Our group was fortunate to spend a half-day e-biking through medieval villages we might otherwise not have considered in Catalunya’s Baix Empordà.
E-biking through medieval villages gives you an unanticipated perspective. You can go fast enough – with an electric boost for inclines and lengthy distances – to visit several villages in a short period of time. You can go slow enough to wind your way through narrow street corridors, taking note of special details. In the Baix Empordà region of Catalunya, you’ll be gratified by sweeping vistas across a landscape that is reminiscent of rural Tuscany or other more well-known Mediterranean locations, but far less crowded.
Timeless Mediterranean landscape of the Baix Empordà’s coastal plain
A full one-third of the entire Baix Empordà is protected under a Natural Interest Areas Plan. What this means to the cyclist or e-biker is a great opportunity to design a route that takes advantage of rural scenery, and the castles, Romanesque churches, archeological sites, monasteries and other medieval monuments scattered throughout its coastal plain.
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- Roman Bridge over the River Daró at Gualta
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- Ancient wagon wheel ruts on Roman bridge at Gualta
An ancient gate at the Ullastret Roman Wall
The Baix Empordà’s signposted cycle touring network indicates suitable low-traffic routes which cyclists can share with regular traffic. Our group was guided through a 20+ kilometer route consisting of a series of dirt pathways, rocky roads dating from medieval times and modern blacktop. This made for an up close and personal half day of e-biking through medieval villages we might not have otherwise considered.
Two roads converge in Palau where my yellow-shirted guide graciously awaits a laggard
Our electric bikes were dubbed “burricletas” – a combination of the words for “burro” and “bicycle.” They were equipped with deep saddlebag-like baskets big enough for all kinds of essentials: water bottles, sweater or jacket, purse or small backpack, camera, phone, etc. Usually when I’m biking, I don’t carry a lot of stuff along because I’m going under my own power, so this was great!
Our group of fearless e-biking bloggers, grateful for a cloudy day when exertion is planned
We chose our bike helmets from an attractive selection, and after a quick lesson in how to operate our burricletas, we were off.
Attired in our attractive bike helmets – Betsy with Patti of luggageandlipstick.com
I was proud that I managed to avoid a couple of minor mishaps that occurred in our group. The only time I wound up sitting on the ground was when I wanted to pose for this photo!
“Poppies! Poppies!”
Many tourists of history to this region only visit the Gothic Quarter of Pals, which was one of the first to be restored after being declared an official Cultural Asset of National Importance in 1949. The village of Pals boasts a cultural museum, medieval tombs, a 9th century castle with Romanesque tower, the imposing Churches of Sant Pere and Sant Fructuós, and sweeping views of the coastal plain. Pals is a rightful standalone destination. Add great shopping and you might want to make more than a day of it.
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- Shopping in medieval Pals
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- Arched pathway in Pals
Compared with the smaller villages we visited, though, Pals was a little too “Disney-fied” for me personally. I better enjoyed the smaller villages, where my voyeuristic tendencies confirmed that daily life goes on at an unhurried pace.
Taking a break in Palau next to its beehive oven
Three different architectural eras in one edifice – you can tell by the size and uniformity of the stones
After our day of e-biking through medieval villages, I was convinced I could poke around the Baix Empordà’s inland communities for weeks on end, take thousands of photos in any season, dine and drink in innumerable establishments located in refurbished vintage buildings, and still see something new all the time.
A medieval corridor in Palau
Pinnable Image:
Burricleta Centre Baix Empordà in Gualta, tel. 972 75 50 82, also offers Segway tours for adults and children, a laser combat range and motorized mini-quad(for children) rentals. Advance reservations required and professional historian guides available.
Disclosure: Members of our group were the guests of Burricleta Centre Baix Empordà and Costa Brava TurismeTurisme for this experience. All opinions are our own.
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I really enjoyed that bike trip! Thank goodness for the electric motors though because some of those roads were quite hilly. The whole area was hillier than I expected. Considering I am naturally lazy, I was surprised when I found out that the burricleta was one of the best parts of that Costa Brava trip. I’d definitely do it again.
Hi Shobha – I’d do it again, too, in a minute. My triceps were hurtin’ from hanging on for dear life on the rocky roads, but getting a close look in this fascinating area was so enjoyable. The perfect activity.
This sounds like such a fun way to get around to small villages. I would love to visit some of these places via e-bike on my next visit!
Hi Kristin – I know you’d love it! On our next visit we’d love to organize more than a day trip if at all possible. Just the right amount of exercise (and the electric motor helps when you need it!)
Looks like total, absolute FUN. Great pics and something I’d never hear of – the e-biking! Now THAT I could do!!
Hi Becky – I am a total convert! If ever we settle down, I’d love an e-bike! So ingenious.
This really makes me wish I had been on that trip! Lovely photos that make me want to go there. Thanks Betsy!
Hi Donna – You would have loved this way of getting personal with these villages. 🙂
I’d like to give e-biking a try, and Baix Emporda looks like the perfect place to do it! Mostly though, I’d want to wear one of those hats. 🙂
Hi Anita – Great way to disguise a clunky bike helmet, isn’t it? You’d have loved this activity. 🙂
This is such a brilliant idea and how cool are those bike helmets, I’ve never seen anything like them! The medieval villages look absolutely stunning
Hi Suze – All in all, this is a great way to see history up close and get some not-too-strenuous exercise in. 🙂
Wow your pictures look amazing! E-biking is such a great idea too. I’m surprised I’ve never heard of it until now! <3
Hi Bettina – They’re very easy to learn and get used to as well. Thanks. 🙂
Never been e-biking before- sounds weird. Great pictures- I’m very jelly x
I’m not much of a cyclist, but I do remember when we were staying in the medieval hill towns of tuscany, we’d see loads of cyclists coming in through the day, just passing through, and we looked at them rather enviously!
Hi Revati – We’ve seen tons of cyclists, particularly on hilly Mallorca, who were exerting themselves far more than we would ever attempt. This is a nice compromise. 🙂
Sounds like a fun trip. I want to go on a burricletas and cruise through the streets. Also great photos!
Keep up the great work!
Lovely pictures! The burricleta sounds like an awesome way to discover the medieval villages! I really need to learn how to ride a bike! I miss out on so many good tours because of it!
Hi Sarah – It really is the greatest! Hope you get to try!
Cycling has got to be the best way to get around, I’ve done it a lot in Asia but this looks a lot more relaxing (and not so hot).
Hi Jon – It was a cloudy day, so that really helped. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the direct sun. Instead, it was quite comfortable.
Now that’s my kind of bicycling. I’d want all the help I could get. Beautiful scenery.
Hi Connie – The e-bike sure made things far more enjoyable for me than they would have been under solely my own steam. 🙂
I still enjoy cycling, it really keeps me clam & fit too. You blog is very interesting & informative. Cheers
Hi Jessica – Thanks for your comment!