Clara: Hiking Trails and Village History

Clara is a suitable destination for a hiking trip if you want to compare different types of routes. The route to the Dolmen de la Lloseta is an easy, family-friendly out-and-back hike; the Boucle du bicentenaire is an easy circular walk starting in Clara. The Ronde du Canigó GR®P offers a very different challenge: it is very difficult, 157.1 km long, and designed to take eight days. The parish church of Saint-Martin adds a historical dimension in the village. If you are looking for a hotel in Clara, these features give you a concrete basis for choosing your destination.

Hike to the Dolmen de la Lloseta

The hike to the Dolmen de la Lloseta is 5.2 km long and follows an out-and-back route. It leads to the dolmen and passes through Clara; the route is classified as easy and family-friendly. This makes it the shortest of the three hikes. Its named destination and out-and-back format set it apart from the Boucle, which is a circular route. So when choosing, consider not only the distance but also whether you would rather hike to a destination and back or follow a loop.

Boucle du bicentenaire: an easy loop

The Boucle du bicentenaire starts in Clara, is 7.5 km long, and is an easy circular walk. Yellow PR and yellow-and-red GR® de Pays markings identify the trail. Compared with the route to the dolmen, the loop is longer and follows a different format: it starts in Clara, while the dolmen hike is an out-and-back route to a named destination. The Boucle also has a historical dimension: it follows historic paths on the foothills of the Canigó that were used by schoolchildren in the previous century. This past use adds a history of the paths to the route itself.

The Ronde du Canigó GR®P

The Ronde du Canigó GR®P is a very difficult 157.1 km circular route that takes eight days. It passes through Clara and is part of the 1,000 km network of GR® and GR®P trails in the Pyrénées-Orientales département. Compared with the two easy hikes to the dolmen and along the Boucle, it is much more extensive: its difficulty, total distance, and duration make it a multi-day trek. The trail network places the route in a broader regional context, while Clara is part of the specific route. Check the route and current trail conditions before setting out; for this trek, you should also take mountain conditions and applicable regulations into account.

Saint-Martin and the village’s history

The parish church of Saint-Martin stands at the center of the village of Clara and is still dedicated to Catholic worship. It was mentioned as early as 879 under the name “basilica S Martini Clarinianum.” For your travel planning, Saint-Martin adds a cultural dimension to the hiking trails: the church shapes the village center, and its historical mention dates back to 879. Thus, an early record and a present-day dedication stand side by side.

Discover more destinations: Villeneuve-La-Rivière, Torreilles-Plage, Felluns, Palau-de-Cerdagne, Vingrau, Fontpédrouse, Montesquieu-Des-Albères, Reynes.

Back to the regional travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.