Fontcoberta between wetlands and Romanesque heritage

When looking for a hotel in Fontcoberta, you can first consider whether wetlands, walks, or architectural history will be the focus of your trip. The municipality offers different points of interest: the temporary pond of Platja d’Espolla, local trails, notable trees, and buildings bearing traces of history. This lets you plan your trip around the subjects that interest you most.

Wetlands, trails, and notable trees

Platja d’Espolla is a temporary pond fed by underground water flows. It is not supplied by river water flowing in above ground. This habitat allows amphibians and aquatic invertebrates to live without major aquatic predators such as fish. The combination of temporary water and an underground water supply makes Platja d’Espolla a rare type of lagoon; in the surrounding area, it is the best-known example of its kind.

The trails also offer different options. The Ruta de la platja d’Espolla is a flat walking trail and is suitable for strollers. The Ruta de les fonts i del patrimoni de Fontcoberta is a local hiking trail through the municipality’s landscapes. It leads to several springs, cultural heritage sites, and the Alzines Reclamadores. This gives you a choice between a walking trail explicitly described as flat and a hiking route that combines nature and culture.

The Alzines Reclamadores are two monumental trees in the hamlet of Fares. Another notable natural feature is the Pi Gros d’en Famada: it has the largest known trunk of a stone pine (Pinus pinea) in the comarca, with a circumference of 3.70 metres. While the number, name, and monumental character of the Alzines are what stand out, the Pi Gros offers a specific circumference as a measure of its size.

Romanesque buildings and traces of history

The Església Parroquial de Sant Feliu de Fontcoberta dates from the late 12th century and was built over an earlier structure from the 10th century. The Campanar de Fontcoberta is a square bell tower in the Lombard-influenced Romanesque style and was built at the same time as the church. The Església also houses a polychrome marble image of the Verge del Patrocini from the 14th century. Together, these details reflect different phases of architectural and artistic history.

The Ermita de la Mare de Déu de la Font is a Romanesque building from the late 12th century and was mentioned in documents in 1261. Another historical site is Castell d’Espasens: the fortified house dates from the 14th and 15th centuries and is now completely in ruins. Roca Foradada, in turn, is a Palaeolithic archaeological site on the northeastern side of the Espolla depression. These places represent different ways to explore Fontcoberta’s past—from a Romanesque building and a ruined fortified house to an archaeological site.

Festivals and getting around locally

In Pla de Martís, to the north, the festival of Sant Galderic has been celebrated every year since 12 October 1990. If the festival is a reason for planning your trip, check the dates for your intended visit.

A described access route to the church of Santa Caterina on a small hill leads from Banyoles via Vilavenut. After about another two kilometres, a well-maintained unpaved road branches off to the right and leads to the church. Check the route locally before setting out.

Discover more destinations: La Jonquera, La Tallada D'empordà, Anglès, Ventalló, Riudellots De La Selva, Portbou, Campelles, Vilamaniscle

For the broader travel overview: Girona.