The best MTB trails around Les Valls De Valira

Small mountain village with quiet streets, stone houses and wide views over the Cadí. It maintains the charm of the old towns of the Pyrenees, with the sound of bells and the smell of firewood in winter. Perfect spot to take a break or load up on water before heading up to the high-altitude slopes. By mountain bike, the access from Arsèguel or Toloriu combines sections of fast track with some short but intense downhill sections. Tip: save some energy, because the exits from the village always go uphill and the views deserve to arrive with air to look at them without rushing.

A small Romanesque gem located on a hill with open views over the Segre valley. The surroundings are quiet and peaceful, surrounded by meadows and forests that change color with the seasons. The hermitage preserves the simplicity of the mountain and invites you to take a brief contemplative break. By mountain bike, you can reach it by track with some rocky but cycleable sections; ideal for resting, eating something and enjoying the silence before continuing the route. Tip: bring a camera, the afternoon light makes the stone shine as if it were old gold.

A jewel of Catalan Romanesque architecture and one of the most impressive in the Pyrenees. Its austere façade, stone cloister and the silence of the interior convey history and serenity in equal parts. Located in the heart of La Seu, surrounded by lively streets, terraces and shops. By mountain bike, it is a perfect cultural stop before or after a route through the Cadí or Segre: there are bike parking spaces nearby and fountains to fill your tank. Tip: avoid peak hours and get there early or at dusk, when the light caresses the stone and the atmosphere is pure charm.

A good bike ride

The Conflent Pass is an extraordinary natural viewpoint from which we can enjoy wonderful views. From the pass, if we follow the trail down towards the Santa Magdalena Valley (E), we would reach the Conflent huts, a place steeped in legends of smugglers and fugitives. Curiously, these huts are unique in that they are one of the few groups of Pyrenean huts that have a chapel. Also, near the Conflent Pass, we can visit two machine-gun nests. They are two of the many bunkers built by the Franco government at the end of the Spanish Civil War to combat the incursions of the Maquis. These bunkers are part of the so-called "Pyrenees Line," a group of nearly 10,000 fortifications and bunkers spread from Cap de Creus to the Basque Country.

Long descent from the Collada de Conflent with spectacular views.

Tor is one of the highest villages in the Pyrenees, right on the border with Andorra. It is a small town in the Catalan Pyrenees administratively belonging to the municipality of Alins, in the Pallars Sobirá region. This village borders Andorra. The village is at an altitude of 1,649 meters and is surrounded by two ravines. On the peak north of the village, known as Roc de Sant Pere, are the ruins of a medieval castle, Força de Tor, and nearby are the remains of a Romanesque church. The village is not very well connected. On the Spanish side, there is a paved road that leads to a small bridge, after which there is a private dirt road that runs for a distance of one and a half kilometers to reach the village. To the east, another dirt road leads to Andorra, which forks before reaching the Principality. In winter, these roads become covered with snow, making vehicle traffic difficult. Due to its strategic position on the passes to Andorra through the Pyrenees, ownership of Tor Mountain has been a source of conflict, initially over timber exploitation and later over real estate interests, in addition to the smuggling routes that passed through to Andorra. These conflicts are part of Tor's dark history and one of its most tragic events.

Near Collado de So is the Mirador de So, from where we have magnificent views of the Aigüestortes mountains and the Alt Pirineu Park.