Wetland and Natural Area
Under Catalan law, Estany de Sils is a protected natural area. Special moisture conditions and annual flooding sustain characteristic wetland plant and animal species here. Annual flooding is therefore an important part of the natural area, not just a side note in your travel plans.
The European pond turtle is one of the characteristic animals of Estany de Sils and its surroundings. These areas are home to one of Catalonia’s largest populations; at the same time, the species is highly endangered. The natural area can therefore be understood not only through its trails, but also through the special living conditions of its wetland species.
Compare Circular Trails and Cycling Route
There are three signposted circular trails in the natural area. Two offer specific guidance when choosing a walk: the Vuelta a la laguna is 3.5 kilometres long and rated very easy. The Ruta del Observatorio Viejo is a five-kilometre circular trail rated easy.
The two routes differ in length by 1.5 kilometres. Their difficulty ratings also differ: “very easy” for the Vuelta a la laguna and “easy” for the Ruta del Observatorio Viejo. If you’re looking for a shorter loop, the Vuelta a la laguna is the shorter of the two; the longer option is the Ruta del Observatorio Viejo. The distance and difficulty ratings help you weigh up your options, without implying a walking time.
For exploring by bike, there is the BTT 9 – Estany de Sils. It starts at the railway station park and largely follows the outline of the Estany de Sils natural area. This cycling route is a separate way to include a bike ride in your stay; its described course should not be confused with the two walking routes mentioned above.
Getting There and Finding Your Way at the Station
Sils railway station is served by the R11 and RG1 train lines. The main entrance to the protected natural area is 300 metres from the station. The Estany de Sils information point is also located in the station building. It features a permanent exhibition about the natural area and the municipality. This means that arrival and initial orientation are both at the same named location.
If you plan to travel by train, check the current timetables for the lines before your journey. When planning a loop, it can also help to compare your preferred route length and difficulty rating first, then plan your journey accordingly.
Santa Maria de Sils and Local Tradition
The church of Santa Maria de Sils also has a long history: it was first mentioned in a papal bull in 1185. The present church building is in the Baroque-Neoclassical style and dates from the 18th and 19th centuries. The town’s history thus brings together an early written reference and a present-day building from much later.
A Gothic side chapel and a tombstone set into the ground near the entrance have survived from the older church building. The stone bears the date 1333. These details add older elements preserved in the present-day building to the church’s architectural history.
Another historical connection runs through Sils: since the late 15th century, the Peregrino de Tossa pilgrimage tradition has taken place every year on 20 January, with people walking from Tossa to Santa Coloma de Farners and through Sils. If you’re planning a trip around this date, you can use the tradition as a point of reference and check the specific dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Les Mallorquines, Sant Miquel de Cladells, Vilanant, Les Llosses, Pont De Molins, CampdevĂ nol, VilobĂ D'onyar, CampdorĂ .
For the broader travel overview: Girona.
