STAGE 4
CASTELLÓ D'EMPÚRIES - L'ESCALA
- Distance: 25 km
- Difficulty level: VERY EASY
- Maximum altitude: 34
- Minimum altitude: 1
- height gain: 192
- height loss: 193
Stage 4: Castelló d'Empúries - L'Escala
We will leave from in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria crossing the old town or along Carrer de les Gallines in both cases in the direction of the medieval bridge (Pont Vell) from the 13th century that crossed the river La Muga. Once we have seen it, without crossing it, we will continue to the left along the tree-lined promenade (Passeig de les Oques) for about 750 metres.
Then we will pass under the road and continue for 2.7 kilometers along the so-called "Camí Natural" (natural path) bordering the Muga River. Then we will make a sharp turn to the left, ascending to a metallic bridge, with wooden sleepers and we will cross the river.
On the other side of the river, passing by a water treatment plant, we will enter the natural park and continue along the so-called Camí de la Platja de Can Comes, after 3.8 kilometers we will arrive at El Cortalet (information point of the Park Natural dels Aiguamolls de l'Empordà).
We will then continue along the path that crosses the natural park following the red and white painted signs of the GR-92. This part of the route must be done on foot with the bike at your side (in accordance with the Park's regulations).
We will follow the visible path for 3 kilometres and we will be able to enjoy watching the numerous birds that visit it during their migrations at all times of the year and also other animals (such as horses), which have their permanent residence here.
We will know that we have reached the end of the route when we will see the Nautic Almatà campsite facilities on your right and shortly afterwards you will reach the beach. We will skirt the campsite along the sandy beach and then we will see a semicircular metal bridge on our right and we will go in search of it to cross the water channel that connects it with the mouth of the river Fluvià and the sea.
On the other side, when you reach a dirt track, we will turn right along what used to be the buildings of the Fluvià Marina complex, which the organisation for the safeguarding of the territory "Iaeden-Salvem l'Empordà" managed to have demolished in 2008.
When we will reach the Fluvià river, we will border it for a few metres and then we will take a path to our left that enters the vegetation and in just under 2 kilometres will take us to Sant Pere Pescador.
As usual in the Ruta dels Indiketes we will head towards the village church along Escoles street.
Then we will take Verge del Portalet street and Carmen street in the direction of the bridge that crosses the Fluvià river.
We will cross it on the left-hand side and when we reach the roundabout we will turn right onto the GIV-6303 road towards the Club Náutico, passing along Teresa Willms Mont street and then turn right onto Pujada street.
At the end of the road we will turn left and follow the dirt track along the river until after 1 kilometre the road forks and we will take the left fork.
After 400 metres we will reach L'Armentera.
To get past the church of Sant Martí we will take Ginjoler street, then to the left we will see a car park that we will cross.
Then we will continue along Carrer de l'Esglesia and turn left along Carrer Major, until we reach Carrer del Mar, where we will turn right and take the GR-92 again, in Carrer del Mar.
We will continue along this street until after a few metres we see a fork in the road and we will take the asphalted road to our left, which leads away from the town, with a beautiful grove of trees on the left-hand side.
We will continue along this path for about 750 metres until we see a wide dirt track on your right.
We will now follow this track for 3.5 kilometres, passing through orchards of fruit trees, most of them apple trees until reaching the hamlet of Cinc Claus, an aggregate of L'Escala through which a road of the ancient Via Heraclea passed that connected it with the islet of Sant Martí d'Empuries, supposedly the initial settlement of the city of Indika where the Indiketes.
Leaving the village, we will ignore the three detours that appear on the right and take the only path on the left, almost touching the GIP-6307 road.
We will follow it for about 650 metres, ignoring the first turning on the right.
We will take the second turning on the right and a little further on, after about 160 metres, at a crossroads of four roads, we will continue straight on, passing between some houses until you reach the GIP-6307 road.
After crossing the road, we will walk along the sidewalk and after 150 meters we will enter Sant Martí d'Empúries.
In the past it had been a small island where they lived since the 9th century B.C. those who called themselves Indiketes, who three centuries later, established commercial relations with Phoenicians, Punics and especially with the Masaliotes (Greeks), which turned Empúries (Emporium) into one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean.
Until 1064, Sant Martí was the seat of the county of Empúries. A good part of the mediaeval wall has been preserved. The church of Sant Martí was built in 1538 on top of the pre-Romanesque temple dating from 926.
We will continue our way towards L'Escala passing just in front of the remains of the old medieval castle, which inspired Víctor Mora, creator of the comic strip Capitán Trueno, as the hero's residence.
And then we will go down towards the beach, leaving the modernist-style Casa Forestal, built in 1910, on our left.
This Forestry House housed the workers who settled the dunes moved by the tramontana wind that almost covered the whole town, as they had done with the ancient Greek and Roman cities.
Once on the beach, those on foot will have two options: to walk along the wooden walkway or along the promenade that runs under the trees. Cyclists will be obliged to cycle along the promenade.
After 600 metres on our right we will glimpse part of the ruins of the 3 ancient cities of Ampurias: Greek, Iberian (Indiketa) and Roman. At the top of the hill is the Museum of the Archaeological Site of the Ruins of Ampurias, which we recommend you visit if you wish to delve into the history and culture of the Indiketes.
Shortly after, on our left we will see the so-called Moll Grec, the quay of the port of the ancient Greek and Roman cities of Ampurias, with more than 2,000 years of history, which was the gateway for the Greek and Roman civilisations to the Iberian Peninsula.
At the end of the walk, before setting foot on the first streets of L'Escala, we will reach the Lampadòfor, a monument commemorating the arrival of the Olympic flame at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
We will go up the pavement along the sea and at the top we will have two options for those on foot to access the centre of the town; continue along the sea side (along the Camí de Ronda) or do it along the street of Vista Alegre. Those on bicycle should opt for the latter alternative before arriving in front of the church of Sant Pere, the end of this stage.
ACCOMMODATION AND PRACTICAL INFORMATION STAGE 4
SANT PERE PESCADOR
Being a tourist town, it has all kinds of hotels, restaurants and other services. Here you can visit the website of the Tourist Office:
L'ARMENTERA
It is not a tourist town but it has 2 rural tourism establishments, several restaurants and other services. Here you can visit the town hall website:
L'ESCALA
As it is an eminently tourist town, it has all kinds of hotels, restaurants and other services. Here you can visit the website of the Tourist Office:
