Enjoy Banyoles and its rural houses
Banyoles combines all the facets of the purest nature ideal for your rural getaway: the extraordinary Banyoles Lake, the great forests of the area and several hills with breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Around Banyoles we can find some of our rural houses, facilitating the access of our customers to all the wonders that this rural environment provides.
Our rural houses are located just a few minutes drive from the most spectacular places in the Banyoles area: the lake itself, the Parc de la Draga and its Neolithic settlement, the Estunes, the Puda, the old quarter of the town and museums such as the Darder or the Regional Archaeological Museum.
Banyoles, the ideal place for a rural getaway
Banyoles is a city of just over 20,000 inhabitants located in the region of Pla de l'Estany, in Girona. Strategically, Banyoles is very well located: it is 20 minutes from the Costa Brava, and at the same time less than an hour from some of the most beautiful mountains in the Pre-Pyrenees, such as the Puigsacalm.
The lake is really the key piece to understanding the true identity of Banyoles. Of tectonic and karst origin, coming from underground reserves from the rains of the Alta Garrotxa, the Lake was formed some 250,000 years ago. This lake is the first formation, but these aquifers also give rise to other smaller lakes and ponds found in the Banyoles area.
What to do during your holidays in our rural houses in Banyoles?
A swim in Banyoles Lake
The lake of Banyoles is a fully protected natural site. Therefore, swimming is only allowed in three areas. The only place where you can swim completely free of charge is at the Caseta de Fusta. At Banys Vells you can swim if you access their bar, and at Club Natació Banyoles you will have the option to swim if you buy a general ticket for the day, which costs €12 per person.
Take a boat ride on the Lake
If you take a boat ride on the Lake, you can enjoy its most spectacular views. The Tirona is the only boat on the lake and runs for 40 minutes every day. It usually runs for three fixed hours a day, with additional times depending on the tickets purchased. The boat, which is about 15 meters long, has a capacity of up to 80 people.
Get on the famous Pinxo Train
The Pinxo Train de Banyoles is a tourist train that runs routes around the town of Banyoles to see and discover the most beautiful corners of the lake and the historic center. It usually runs for about 45 minutes, and has a maximum capacity of 60 people.
Visit the Parc de la Draga
The Parc de la Draga is a large park located on the east side of the lake. Here you can enjoy the peace and quiet while playing sports, strolling or having lunch in the picnic area.
Neolithic settlement of La Draga
In the Parc of la Draga you will find the Neolithic settlement of la Draga, the oldest in the east of the peninsula, with more than 7,000 years of history. Nowadays, you can take guided tours of the prehistoric huts, workshops and also fun activities for children. Despite having been discovered just over 30 years ago, the site has been fully preserved, and has become an important historical site for the city.
Hiking near the Lake
The Estany area is ideal for hiking both for beginners and those who are already familiar with the sport. You will find accessible routes, such as the one around the lake of about 6-kilometres , but also longer routes such as the one that goes up to Puig Clarà, which has a 200-metre incline, and a total of 11 kilometres.
Visit the museums of Banyoles
There are several museums in Banyoles. The Darder Museum, opened in 1916 and one of the oldest in the province of Girona, is a history museum with a naturalist component. With a long history, the museum shows the most relevant characteristics of the Lake and the aquatic area that surrounds it.
There is also the Regional Archaeological Museum, located in the historic center of the city. Although it is currently undergoing renovations, the museum conserves the palaeontological and archaeological materials of the region and manages different extensions: the Neolithic Park of La Draga, the Monastery of Sant Esteve de Banyoles and the Roman Villa of Vilauba.
Visit the old district of Banyoles
In the historic center of Banyoles you will find the old quarter where you can visit several interesting places. The Church of Santa Maria dels Turers is of Gothic style, and consists of a central nave eleven meters wide. You will also be able to find a piece of the old wall of Banyoles, which protected the town from the 13th to the 15th century. The only remaining sector is on Carrer de la Muralla.
The Fountain of the Puda
La Puda, also called the pudosa spring, was a spa built in 1862 that ended up closing in the middle of the 20th century. The so-called "vernajants", the tourists from Barcelona, came to La Puda to bathe, to eat the traditional panceta (bacon) or carquinyolis, and to take a sip of the water from the source, since it was said to be miraculous and to cure any kind of illness.
The restaurants
In Banyoles there are a large number of bars and restaurants to suit all tastes. You can find dishes from a more traditional and local cuisine, to more exotic ones, such as Mexican or Chinese cuisine.