In the footsteps of the Barons of Santa Pau. Ruta 1 Santa Pau

The walk starts in the car park on the outskirts of Santa Pau where we take the Carrer Major. When we take the street Carrer del Pont you find the signpost G29 Santa Pau and we will go toward Sant Aniol de Finestres. Take the street Carrer del Pont just Plaça de Baix and later we take the street Cases Noves. After the descend we found the signpost G126 Camí Doma, where you should turn right and head for ‘Santa Maria de Finestres per la Coma’. At the next junction (20 min further on), continue straight on.
Further on take the level path that heads into the holmoak forest. Cross over a small ridge and pass between two large rocks. A little further on, turn right on to a concrete track. A few metres before reaching a small building, head right up a footpath that zigzags up and over a gully. After a good climb, you leave the gully behind and pick up a broader track to the right.
At Collet del Puigsafont (1h 50 min) turn right onto a track that will take you to signpost G990 Fageda de Finestres, where you should continue straight on towards ‘Sant Aniol de Finestres 1h15min’. After a broad zigzag and a short scramble up a rocky section, you reach the small shrine dedicated to Sant Antoni. In just a couple of strides you pass directly from a leafy beechwood into a thick holm-oak forest.
This is quite unusual as the transition between these two types of forest normally occurs over a much greater distance. The path continues on the level as far as Santa Maria de Finestres. Retrace your steps to G990 Fageda de Finestres and head towards ‘El Sallent’ until you come to a track, which you should follow down to the right. Just before the track turns sharp right you come to the signpost G991 El Clascar, where you should take the footpath down to the left towards ‘Santa Pau (pels Arcs)’. You come out to a broader track that you should follow to the right, which then very soon turns 180º to the left and starts to lose height. Continue to follow the yellow Itinerànnia paint marks as far as another bend in the track, where you should turn left. This track follows the edge of the forest for a good while. Pass alongside Mas Carrer and continue down the track until you come to small road. Turn right and follow the road as far as Santa Maria dels Arcs. Pass through this old sanctuary and continue on towards Santa Pau along a path that climbs up to a small summit. Very soon you will get views of Santa Pau; head downhill, cross the gully and come to the crossroads you reached on the outward section of the walk at signpost G126.