Pirinexus

Pirinexus is a cross-border circular cycling circuit in Catalonia in Spain and Pyrénées-Orientales in France, that connects regions on either side of the eastern edge of the Pyrenees. You will get from alpine valleys in the mountains to coastal beaches and through the Tuscan-like landscapes of l'Emporda counties.

The primary section of this cycling journey spans a distance of 350 km (220 mi), complemented by an additional 175 km (109 mi) of supplementary routes offering access to various captivating points of interest along the way. Remarkably, nearly half of these routes meander through picturesque greenways, while the remainder traverses tranquil rural paths and roads characterized by minimal traffic congestion.

This region has a wide variety of landscapes, cultural heritage and gastronomic traditions.

• 41.979242.821281 Consortium of the Greenways of Girona, Ronda Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 28A, 1r, Girona, ☏ +34 972 48 69 50, info@viesverdes.org.  (updated Sep 2023)

Gravel bikes are the most suitable choice. Mountain bikes are also suitable, while road or cruiser bikes are not recommended.

Even during the summer months, have warm clothing on hand for the downhill segments. Waterproof attire can be a wise addition to your gear. When navigating stretches that intersect with main roads, wearing a high-visibility vest is recommended to enhance visibility. Equip yourself with front and rear lights, as unexpected incidents may disrupt your planned itinerary.

It's recommended to use a GPS or similar device. You can get further information and last-minute updates from the official https://www.viesverdes.cat/en/ Vies Verdes Girona website] and there are bike shops in Girona where you can rent bikes and buy supplies.

There are some official charging points for e-bikes. However, from Molló until Castelló d'Empúries there were no official charging points as of summer 2023, so you may have to ask for access to a power socket.

As it's a circular route you can start at any point. However, it's recommended to start in Girona. There are many ways to get to the city. See Girona for further details.

The closest airports are:

• 41.9008332.7605561 Girona Airport (GRO ^IATA), ☏ +34 972 473 681, +34 972 186 675.  

• 42.7405562.8705562 Perpignan–Rivesaltes Airport (PGF ^IATA).   ^{[dead link]}

Barcelona Airport also has many more connections. From Barcelona Airport, take the train to Sants station and then continue to Girona.

The most suitable railway connections to the route are:

• Girona (Spain) – High-speed trains from Barcelona or France, and regional trains from Barcelona.
• Figueres (Spain) – High-speed trains from Barcelona or France, and regional trains from Barcelona. There is a connecting cycle route to Pirinexus.

RENFE Spanish high-speed trains (AVE) do not accept bicycles unless they are packed in a box that you must load onto the train yourself. Regional trains and Rodalies Girona usually have places for bikes.

Girona - Olot

 70 km 550 m

Starting from 41.9833332.8166671 Girona, this segment climbs gently along the old railway route Ruta del Carrilet d'Olot, passing 42.0092182.6030152 Amer and continuing to 42.1212992.4905963 Coll d'en Bas. From there, it descends through Sant Esteve d'en Bas to 42.1821932.4890174 Olot. The route is mainly unpaved.

Olot - Molló

 46 km 1090 m

From Olot, this is a challenging segment. The route climbs 42.2110062.3322565 Coll de Santigosa on a low-traffic road before descending to 42.2361112.2866676 Sant Joan de les Abadesses. It then climbs again, passing 42.3118032.3648047 Camprodon, before reaching 42.3494442.4061118 Molló, at around 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above sea level. In 2025, work was underway to build a cycle path between Sant Joan de les Abadesses and Camprodon, with some sections already open. Apart from these cycle-path sections, the route follows open roads.

Molló - Céret

 55 km 371 m

From Molló, the route makes its final climb across the Pyrenees, reaching 42.3672222.4566679 Coll d'Ares , where it crosses into France. From there, it descends through 42.4038892.4810 Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste and 42.4569442.63388911 Arles-sur-Tech before reaching 42.4880562.75138912 Céret. This section follows open roads. The road is quite wide on the climb from Molló to Coll d'Ares, but becomes considerably narrower on the French side during the descent towards Céret.

Céret - Peralada

 52 km 500 m

From Céret, head towards 42.45442.857613 Coll de Panissars (361 m) to cross the Pyrenees back into Spain. The descent from Coll de Panissars is quite technical. From here, the route begins following EuroVelo 8, which coincides with Pirinexus until Sant Feliu de Guíxols. This section is mainly on unpaved paths.

At Coll de Panissars, it is possible to make a detour to 42.4586112.8591672 Fort de Bellegarde . The detour is about 1 km (0.62 mi), but requires an additional climb of around 100 m (330 ft). The route then continues towards 42.3085053.00899214 Peralada.

For those who want to avoid the technical descent from Coll de Panissars, take the road towards Fort de Bellegarde and descend to 42.4641672.86277815 Le Perthus . From there, follow the D-900 towards Spain, which becomes the N-2 after crossing the border. Expect very heavy traffic on this road. Rejoin the Pirinexus route near the 42.4197222.87527816 La Jonquera helipad.

Peralada - Palamós

 76 km 180 m

From Peralada, the route heads towards the Mediterranean coast. It passes 42.2582223.07466917 Castelló d'Empúries, 42.1899843.08374818 Sant Pere Pescador and the Greek and Roman ruins of 42.1347223.1205563 Empúries , before continuing through 42.1135763.13496619 L'Escala and 42.0438893.12861120 Torroella de Montgrí.

41.9777993.09009421 Peratallada is a small medieval village worth visiting, about 5 km (3.1 mi) off the main route. The final part of the segment follows the Via Verda del Tren Petit to 41.8458333.12888922 Palamós. This is a nearly flat, mostly unpaved section.

Palamós - Girona

 53 km 250 m

From Palamós, the section towards 41.7805563.03055623 Sant Feliu de Guíxols can have heavy traffic during summer. The route also passes 41.8176393.06827524 Platja d'Aro before reaching Sant Feliu de Guíxols.

From there, it follows the Ruta del Carrilet back towards Girona. The route is unpaved.

The route includes mountain roads, unpaved tracks and some sections with heavy traffic. Weather can change quickly in the Pyrenees, and summer heat can be intense near the coast. Carry water, lights and suitable clothing, and take extra care on steep descents and during periods of high forest-fire risk.

Continue along EuroVelo 8, or explore more of Catalonia and Pyrénées-Orientales.