STAGE 1
LLANÇÀ - CADAQUÉS
- Distance: 27.1 km
- Difficulty level: challenging
- Maximum altitude: 572
- Minimum altitude: 1
- height gain: 1726
- height loss: 1725
Stage 1: LLANÇÀ - CADAQUÉS
This stage through the Cap de Creus Natural Park is considered difficult due to the sum of the distance and the accumulated difference in altitude, so if you want to have more time to stop at the places it passes through, it can be divided into two days.
We leave from in front of the church of Sant Vicenç along Carrer Nicolás Salmerón and then take Carrer Conde Jofre and turn left up Carrer Antoni Margarits i Sagrera, and at the roundabout at the end we turn right onto the GR-92.
In 2.3 kilometres, following the red and white painted signs, we will reach the Coll del Perer. Those on bicycles will have to do a good part of the climb pushing the bike, and there are still 300 metres to go before you reach the comfortable track along which this long-distance path continues.
We then follow this wide path for 2.2 kilometres until we reach Mas de la Pallera where, if we turn off 100 metres, we can visit the Paradolmen de la Pallera.
Then we will reach the GIP-6041 road, which we will cross and go straight on and just after the car park we will take the dirt track on our right.
After 350 metres we reach the mediaeval village of Santa Creu de Rodes, where we can contemplate the beautiful pre-Romanesque church of Santa Helena, of very ancient origin, as a cemetery has recently been found next to it, which would place it between the 8th and 9th centuries.
After passing the village, we will only have to walk 600 metres along the cemented path to reach the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes.
The origins of this monastery are unclear. It is said that in the 7th century, in the time of Pope Boniface IV, c.hen the city of Rome was about to be sacked, some monks sailed away with the most precious relics to protect them, including the head and right arm of St. Peter, and when they reached this coast they hid them in a cave.
Years later they could not locate the exact spot, as it had been covered by vegetation.
That is why they decided to stay until they found him. Shortly afterwards they erected a small chapel dedicated to Saint Peter.
On the other hand, a historical record tells us that, around 780, the Hispanic abbot Attala and some monks, fleeing from the Muslim invasion, arrived in these lands and restored several churches of ancient foundation, one of which was this first chapel.
It is said that in 1088 Pope Urban II granted the monastery the privilege of celebrating jubilees in the years in which the 3rd of May, Holy Cross, fell on a Friday.
A visit to Sant Pere de Rodes provided pilgrims with exceptional pardons and indulgences similar to those granted if they made the pilgrimage to Rome or Santiago de Compostela, which made the monastery very well known.
Note on the cave: Legend or not, there is a not far-fetched theory that the aforementioned cave exists and is in the crypt under the main altar, and that it was bricked up.
We will follow the route along the cemented path at the back of the monastery and, at a vehicle parking area, take the path that we will see on our right.
At first the road descends very steeply, but later it flattens out.
After 2.2 kilometres we will arrive in front of the church of Sant Sebastià, located next to the cemetery of La Selva de Mar.
Shortly after, we will enter the village and, passing through La Font street, we will arrive at the center of the village where there is the church of Sant Esteve.
We will leave Selva de Mar through Cant d'en Gall street or Baix street and we will go in search of the stream and continue along the path that crosses it.
We will pass between olive trees and forest and after 300 meters we will come to a dirt track, where we will turn right.
After 500 meters we will arrive at the Sant Pere de Rodes road and we will follow it downhill until we enter, turning left into the street of an urbanization (carrer de la Roca del Caltré) and then we will turn right onto carrer de Sant Pere, and later also to the right along Puig del Dijous street.
We will cross the GI-613 road with caution and head for the beach of l'Erola, where you can visit the so-called "monks' baths".
These are three bathtubs, two for adults and the third for children, cut into the rock with scarp and hammer in the 12th or 13th centuries, which it is said were built by the monks of the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes to take a bath in seawater at low tide, since, given the shallow depth, it was heated by the sun.
Then we will follow the path along the Rivera beach towards the centre of El Port de la Selva, and after passing by the church of Mare de Déu de les Neus, continue 300 metres along the path that we will see at the end of Carrer de la Costa until you reach a wide path where you will turn right.
We will follow the red and white GR-11 signs for 2 kilometres and then we will leave it, taking the path that leads to the former monastic cell of Sant Baldiri de Tavallera.
After the church, at the detour we will turn right along the path that after 900 metres will lead us to a crossroads of 4 paths near Mas Paltré. We will continue straight on in the direction of Mas Vell, and then follow the well-trodden paths.
From here we will have 2.3 kilometres to go until we reach a wide path, called Camí de la Birba, where we will turn right.
Following this comfortable path and after 2.6 kilometres we will pass Mas Durán on your right, where there is an equestrian centre, and continue downhill for 1.6 kilometres until we come to the road that leads to Cap de Creus.
We will cross this road and we will the street of the housing estate that we will see in front of you and, following it for 1,000 metres, you will reach Port Lligat, where we will be able to distinguish what used to be Salvador Dalí's house by some large eggs.
We border the beach and go up the ramp next to the Hotel Port-LLigat and then turn left up the asphalted road and after 220 metres we will be able to see the small church of Sant Baldiri.
Then we will continue straight on and after passing a car park we will turn left onto the path, which a little further on, after a steep descent, will take us to the beach des Poal, where we will turn right.
Then, bordering the sea, we will pass by the large beach of Cadaqués and after passing the Casino we will go up Call street until we reach the church of Santa Maria, the end of this stage.
ACCOMMODATION AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION STAGE 1
SANT PERE DE RODES
Restaurant del Monestir de Sant Pere de Rodes (610 31 00 73). Menu 23€.
LA SELVA DE MAR
It is a small village but has some accommodation, restaurants and other services. You can visit their website here:
EL PORT DE LA SELVA
As it is an eminently tourist town, it has many places to stay, restaurants and other services. You can visit its website here:
CADAQUÉS
As it is an eminently tourist town, it has many places to stay, restaurants and other services. You can visit its website here:
