This Catalan town centers around Spain's largest natural lake, where rowing events of the 1992 Olympics took place. Medieval streets lead to a 13th-century monastery.
Banyoles sits 18 kilometers from Girona in Catalonia’s Pla de l’Estany region, defined by Lake Banyoles. This natural lake formed in a tectonic depression and hosted rowing events during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It remains a popular spot for water sports. The town’s medieval center surrounds Sant Esteve monastery, where canals direct lake water through stone-paved streets. Nearby, the Regional Archaeological Museum holds a Neanderthal jawbone discovered in local quarries. Annual events like the European Triathlon Cup take place here, and hiking paths cut through limestone formations and volcanic foothills.
Lake Banyoles: Water Sports and Geological Formations
Lake Banyoles extends six kilometers, with depths reaching 46 meters in some areas. Underground springs feed its clear waters. Rent rowboats near the tourist office for €5 per hour or join group boat tours starting at €7. During summer, swim at La Caseta de Fusta (free entry) or Els Banys Vells, where access requires buying food or drinks. Cycle around the lake’s edge on rented bikes, passing reeds and the jagged limestone terrain of Les Estunes woods. Look for the Tirona, a replica wooden boat used for short lake trips.
Exploring Banyoles Town: History and Architecture
The old town divides into two areas: Vila Vella, centered on the 14th-century Santa María del Turers church, and Vila Nova, where you’ll find the arcaded Plaça Major square. Water from the lake flows through open canals past Sant Esteve monastery, rebuilt in neoclassical style over a 9th-century Benedictine site. Visit the Llotja del Tint, a 15th-century Gothic hall once used for dyeing fabrics, now hosting art displays. The Regional Archaeological Museum explains human settlement from the Stone Age onward, displaying tools from Serinyà Caves and the debated Banyoles Neanderthal jawbone.
Activities: Trails, Rowing, and Cycling
The lake’s western shore has a 2,000-meter Olympic rowing course, still used for training and events like the 2004 World Rowing Championships. Test your stamina on the Rocacorba climb, a 10-kilometer uphill route ending at 992 meters with views of the Pyrenees. Walk the “Puda and Estunes” trail, a one-hour loop through limestone rocks and oak woodlands. In May, the Banyoles Triathlon challenges athletes with a swim-bike-run course around the lake.
Nearby Attractions: Volcanoes and Ancient Sites
Drive 30 minutes to La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, where trails cross extinct volcanoes like Santa Margarida and Croscat. Closer to town, explore Vilauba Roman Villa, which has 1st-century mosaics and farming tools excavated near the lake’s eastern shore. The Neolithic site of La Draga, partially underwater, displays early agricultural tools preserved in wetland mud.
Planning Your Visit: Hours and Transportation
The Banyoles Tourist Office (GPS: 42°07'04.4"N 2°45'22.9"E) gives out trail maps and opens daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a midday break. Autumn often brings rain, while summer temperatures average 28°C, perfect for swimming. Regional buses connect to Girona, but renting a car makes trips to Garrotxa or Figueres (40 minutes north) easier. Stick to marked swimming areas, as lake depths change abruptly in other zones.
