STAGE 12
CALONGE - LA BISBAL
- Distance: 22.4 km
- Difficulty level: EASY
- Maximum altitude: 301
- Minimum altitude: 26
- height gain: 976
- height loss: 964
Stage 12: CALONGE - LA BISBAL
In this stage we will cross the Gavarres mountain massif. We will start in front of the church of Calonge along the main street and then we will continue along Carrer Pompeu Fabra and Carrer d'en Molla and when we reach Mas Molla turn right. After a short descent, turn left, taking a pleasant track that runs between olive trees, some of which are over a hundred years old.
The path we will follow is the local path SL-C 28 (marked with green and white paint), which in 4.4 kilometres will take us past several farmhouses (Mas Muní, Mas Ribot, etc.) until we cross another wide track, the so-called Camí de Puig Cargol, where we will turn right.
After 1.2 kilometres we will reach the spot where we will find the beautiful hermitage of Santa Maria de Bell-lloc.
The present church dates from 1758, although there had already been a chapel in the 12th century.
Around the 17th century, there is evidence of hermits who withdrew to this small church, and at the same time, they were fixing up the house next door to live in.
The most renowned was St. Joseph Oriol (1650-1702), who was noted for his prayer and care for the poor and sick.
It is currently located within a private estate dedicated to wine production and a hotel (Brugarol.com) but they offer all the facilities to visit the church, whose interior stands out for the seafaring votive offerings hanging from the ceiling.
We will continue the route up the path that runs behind the church.
To do this we will have to go back a few metres, or if we are lucky and it is open, we will go through the green door that leads directly to it.
Immediately on our right we will see the ruins of the castle of Vila Romà, which is documented in 1161, but which, according to the remains found, could have been a small settlement from Roman times.
We will be careful to be able to take the path that goes down to the spring and then continues up the mountain, until at the height of the castle it crosses with the short-distance path PR-C 105 (marked with yellow and white paint) that, turning to the left we will continue for a long time.
After 2.4 kilometres we will reach the crossroads with the wide Camí de Puig Cargol track, where we will turn right.
Note: Those riding a bike at some point will need to get off and push the bike.
And now, always following the PR-C 105, we will arrive at Santa Coloma de Fitor, a Romanesque church with a beautiful bell tower with twin windows, semicircular arches, circular section mullions and trapezoidal capitals that denotes a Lombard influence and that together with the rectory (currently a bar-restaurant) and the moat form a beautiful ensemble. The hermitage was consecrated on January 29, 948 by Bishop Gotmar of Girona.
We will continue downhill for 1.5 kilometres along a thousand-year-old path where at many points we will see the ruts left in the stone by the numerous carts that have travelled along it over the centuries, until we cross the small Riera d'en Plaja stream, next to Mas Calç, where we can see an old ice well.
From this point the path becomes a wide dirt track that goes up and down repeatedly for 3.3 kilometres, taking us to the so-called Creu dels Frares, the place where a friar is said to have died.
From this point onwards, and still descending, in about 2 kilometres you will reach Fonteta, a small village that is now part of the municipality of Forallac. The name comes from the old fountain that still flows next to the parish church of Santa Maria.
To leave Fonteta, we will take Sant Gernerós street and when we reach a crossroads, we will go straight on along the dirt track, following the red and white GR-92 signs that pass through here.
Then, when we will reach a crossroads with 5 paths, we will turn left (almost as if we were going back) and shortly after, at a detour to the right.
Then, after 500 metres, when we come to a 4-way crossroads, we will leave the GR-92 and turn right, heading in the direction of the city's buildings.
We must enter La Bisbal via Carrer del Carme.
If we take Carrer del Convent, we will continue straight on until Carrer del Carme, which will take us to the C-66 road, which we will cross and continue along the street opposite (Carrer de Ramón Cabrera).
From here we will go in search of the Plaza Mayor, where we will find the church of Santa María, the end of this stage.
ACCOMMODATION AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION STAGE 12
SANTA MARIA DE BELL-LLOC
Hotel Finca Bell-lloc (972 31 62 03) Camí a Bell-lloc, 63. From 60€.
SANTA COLOMA DE FITOR
Bar Restaurant Fitor (622 26 94 26) Camí de Fitor, s/n. Menu 12€.
FONTETA
The village of Fointeta belongs to the municipality of Forallac, the result of the union of the municipalities of Fonteta, Peratallada and Vullpellach, which you can find information on the following website:
THE BISBAL
As the capital of the Baix Empordà region, it has various establishments for accommodation, restaurants and other services. Here you can visit its website:
