Holiday visit - Boadella i les Escaules dam and lake

The area north of the city of Figueres is sadly often overlooked by some holiday makers who are making their way south to the delights of Catalonia and Spain, or those heading north to explore the Langdoc region of France. They don't know what they are missing.


Pictured above is the Hydroelectric dam at Boadella i les Escaules here the dam governs the waters of the River Murga as it flows through the Alt Empordà towards the Costa Brava coast and the blue waters of the Mediterranean sea.


Behind the dam is a fresh water lake providing water sports opportunities and swimming. If you have never swam in fresh water you will find this a very pleasant experience. Please remember you may be drinking this water later in your holiday!


The shores of the  River Murga are covered with sweet smelling Fir pine trees and the spectacular Cork Oak trees. If you explore a little on foot you will see evidence of the stripping of cork from those trees, to supply the wine trade with traditional cork bottle stoppers. It is unsurpassed as a material.

The stripping of the cork bark is a summer occupation, in the winter the trees are exploited for charcoal production. The pine tree's resin is used in the paint and varnish manufacturing sector.


Walking in the foothills of the Pyrenean mountains above the dam it is on rare occasions to spot the rare Pyrenean bear. If you meet the bear you may need those cooling waters below.

Lake Banyoles - holiday activity

The lacustrine coast of Lake Banyoles separates the Empordà plain from the Transversal mountain range, in the Garrotxa region of Catalonia.

Banyoles lake, has a surface area of 107 hectares and is shaped like the outline of a figure eight; the lake is one of the largest on the Iberian peninsula. Rainwater filtered through the volcanic rocks of the Garrotxa national park forms much of the lake. In one area seawater also feeds the lake having passed underground fro the Bay of Roses.

At the time of the Barcelona Olympic games the lake was the venue for rowing events. University and sporting clubs can be seen practicing their rowing techniques for future events.

The cool air surrounding the lake is welcome relief in the heat of summer, and makes walking by the shore a relaxing and pleasurable pastime.