Tomba del General. Cap de Creus
Vall i Cala Montjoi
Plans de Can Caussa. Serra de Rodes i Verdera
Itinerari megalitic i paisatge. Roses
Suros i brolla florida
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Megalithic and Landscape III Itinerary

Route
23/12/2015
Index card

Introduction

Surrounding the Vall de Montjoi.

This round trip through the Vall de Montjoi invites us to discover the wild and lonely landscape of these lands and their cultural heritage.  Below the small plain of the valley to its head, on the ridge of the Puig Alt, we cross a terraced landscape, formerly cultivated and now blurred by the bushes and dotted with beautiful cork oaks. Above the ridge, in addition to enjoying the views, we will discover evidence of the megalithic age.

 

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  • Typology
    Time Circular
  • Difficulty
    Median
  • Duration
    3 hours 40 minutes
  • Slope
    605.00 meters
  • Distance
    10.60 km
  • Theme
    Flora and fauna
    Environment
    Landscaping
  • Activity
    By foot
  • Rating

Slope graph

Description

Going around the Vall de Montjoi.

The route begins in the Vall de Montjoi, a place populated since ancient times, which is particularly interesting in terms of its heritage and landscape. Next, we climb the d'en Fragam pass by the old """"de la Costa"""" path. From this point we take a path that leads to the Pla de les Gates within the valley, a route that allows us to enjoy an area full of the banks and small terraces of old vineyards, now abandoned and covered with an extensive scrubland of rock roses and mastic trees with the occasional cork oak and pine; a rarely seen view of this well-known valley.

In the upper part, pasture meadows line the ridge, where a track built during the 20th century takes us to the shady slope of the mountain range, opening up new vistas to the north and at the same time creates a passage through the hills where we find interesting elements from the Neolithic period of Roses. Various remains can be seen here: from the oldest megalithic tombs of the area to a Bronze Age cremation necropolis next to a medieval rural church, as well as evidence of the area being heavily populated in the past. It should be borne in mind that interpreting the remains requires a considerable imaginative effort. The Tomb of the General is the most rewarding example to visit and, although not all original, it is the most well conserved cist in the of Montjoi necropolis.

This highest part of the area is where old watchtowers can be found and from where there are unbeatable panoramic views over the bay of Roses, the bay of Port de la Selva and the Cap Norfeu.

From here it only remains for us to descend between the Jóncols and the Montjoi valleys, still heading towards Cap de Norfeu, and allow ourselves to be seduced by this hard terrain, punished by wind, fire and the activities of man, which have all added to give it a personality all of its own.

Tips

ROUTE

  • If you do the walk with your phone off-line, you will save battery power.
  • There are explanatory signposts and QR codes at points with megalithic remains. You will have to activate data at these points.
  • At the beginning and above the Pla de les Gates there are panels that explain the route.
  • Long road with a continuous climb up Fragam hill and up to the Pla de les Gates Pass to the Puig Alt crest.
  • The road is marked with beacons and R3 signs.
  • At the Seniqueda farmstead, make sure you follow the track carefully, as the path is not obvious.
  • There is no shade or sources of drinking water.
  • It is a beautiful route, with spectacular views of a very characterful landscape. The megalithic elements are an additional attraction but, if you take the walk just for this reason, you may be a little disappointed.

WATER

  • There are no water sources.

PRECAUTIONS

  • Carry a spare battery. If don’t have one be careful and save power as much as possible. Just use a phone to navigate.
  • You should be used to walking.
  • Do not do the walk on hot summer days.
  • Take care in the ruins of the Mas de Montjoi de Baix.
  • Bring food and schedule a long rest stop around the Puig Alt.
  • Depending on the day, take something to protect you from the wind (a windproof coat/jacket), and from the sun (cap, cream and sunglasses).

WEATHER

  • Avoid hot days. There is no shade.
  • Avoid foggy days when visibility is poor.
  • Avoid windy days. The Tramuntana can blow very strongly.
  • Ensure that the weather forecast is good for the whole day.

TERRAIN

  • In general the footpaths and tracks are easy.
  • Take care on Puig Alt and when coming down from Mas de Seniqueda.

EQUIPMENT

  • Comfortable and sturdy footwear.
  • Camera and binoculars.
  • Guides to plants and birds, if you are a naturalist.
  • A map of the area will help to discover your location better.

