Sils: Wetlands, Trails and History

Sils offers two clearly defined themes to help you plan your trip: the protected natural area of Estany de Sils and the municipality’s historical heritage. If you want to plan your stay around landscapes, marked trails or local history, the following places and routes offer specific points of reference. Estany represents the nature theme; Santa Maria de Sils reveals different layers of local history.

Estany de Sils and its nature

Under the legislation of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Estany de Sils is a protected natural area. Special moisture conditions and annual flooding preserve characteristic wetland plant and animal species here. Animals characteristic of Estany and its surroundings include the European pond turtle. These areas are home to one of Catalonia’s largest populations; the species is critically endangered. The natural area thus combines a specific type of landscape with a distinctive ecological theme.

Signposted circular routes and a cycling route

There are three signposted circular routes in the natural area. Two can be compared by distance and difficulty rating: the Vuelta a la laguna is 3.5 kilometres long and rated very easy. The Ruta del Observatorio Viejo is an easy five-kilometre circular route. This makes the Vuelta 1.5 kilometres shorter; the stated difficulty ratings also differ. The distance information helps you compare the two routes described by their length.

The BTT 9 – Estany de Sils cycling route offers a different perspective on the area. It starts at the station park and runs largely along the outline of the natural area. This cycling route is a separate option alongside the signposted circular routes.

Station and information point

Sils station is served by the R11 and RG1 train lines. The main entrance to the protected natural area is 300 metres from the station. The Estany de Sils information point is also located in the station building. Its facilities include a permanent exhibition about the natural area and the municipality. This means information about the area is available right at a stated landmark for your arrival. For a specific train journey, it is advisable to check the connections for your chosen travel date.

Santa Maria de Sils and the history of the town

Santa Maria de Sils was first mentioned in a papal bull in 1185. The present church building is Baroque-Neoclassical in style and dates from the 18th and 19th centuries. At the same time, Santa Maria preserves elements of the older temple: a Gothic side chapel and a tombstone dating from 1333, set into the ground near the entrance. These features make the church’s long history visible in specific details, rather than defining it only by its present-day appearance.

The pilgrim tradition of the Peregrino de Tossa also passes through Sils. Since the late 15th century, the walking route has been made every 20 January from Tossa to Santa Coloma de Farners. The church’s construction history is tied to centuries and surviving features; by contrast, the tradition centres on a recurring January date and a route between two places. Both themes give local history different points of reference in time and space.

Discover more destinations: Les Mallorquines, Marzà, Castellfollit De La Roca, Palafrugell, Aiguaviva, El Cros, Vilanova de la Muga, Campelles.

For the overview of the wider region: Girona.