Banyoles

Catalan lake town between the Costa Brava and Pyrenees, known for rowing and karst-fed waters.

Banyoles is a small Catalan town best known for its lake — a large, spring-fed natural lake that hosted the rowing events of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The town sits on a wide plain midway between the Costa Brava and the Pyrenees, an hour's drive north of Barcelona.

The lake is the main draw. Its clear waters are fed by underground karst springs and rank among the most significant lacustrine systems in the Iberian Peninsula. The lakeside promenade is pleasant for a walk, and rowing clubs have been active here for well over a century. Beyond the lake, the old town has a medieval core worth a short wander, and the regional archaeological museum holds an important prehistoric jaw discovered nearby in the 19th century.

Guide

Getting There

Banyoles is about 18 km northwest of Girona and 120 km northeast of Barcelona. It has no train station — the nearest rail connection is at Girona, from where buses run to Banyoles several times daily.

By car from Girona, the drive is around 20 minutes on the C-66 road through the Pla de l'Estany farmland. By bicycle from Girona, there is a dedicated cycling route along the old railway track (Via Verde) that makes for a pleasant half-day ride in either direction.

From Barcelona, the fastest route is by car or by train to Girona followed by a bus connection. Total journey time is around two hours.

Guide

Things to Do

Banyoles is a town built around its lake, and the lake is where almost everything worth doing takes place. Beyond the water, the old town has a medieval core, a good archaeological museum, and a Benedictine monastery that predates the oldest parts of Barcelona Cathedral. It is a calm, pretty place that rewards a leisurely day.