Molló: Pyrenean Trails and Romanesque Churches

The Gran Volta al Costabona is a 31-kilometre crossing designed to be completed over two days. Among other landscapes, it passes through riverside woodland, valley floors, beech forests, pine forests and alpine meadows, and runs along rivers. The Camí de la Retirada complements the hiking options with a 14-kilometre moderately difficult route from Plaça del Conflent in Molló to Prats de Molló; the one-way route takes four hours.

Other destinations in this selection include Girona, Isòvol, Ripoll, Llívia, Macanet De Cabrenys, Vallfogona de Ripollès, Arbúcies and Siurana.

Nature and Landscape

The municipality of Molló includes part of the Parc Natural de les Capçaleres del Ter i del Freser. At 2,465 metres, Costabona is the highest point in the municipality of Molló and also forms part of this nature park. The source of the Ritort River lies on the lower slopes of Costabona and is also known as Deus d'en Sitjar.

Molló Parc offers a two- to three-hour nature walk covering 10 hectares within the municipality of Molló. No advance reservation is required to visit Molló Parc.

The route from Molló to Santa Magdalena passes through pastureland and potato fields. At Santa Magdalena, it offers panoramic views of the high Pyrenees and the upland forests of Alta Garrotxa. The Molló–Espinavell–Fabert–Molló circular route starts and ends in Molló and passes through varied landscapes.

History and Architecture

Around 936, Molló probably already had a small church dedicated to Saint Cecilia. Santa Cecília de Molló has been recognised as a Bé Cultural d’Interès Nacional since 1979 and is considered an outstanding example of Romanesque architecture in the Catalan Pyrenees. Its visible architectural features include Lombard-Romanesque arcaded friezes, blind arcades and a sawtooth frieze, as well as a five-storey bell tower.

The Capella de Sant Sebastià in Molló was built in the 18th century as a thanksgiving to Saint Sebastian because he had freed the municipality from the epidemics that were ravaging Europe. The hamlet of Riberal in the municipality of Molló is also home to the Romanesque Pont del Molí de Can Fumat over the Ritort River.

Coll d’Ares has been a border crossing since 1659 under the Treaty of the Pyrenees. On 23 June, the Flame of Canigó is distributed throughout Catalonia from there. In Espinavell, a district of the municipality of Molló, the church of Mare de Déu de les Neus was built in the 17th century and is a defining feature of the village.

Traditions and Local Specialities

Tria de Mulats d'Espinavell is a traditional livestock festival held annually in Espinavell on 13 October. More than 300 horses and other equines that spend the summer in Rojà are brought together for the event. On Plaça Major in Molló, Fira de la Trumfa offers tastings of various potato preparations.

For the higher-level travel overview: Girona.