Save the route

What is there

What to see in: Megalithic and Landscape III Itinerary

Es mostren 1 - 16 de 16

Mas de Montjoi de Baix

Point of interest
Architecture
23/12/2015

(10th - 15th century / 16th - 17th century - Medieval and Early Modern Period)

The Montjoi valley has been populated since ancient times. First it was the Romans who settled here, probably in a villa...

Cork oak grove

Point of interest
Flora
23/12/2015

We have crossed the Montjoi irrigation canal. If we look back below Montjoi de Dalt, we will see a uniform cover of trees; these are European nettle trees. One or two were planted next to the farms to...

Roques negres i blanques

Point of interest
Geology
23/12/2015

Som a una zona on dominen les roques de colors foscos i rovells, són materials silicis principalment pissarres i esquistos. Puntualment però, veiem afloraments i betes de roques clares, molt més...

Road to the Coast

Point of interest
Environment
23/12/2015

Although we have long been climbing the beautiful Costa path, it is at this point where cart tracks are evident. Notice where the ground on which the path runs is natural rock, you can see where the...

Cist of the Pla de les Gates

Point of interest
Environment
23/12/2015

(4700-3400 BCE - Middle Neolithic)

Neolithic tomb from the initial stage of the megalithic period in the Empordà region. Originally it was made up of a short rectangular chamber, oriented along a...

Tomb of the General

Point of interest
Environment
23/12/2015

(4700-3400 BCE - Middle Neolithic)

The megalithic, cist-type tomb with a mound, formed by a long rectangular chamber, partially excavated from the rock and bounded by several flat slabs of slate...

Scrub and warblers

Point of interest
Flora
23/12/2015

The vegetative landscape that you see is the consequence of factors such as the Mediterranean climate of mild winters and long and dry summers; the stony soil; the strong winds of the Tramuntana, dry...

Heather and views

Point of interest
Landscapes
23/12/2015

Climbing along the Costa path, we must mention the heather. Notice here the large patch of this shrub that extends down in the shade opposite the abandoned farms of Can Causà to the left (Can Causà...

The Puig Alt Cist

Point of interest
Environment
23/12/2015

(4700-3400 BCE - Middle Neolithic)

The Puig Alt Cist is a prehistoric tomb which comprises a funeral chamber located in the centre of a mound. It is currently in a very poor state and only part of the...

Puig Alt (492 m)

Point of interest
Landscapes
23/12/2015

At the top of Puig Alt are the remains of a small rectangular building, which, due to the excellent views the location offers and the architectural similarities with a building near Puig Marès, is...

Pas del Llop

Point of interest
Environment
23/12/2015

The point where the ancient goods routes crossed, which ran between Roses and Cadaqués and connected with the Cap Norfeu peninsula. The current tracks have changed the lines of paths but the Pas del...

Necropolis of Puig Alt

Point of interest
Environment
23/12/2015

(850-650 BCE - Late Bronze)

Cemetery of burial mounds from the late Bronze Age era which is divided into two burial centres, one of 36 tombs and the other with five. These were marked with a circle of...

Sant Basili de Pení

Point of interest
Architecture
23/12/2015

(7th-9th century - Visigothic /High-Medieval period)

Rural church, probably linked to a monastery at the end of the Visigothic era. Identified with Saint Basil by a document from 1408 of the King...

Walls and terraces

Point of interest
Environment
23/12/2015

From now on, on both sides of the ridge, begins a heavily banked landscape that we can’t see from here as they descend downwards (you can see it at home in an aerial photo on Google Earth).

There are...

Mas d'en Seniqueda

Point of interest
Architecture
23/12/2015

Ruined farmhouse located on a raised plain north of the bay of Montjoi. It was an austere construction with walls made of unevenly sized stones bound together with earth and with the corners...

Views from Torre Morisca

Point of interest
Architecture
23/12/2015

Just in front. Steep narrow path to the top.

(13th - 15th century / 1940 - Late medieval / Francoism)

The top of Puig de la Morisca is a natural viewing point. The great view that it provides, from...

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Très belle balade, par contre ça grimpe! Parfois on nous fait faire un détour dans des chemins peu praticables alors qu’il y a parfois plus direct. Mais sinon ça vaut le détour pour les belles vues.
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What to see in: Megalithic and Landscape III Itinerary

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