Discover Ria-Sirach

For a stay in Ria-Sirach, two main areas of interest can be distinguished: historic churches and castle ruins on the one hand, and challenging hikes on the other. The buildings span different periods, from a 17th-century church to a bell tower that is probably much older. For the hikes, distance and difficulty matter, as does whether you want to explore a route on your own or choose a guided activity.

Churches with traces of different periods

The present-day Église paroissiale Saint-Vincent de Ria dates from 1628. Its bell tower is in the Lombard style and probably dates from the 11th century. The dates refer to different parts: 1628 applies to the present-day church, while the dating of the tower remains uncertain. By decree of 11 September 1964, the bell tower and entrance doors were listed as historic monuments.

The Église Saint-Clément de Sirach has a different architectural character. It features defensive elements and preserves Romanesque components. By decree of 17 May 1974, it was listed as a historic monument. The two listings differ both in date and in the specific scope named: for Saint-Vincent, the tower and entrance doors are specified; for Saint-Clément, it is the church. This distinction is just as specific as the respective building histories when considering the two religious buildings.

Chapel ruins and Château d’Arria

The Chapelle Saint-Sernin d’Eroles is a Romanesque ruin at an elevation of 753 metres. It lies about 200 metres west of the Chapelle-ermitage Saint-Christophe. The ruins of Château d’Arria, which rise above Ria, offer another trace of the past. The edge of a cistern and a ceramic orientation plaque have survived there. These are different kinds of evidence: the chapels are defined by their form and location, while at Château d’Arria, the defining features are the ruins overlooking Ria and the two surviving elements.

Challenging hikes

The De Ria à Bell Lloc route is a challenging 8.2-kilometre out-and-back hike. It follows old rural paths through the Coronat state forest. The distance given explicitly refers to the round trip. El Pi del Rei is also described as a challenging hiking route, with a stated distance of 7.8155 kilometres. The Chapelle Sant Cristòfol de Llugols is included as a point of interest on this hike.

For El Pi del Rei, the start and finish are also specified: both are at the church car park in Ria-Sirach. Check local conditions before setting out. The information for the two routes thus differs in more than distance: for De Ria à Bell Lloc, the round trip is explicitly part of the route description; for El Pi del Rei, a shared start and finish point and a point of interest are specified.

Guided activities

For 2026, the mountain hiking guide FILLOL MARIE-PIERRE, based in Ria-Sirach, offers hikes, snowshoe hikes and Nordic walking in the Conflent, as well as in Cerdagne and Capcir. The programme also includes astronomy evenings. These combine an easy night walk with astronomy and the discovery of local products. This format differs from the two challenging hiking routes: it combines a night walk described as easy with other themes, rather than focusing solely on a longer hike. This means you can choose between designated routes and a variety of guided activities to suit your preferred focus.

Discover more destinations: Trilla, Dorres, Planèzes, Le Boulou, Baillestavy, Salses-Le-Château, Canaveilles, La Llagonne

For the regional travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.