The Mirador Joan de Palau is located at an altitude of 261 meters. Its privileged location, with a N-S-E-W field of vision, offers a panoramic view of the Lake and the mountains of the Pre-Pyrenees and Pyrenees, such as Sant Patllari, Puig Clarà, the Mare de Déu del Mont and the Canigó Massif and others.

The viewpoint is named after Joan de Palau Buxó (Flaçà 1919 – Banyoles 1991), a renowned landscape painter from the city of Banyoles where he moved to live in 1939 and who stood out for his unique vision of the Lake and its surroundings, the Plaça Major and the towns of the Pla de l’Estany region, with numerous works in pencil and oil drawings, watercolors and gouache, among other techniques.

Throughout his life, Joan de Palau was very active in social activity in Banyola and six years after his death, the Municipal Assembly on April 28, 1997 agreed to give his name to the viewpoint, a place from which you can see the pond that he painted so many times and about which he himself said:

“... in Banyoles and the lake the light is diffuse, without much chiaroscuro. In the lake the light is tender, like slightly cloudy glass, especially in autumn and winter, with faint low mists. Then the lake is filled with a touch of mystery that invites intimacy. That's when I find myself again...”

You can find more information about the painter on the website taller Joan de Palau

The viewpoint is located at the top of Puig d’en Colomer, also called Puig de Guèmol, in the urban part of the city. Its name comes from the family of merchants and manufacturers from Banyol, the Colomers, who owned this place from the 19th century. And also from the neighborhood where it is located, the Barri de Guèmol. And in the past, until the 19th century, it was named Puig d’en Bassedes, the previous owner of the land.

Location