Doing the circuit of the Lake is a daily activity for many people
Every town has a place where people gather to stroll and socialise, but the people of Banyoles don’t go in for half measures: our basic walk is a circular, flat, figure-of-eight-shaped itinerary that takes you round Catalonia’s largest continental water body. In terms of health, socialisation, and aesthetic and natural enjoyment, it has a head start on the rest of the world. In the course of the slightly less than 7 kilometres, which you can do by walking, running or cycling, there are countless opportunities for mingling, observing the scenery, fauna and flora, or simply gazing mesmerised at the changes of colour in the Lake. For those who want more, the itinerary can be lengthened with pauses at the pools, springs, vantage points or the Romanesque church of Porqueres, among others.
Who can resist taking a dip?
Such a large body of water awakens an irresistible desire to plunge head first into it. But take note! Bathing is restricted to three spots, all on the east bank of the Lake: the Caseta de Fusta, open to the public free of charge and with a lifeguard onsite; the Old Baths, a bar and terrace that also offers the possibility of bathing; and the Club Natació Banyoles, which sells tickets that allow entrance to non-members. If what you want to do is swim across the Lake, you can take part in the Cross-Lake Race (Travessia de l’Estany), held every September when hundreds of swimmers cross the full length of the Lake, 2,115 m. With such illustrious winners as Mireia Belmonte, this competition celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2018, with 2,700 entrants.