Cycling in the Pyrenees

One of the best ways to see the countryside of the Pyrenees is on the back of a bicycle. In photos: a journey through Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

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Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park

All too often the road seems more like a highway. As I travel across countries, trying to see as much as possible, sometimes it’s the detail that gets lost.

On trains, you see the landscapes blur past…

On buses, it’s always the quickest way between cities – not necessarily the most scenic…

And planes… well, I don’t think I need to describe how little you see on them.

Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Spain

So it was a nice change to spend a morning exploring the countryside of northern Spain on the back of an electric bicycle. Along the quiet laneways, past the fields and through the small little villages that spot the area.

The Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park has an ominous name but it’s as calm as anywhere could be. The gentle hum of the bike’s electric motor and the whishing of the turning wheels capture perfectly the Pyrenees region of Catalonia.

It’s quiet and peaceful but not in a way that should be mistaken for inactivity. There’s always something happening.

I loved the scenes along these roads, little moments of country life captured in frames. I thought I would share some of them with you, to try to give you a sense of the region. Here are my favourite photographs:

Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Spain
Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Spain
Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Spain
Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Spain
Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Spain
Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Spain
Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park, Spain

Time Travel Turtle was a guest of the Costa Brava Pirineu de Girona tourism board but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.

22 thoughts on “Cycling in the Pyrenees”

  1. Beautiful photos! I e-biked around some of the medieval villages of Costa Brava and it was a great experience. I’m sure cycling in the Pyrenees was even more beautiful.

    Reply
  2. Terrific setting, terrific photos.

    Read lots about using electric bicycles here in Taiwan, so looking ahead at the next two weeks, that might not be half a bad idea.

    Cheers Michael.

    Reply
  3. Yoho, Mister T! Very atmosperic and scenic shots – we too biked the Pyrenees in Catalonia (of course we did NOT e-bike, as we are REALLY sporty. …Okay, so it was basically downhill all the time, but!), and your shots look somehow familiar and yet different. … I can’t believe you e-biked. I’ve never e-biked. I don’t think having the option of giving less than everything is very becoming for me. Too tempting. And considering the exquisite Catalonian cuisine and my tendency to overeat, they’d soon needed a, uhm, special e-bike for me. True story. But you’re not as feeble-minded and therefore still sexy:).

    Reply
    • Once you try the e-bike, my dear, you will never go back! Who needs that kind of challenge in the Spanish countryside? It was hard enough trying to eat everything I was offered – let alone then having to get on a bike and pedal for myself!

      Reply
  4. Hello! Do you think it’s ok to go from Figueres to Garrotxa by bike? (not e-bike?)
    I’m traveling on my own by bike and Ive got 25kg of luggage on me :/ What do you say?
    I appreciate the advice 😉

    Reply
    • Yes, I think that would be fine by bike. The paths are very good and there’s not much traffic most of the way. I’m not sure is that exact route has many hills but you’ll definitely be going uphill at the end for some of it. That’s potentially the only issue you’ll have. It’s such a beautiful area, though, it’s worth it!! 🙂

      Reply

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