We will leave Espolla through the street behind the church and we will take the path on our right that passes by an isolated house.
We will follow it for 1 kilometre without taking any turning to the left, until we reach the Coll de Banyuls road, where we will turn left.
After a few metres, we will take the path on the right towards the Font del Conill.
We will cross the Orlina river by the footbridge and we will turn right at a fork that we will see after 100 metres. Then, after 850 metres, taking the path that we will see on our left, we can visit the Dolmen del Barranc.
From this point we will only have 650 metres to go to the Coll de Belitres where we will leave the path and take the path that we will see in front of us.
We will have to follow it for one kilometre and those on bicycles will have to carry their bicycles alongside.
Then the path becomes a a dirt road and when we come to a crossroads with another path we will continue to the left for 2.1 kilometers until we go up to Puig d'en Gibert and shortly after reaching Coll de Plaja, where we can enjoy its pleasant view.
Then we will turn right, taking the wide path of the GR-11, which will take us to Sant Quirze de Colera in 2.3 kilometres.
The origins of the monastery are not clear, but it is possible that around 785 several members of the same family led by the brothers Libuci and Assinari settled here to found a monastery with the authorisation of Charlemagne.
Separated from the monastic complex, we can visit the Romanesque church of Santa Maria de Colera (12th century).
We will continue along the GR-11, passing along the so-called "Camí de Villordí", which is currently asphalted and leads to Rabós. After 2.9 kilometres, we will take a dirt track on the left that you can distinguish because there is a broken tree trunk.
We will follow it for 130 metres and when we reach a crossroads wewill see the Mas Roquer menhir on our left.
We will continue along the path we came from, ignoring any detour, following the course of the Rec del Mas Bosc until we will reach the Coll de la Rossa after 2.4 kilometres.
At this point we must pay attention as we will continue straight on for 480 metres along a path that is not very well marked and difficult for cyclists, marked by a sign with the word "Dolmens".
We can be guided by the yellow paint signs on the tree trunks, and descending, sometimes steeply, we will reach the Torrent de la Balmeta stream.
Here the cyclists will make a detour (without being able to visit the church of Sant Martí de Vallmala) and descend along the path that runs parallel to the stream until after the Font Rovellada they will rejoin the path of the hikers.
Those on foot will also follow the same path, but they must be careful, as after 65 metres they will have to turn left onto a difficult path that in 700 metres will take them to the Passatge dolmen (which can be visited in a short, steep climb).
After crossing a small stream, we will soon reach Font Perassa (an old fountain) and we will only have 280 metres left to reach Sant Martí de Vallmala.
The first written mention of this monastic cell dates from 854, when this place was given to the monastery of Sant Esteve de Banyoles.
It is known that in 1432 it was in ruins (perhaps due to a series of earthquakes between 1427 and 1428) and never recovered.
The church has pre-Romanesque elements, prior to the consecration in 1019.
We will follow the path for a few metres and then we will take the path on our right (signposted Vilamaniscle 1h), which in about 800 metres will take us to a dirt track.
And here we will coincide with those on bikes and take the path that we will see in front of us, which passes next to Mas Blanc and skirts the Sant Silvestre riverbank, crossing it on several occasions. We can be guided by the yellow painted signs and in 2.4 kilometres we will reach Sant Silvestre de la Valleta.
This beautiful church has pre-Romanesque and Romanesque parts (10th-12th centuries). The oldest part is the apse, where you can see "opus spicatum". In ancient times, the place was known as Budica or Budiga.
We will go up taking the path behind the church which in 200 metres will take us to the track where there is the GR-11 where we will continue going up, passing through the Coll de Portes, for 1.4 kilometres until we reach a crossroads of 4 paths, where we will turn right.
Now we will only have 1 kilometre left to see a path on our left that will take us to Sant Genís del Terrer.
This small church, whose lower part of the apse shows "opus spicatum", is documented in the year 974, where there is mention of the donations made by Count Gaufred to the monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes.
We will continue the route going down the same path until we reach a small stream that will serve as a path for about 100 meters until, going up the bank, we will find a dirt track that shortly after we will see cemented in between stone walls.
We will do not leave this path for 1.1 kilometres until we pass under the railway line and shortly after we reach the Riera de Valleta stream, where we will climb a few metres and then continue along the GR-11 path until we will cross the N-260 road.
Then we will enter the street that we will see almost in front of us (Carrer Dolors Falcó) and later taking Nicolás Salmerón street we will arrive at the main square where there is the church of Sant Vicenç, the end of this stage.
ACCOMMODATION AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION STAGE 22
SANT QUIRZE DE COLERA
Restaurant Corral de Sant Quirze (972 19 31 86) Monestir de St. Quirze. Menu 18€.
LLANÇÀ
As it is a particularly touristy village, it has various establishments for accommodation, restaurants and other services. You can visit its website here: