La Vall d’en Bas is in the Catalan comarca of Garrotxa and consists of several villages, each offering a different starting point for your stay. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can focus on Joanetes, Sant Esteve d’en Bas, Els Hostalets d’en Bas or El Mallol, rather than treating the entire valley as a single place. The municipality lists accommodation in these hamlets. If you’re planning to stroll through historic village centres, you’ll want a different location than if you’re heading out early for a mountain hike to Puigsacalm.
Historic villages in the valley
Els Hostalets d’en Bas grew up around an inn on the old road from Olot to Vic. The village developed from the 18th century onwards; along Carrer Teixeda, restored houses stand in a row, with former forecourts and long wooden balconies. In spring and summer, geraniums on the balconies shape the streetscape. The municipality describes Els Hostalets as a protected historic-artistic site. If you enjoy walking through a well-preserved village centre, this is a good reason to choose this part of the valley.
El Mallol offers a different historical focus. The village name is documented from 1176; the municipality points to a connection with young vines, cultivation of which has now largely disappeared from the area. At the foot of the hill, a plaque commemorates Francesc de Verntallat, the leader of the Remença peasant uprising. Els Hostalets also has a monument to him, unveiled in 1999. This lets you connect two villages in the municipality through a shared historical figure without confusing them with la Vall del Bac, farther to the north.
Trails between villages and up to the heights
The municipality presents twelve hiking trails, many of which can also be cycled. For an easier day out, it suggests, for example, the trail between Sant Esteve d’en Bas and la Pinya, as well as the route from Els Hostalets to Sant Privat d’en Bas. If you’re planning a more challenging mountain hike, the same municipal trail collection includes Puigsacalm, Salt del Sallent and Cabrera. Your choice of accommodation may therefore depend on where you plan to start: a walk between villages calls for different planning than a climb into the mountains.
A trail leads from Els Hostalets to the small church of Sant Miquel de Falgars, also known as Castelló. The municipality describes the view over the valley from there; there is also a direct approach from lower-lying Joanetes. Another option is Sant Pere de Falgars, on a plateau at an altitude of 954 metres. There you’ll find a church with Romanesque features from the 11th and 12th centuries and a former school building converted into a mountain refuge. From Sant Pere, a footpath takes about 45 minutes along the Falgars cliffs to Sant Miquel. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
Choose accommodation to suit your travel plans
The municipal accommodation directory lists hotels, apartments and rural houses in various hamlets: for example, a hotel in Joanetes, apartments near Sant Esteve and other houses in Els Hostalets, Puigpardines and El Mallol. The listings show a range of locations and accommodation types, but do not confirm availability for any particular dates. If you’re planning to visit the villages, first choose the hamlet you’d like to stay in; for a mountain hike, the specific trailhead and the journey to your accommodation are the key considerations. You can then check prices and availability for your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Sant Privat D'en Bas, Pardines, Fontanilles, Pont De Molins, Cervià De Ter, Fontcoberta, Santa Llogaia del Terri, Portbou.
Return to the main travel overview: Girona.
