Route Santa Bàrbara de Pruneres. Route 9 Parishes Alta Garrotxa

Santa Bàrbara lies in the heart of L'Alta Garrotxa and affords memorable views over the Oix valley and the mountains of Bassegoda and El Ferran.The church dates from the twelfth or early thirteenth century, although it is likely that a primitive church

  • Modality
    • By foot
  • Region
    • Garrotxa
  • Towns
    • Montagut i Oix
  • Time
    • Less than 3 hours
  • Difficulty
    • Medium
  • Estimated duration
    • 1h30min (anada)
  • Distance
    • 3,8km
  • Hide elevation maximum
    • 709m
  • Hide elevation minimum
    • 388m
  • Ascent
    • 326m
  • Descent
    • 23m
  • Thematic
    • Parishes Alta Garrotxa routes

Start in Oix at signpost G10 and head for ‘Església de Santa Bàrbara’ down the steps to the Oix-Beget road; turn right. Just before the house at the end of the road, turn left down a track-cum-street to come out into grassy parkland. Walk alongside a gully towards an electricity pylon on the far side of the field. Once at the pylon, turn left and pick up the path alongside the river.

Continue ahead as far an old bridge, Pont Romà d’Oix. Despite its name, it is in fact medieval, although there may once have been another bridge on this spot. Indeed, a legend explains how one day the Lord of La Quera de Talaixà, who was wont to visit the young damsels of Santa Bàrbara de Pruneres (as was his right in feudal law), couldn’t cross the river due to heavy rain. So, he had the bridge built to ensure that the water wouldn’t ever again frustrate his basest urges.

Cross the bridge and on the other side pick up a path that takes you to a track. Turn left, pass in front of a house and then into an area of pastures.

Walk alongside a wire fence for awhile. Then, pass through the wire making use of a plastic handle, continue and then once again open the wire fence with a plastic handle to come out onto a track. Turn left until the yellow paint marks of the Itinerànnia network send you left into an area of fields.

Cross the fields and at the end, just before coming to the river, turn right, cross a gully, Torrent d’Aiguavella, and come out into another area of pastures. Continue straight on past a house, Pla d’en Pei, and then at signpost AG14 Pla d’en Pei head for ‘Església de Santa Bàrbara’.

Head up through the old terraces belonging to Pla d’en Pei until you enter into a thick holm-oak forest. From here on, the path starts to zigzag up the mountain of Santa Bàrbara.

The path continues uphill to an area of scattered trees where you come out onto an old track that will take you to signpost AG15 Mirador de la Sala; from here, head for ‘Església de Santa Bàrbara’.

Follow this good track, along which cars coming from the road to Oix can circulate, and in a few metres continue straight on (left would take you to an imposing house, Can Sala).

After the turn off to Can Sala, simply follow the yellow paint marks up to the church of Santa Bàrbara. 

To return to Oix, retrace your steps. Another option, that will take 1 h 50min, once back at AG15 Mirador de la Sala, is to head as indicated for ‘Oix pel Coll de Palomeres’. Follow the indications ‘Itinerari de Santa Bàrbara retorn Sadernes’ and at the next signpost G186 Mirador del Coll de Palomeres, head towards Oix. Then, from signpost G31 Coll de Palomeres onwards, the way back to Oix coincides with the GR-1 long-distance footpath.

ATENTION

The regulations for uses and access to Sadernes, during periods of high influx, you will have a booking. The reservation gives the right of access to a vehicle in the Sadernes car park. Once the reservation has been made, you will receive an email that will be used to access you, with a reservation number and a QR code. This code is essential to access the space, guaranteeing capacity in the Sant Aniol valley.

You can buy the ticket on the booking page Prebooking

Book from a place with good mobile phone coverage. In Sadernes there is insufficient coverage.