Grand Tour of Catalonia, Section 4: La Seu d’Urgell to Figueres Road Trip
Five days from the Pyrenees to Dalí's Figueres: Picasso's village of Gósol and the Pedraforca, the high villages of the Cerdanya, the Núria rack railway, a balloon over the Garrotxa volcanoes, Lake Banyoles and medieval Besalú.
Route overview
Section 4 crosses the Catalan Pyrenees from west to east and then drops into the volcanic landscapes of La Garrotxa. It is a journey through villages that inspired artists — Picasso in Gósol, the poet Joan Maragall in the beech forest of the Fageda d’en Jordà — and ends in Figueres, where Salvador Dalí was born.
The first two days are the longest drives, along beautiful mountain roads; after that, the distances shrink and the days fill with balloon flights, forest walks, lakes and food markets.
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- Industrial heritage of the Llobregat — textile colonies such as Cal Rosal and the Cement Train to the Asland cement museum.
- The Cathar trail — the GR107 Camí dels Bons Homes, and the Cathar centre in Bagà.
- La Molina — dinner at a mountain lodge reached by cable car.
- The Iron and Coal greenway — 15 km from Ripoll to Sant Joan de les Abadesses and its monastery.
- Sephardic Catalonia — Girona’s Call and Jewish History Museum.
- The Dalí Triangle — Púbol castle and the Portlligat house near Cadaqués.
Keep going: ← Section 3: Lleida to La Seu d’Urgell · All five sections · Section 5: Figueres to Barcelona →
This itinerary follows Section 4 of the official Grand Tour of Catalonia route, created by the Catalan Tourist Board. We tailor it to your dates, pace and budget.
Trip highlights
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Picasso's Gósol and the Pedraforca
the village where he spent 1906, and a walk round Catalonia's most iconic mountain.
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High villages of the Cerdanya
Bellver, Puigcerdà and Meranges, and the source of the Llobregat at Castellar de N'Hug.
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Ripoll and the Vall de Núria
a 'stone bible' portico, then a rack railway to a sanctuary among Pyrenean peaks.
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Volcanoes of La Garrotxa
a sunrise balloon flight, Santa Pau's beans and the Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest.
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Lake Banyoles
sunrise, a kayak and a swim, and a night in a glamping bubble under the stars.
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Besalú and Figueres
a Romanesque bridge and Jewish quarter, then the town where Dalí was born.
Your route
Day-by-day itinerary
6 days from La Seu d'Urgell, Spain to Figueres, Spain
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Day 1 Views of the Pedraforca (90 km)
See Santa Maria, Catalonia's only fully Romanesque cathedral, then take the panoramic road through stone villages such as Tuixent to Gósol, where Picasso spent the spring of 1906. Walk part or all of the circuit round the Pedraforca — about 17 km — on a stretch of the old Cathar path, or visit the Centre Picasso. Stop at Sant Llorenç near Guardiola de Berguedà on the way to Bagà. Try: pèsols negres (black peas) and trumfos amb col.
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Day 2 High-altitude villages (128 km)
Breakfast in Bellver de Cerdanya, then Puigcerdà by its lake, with an optional detour to Llívia's centuries-old pharmacy. Climb to Meranges, at 1,590 metres, for views across the Cerdanya, then walk the short path to the source of the Llobregat at Castellar de N'Hug. Overnight in Ripoll. Try: Castellar's famously huge croissants.
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Day 3 Ripoll and Núria (75 km)
The carved portico of Santa Maria de Ripoll, founded in 879. Drive to Ribes de Freser and take the rack railway up to the Vall de Núria sanctuary for an easy walk or a horse ride. Back down, buy biscuits in Camprodon, then the villages of Beget, Sant Joan les Fonts and Castellfollit de la Roca on its basalt cliff. Overnight in a farmhouse near Olot. Try: an esmorzar de forquilla, the hearty Catalan breakfast.
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Day 4 Soaring over volcanoes (30 km)
A sunrise hot-air balloon over the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone — or cycle the Carrilet greenway instead. Meet again in Olot for its market and shops, lunch in Santa Pau, and walk the Fageda d'en Jordà beech forest. Spend the night in a glamping bubble near Lake Banyoles. Try: Santa Pau's fesols beans and ratafia liqueur.
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Day 5 Towards Dalí (34 km)
Sunrise over Lake Banyoles, then a kayak among herons and a swim from the old bathing huts. Drive to Besalú for its Romanesque bridge, Jewish quarter, synagogue and mikveh, and finish in Figueres, Dalí's home town, with dinner on La Rambla. Try: an evening on the café terraces where young Dalí drew.
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Day 6 Depart or continue
Visit the Dalí Theatre-Museum, then drop the car in Figueres or Girona, or continue into Section 5 and the Costa Brava.
Where you stay
- Bagà Village hotel in the Berguedà
- Ripoll Small town hotel near the monastery
- Olot Converted farmhouse (masia) in La Garrotxa
- Banyoles Glamping bubble or lakeside hotel
- Figueres Town hotel near the Dalí Theatre-Museum
What's included
Included
- 5 nights in hand-picked hotels, rural inns and character stays, with breakfast, chosen around your budget and style.
- Car hire for the whole section, collected and dropped off where it suits the route (one-way rentals can carry a drop-off fee, which we include in your quote).
- A day-by-day route with driving times, our suggested stops and the places worth booking ahead.
- Pre-booked experiences on request, such as guided visits, tastings and activities mentioned in the itinerary.
- Flights from the UK on request when international flights are included, ATOL Protection is included.
- Support from your Travel Designer before you go and a UK phone line while you travel.
Not included
- Fuel, motorway tolls and parking.
- Catalonia's tourist tax, charged per person per night and paid at each hotel (the rate depends on the hotel category and is higher in Barcelona).
- Lunches and dinners unless listed, and entrance fees for sights you choose on the day.
- Travel insurance (we strongly recommend a policy that covers driving abroad).
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want long beach days — this section is mountains, volcanoes and villages (the beaches come in Section 5).
- You'd rather not have early starts — the balloon flight is at sunrise, but it is optional.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this road trip?
Tap any "Enquire" button and a Travel Designer will be in touch within 24 hours (often the same day). Tell us your dates, how many nights you would like and the style of hotel, and we will build the trip and quote it. Nothing is booked until you confirm.
What financial protection do I get?
Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). When international flights are included, ATOL Protection is included.
Can I really sleep in a bubble?
Yes — clear glamping domes near Lake Banyoles let you watch the stars from bed. If you prefer, we'll book a lakeside hotel instead.
Is the Pedraforca walk difficult?
The full circuit is about 17 km with 790 metres of ascent; we can suggest a shorter section, or a visit to Gósol instead.
Do I have to drive every day?
No. The stages are a guide, not a timetable. We can add rest days, cut a long day in two, or base you in one place for two nights so you can explore without packing up.
Can I book a private driver-guide instead of self-drive?
Yes, a private driver-guide is available on request for any section, or just for the mountain or city days.
Can I combine this with another section?
Yes. The five sections join up into one loop, so you can do two back to back, or all five over about a month. See the Grand Tour of Catalonia page.
This is a suggested route — talk to us and we'll shape it around you.
The itinerary above is an example we like for solo travellers. Want to spend longer on one island? Swap a hotel? Add a stop in Chiang Mai? We have tried-and-tested hotels across all four destinations we can firsthand recommend, and we'll re-quote your trip with your dates, your group size and your priorities. Talk to us — that's what we do.
Talk to a Travel Designer