05 - Gironella

La Perla del Llobregat, as Gironella is known, is one of the smallest municipalities in Berguedà in terms of territory, but it still offers very interesting and pleasant routes outside the center. On this occasion, we leave from the sports area, where there is space to park the car or, if that is our option, also an area for motorhomes. In addition, if we finish with strength, we can practice other sports here as there are paddle courts, a short athletics track or a bike trial area. In addition, we can refresh ourselves or eat something in the new cafeteria located in the swimming pool facilities.
This is a route that runs practically all the time on rural tracks, passing near farmhouses, agrotourism or a farm, so if by chance we come across road traffic, it will most likely be a tractor. The first half of the route is uphill with very bearable gradients. At the start, we head towards the Cal Ramons urbanization and turn off to take the paved road that goes towards La Guàrdia until we reach Pla de la Donzella. Here we turn left to leave the asphalt and chain different tracks that make us go around as if we were drawing a big circle always marching to our left. You have to be on the lookout because this area is a paradise of tracks and paths where you can get lost pedaling.

As a reference, we always have the farmhouse of Can Gironella, visible for its large dimensions and for a past as rich as it is indefinite. Its origins can be found at the end of the 17th century or throughout the 18th century. The house is in the middle of our circular route. If we lose our way and don't pay attention, what is sure not to escape us are the views that this route offers us, falling towards the north at many times, with the different mountain ranges that are in the Berguedà before running into the Pre-Pyrenees. When our path takes us towards the town of Gironella, we stop focusing on the mountains to observe the old town, which is our gateway to the town. We follow some paths that have no loss, parallel to the riera d'Olvan until we end up, as we do, in the Llobregat river where we take a last path that leaves us at the starting point.