The bends route - 230.00 Km -


Sort, with its 2,300 inhabitants, is the capital of the comarca. Its main tourist attractions are its 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. After leaving Sort, follow the N-260 along one of the most appreciated motorcycle tourism routes in Catalonia, Spain and Europe. This section of the Eix Pirinenc will take you 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.

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. The most outstanding of its 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 1992 Olympic Games. La Seu d’Urgell is located at the confluence of the rivers Segre and Valira and L'Alt Urgell is also the gateway to the small, mountain state of Andorra. In fact, its proximity to this important population centre and pole of economic activity largely explains the current importance of the town within an area that includes L'Alt Pirineu (High Pyrenees) and Aran.

La Seu d’Urgell already has a number of establishments that are well-known to motorcycle tourists. You will find the best options via our website.

Without leaving the N-260, continue for another 5 km and then follow the C-14 for about 25 km. This is a really nice route, with gentle curves, which follows the River Segre before it flows into the Oliana Reservoir. It is precisely at this point that you will find Coll de Nargó (L'Alt Urgell), whose main attractions are the Romanesque church of Sant Climent and the "Dinosphere" Palaeontology Centre, where it is possible to embark upon a 70 million year journey back in time to discover how the dinosaurs used to reproduce. You should then turn off to the right to cross this small settlement of only 600 inhabitants and then follow the L-511. Over a distance of 40.75 km, this road will take you up to the Coll de Bóixols pass (1,380 metres), which offers spectacular panoramic views. Then continue up to the Coll de la Faidella pass and then downhill until you reach Isona. This is a very steep road, in whichever direction you ride it. The road goes up and down and has numerous curves that require a very good level of concentration and attention.

Isona, with its approximately 660 inhabitants, stands on a hill at a height of around 660 metres, at the end of a ridge that looks down on the River Conques. It occupies a strategic location that is key to communications both within this comarca and with the neighbouring districts of La Noguera and L'Alt Urgell. Here, it is also possible to visit the Museum of the Conca Dellà and to discover a territory that, in times past, was subject to Roman culture and which, much before then, was occupied by the last of the dinosaurs to tread the Earth. In fact, if you continue along the C-1412b – which is quite a straight road, running through a number of small settlements - for another 15 km, you will come to Tremp, in El Pallars Jussà.

Tremp, the capital of the local district of El Pallars Jussà, has around 6,300 inhabitants. The municipal area extends across the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees, from the River Noguera Ribagorçana water basin in the west to that of the River Noguera Pallaresa in the east. The central nucleus of the municipality is located on a small, elevated plain, located within the water basin of the same name, where it stands at a height of 468 metres above sea level. The Tremp Basin, or Conca Deçà, is a natural comarca bordered by the sierras and mountains of Montllobar (1,125 m), Lleràs (1,678 m), Comiols (1,356 m), Sant Gervàs (1,834 m), Boumort (2,070 m) – whose rich fauna includes deer, chamois, vultures and bearded vultures - and Montsec d'Ares (1,678 m).

From a point between the reservoirs of Sant Antoni and Terradets, take the C-1311 and head westwards along a narrow road that leads to Pont de Montanyana, in Aragon. You can then enjoy around 30 km of curves on a road with little traffic and some very pleasant panoramic views. Then, leaving behind the flatter land, continue along the C-1311 towards the border with Aragon, crossing a mountain the pass that will take you into Huesca province. After that, you should turn right, onto the N-230, and head northwards, through the Noguera Ribagorçana valley, following the river past the Escales Reservoir on long, fast stretches of road that, after 35 km, will take you to El Pont de Suert.

 

El Pont de Suert is the small capital of L'Alta Ribagorça and has approximately 2,300 inhabitants. It is near the Escales Reservoir, which is fed by the River Noguera, and is the pride of the comarca. You are recommended to visit this small village, which is full of natural charm and has considerable tourist appeal, before entering one of the most beautiful and admired places in the Lleida and Catalan Pyrenees: the Vall de Boí. From El Pont de Suert, ride your motorcycle northwards, along the L-500, towards Caldes de Boí and you will reach the Vall de Boí after about 30 km.

The Vall de Boí, which lies between valleys and mountains, is the definition of Romanesque art and architecture and the gateway to the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. A relatively flat, but scenically interesting, road crosses the valley and will take you to the L-501 and on towards the Boí-Taüll Ski Resort. First, however, you are recommended to see one of the best examples of Romanesque art and architecture: Sant Climent and Santa Maria of Taüll, which form part of the eight Romanesque churches and one chapel that have received UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

After a spectacular ride of around 70 km, you will be able to relax and recover at Caldes de Boí, which is near the entrance to the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. At Caldes de Boí, you will find one of the best spas in the Catalan Pyrenees and can enjoy a good, and well-earned, rest.



Comments