Our territory
El Cinquè Llac runs through the mountains of the Lleida Pre-Pyrenees , in Catalonia. The route passes through idyllic settings in the comarques (local districts) of El Pallars Jussà, El Pallars Sobirà and L’Alta Ribagorça.
The beginning and end of the route are located in the small town of La Pobla de Segur
, which is where the train journey from Lleida ends. The nearest major cities are Barcelona (200 km) and Toulouse (250 km). Consult the different options for travelling to La Pobla de Segur.
Our territory is a little-known area of the world, located where the foothills of the Pre-Pyrenees meet the high mountains of the Pyrenees. Here, visitors will be able to walk through valleys of glacial origin and find landscapes that stand at almost 3,000 metres above sea level. At the same time, they can enjoy lonely, wild, untamed settings that are typical of the Pre-Pyrenees.
THE MOST CAPTIVATING FEATURES OF OUR TERRITORY
TheEstany de Montcortés
Mysterious and poetic. It is the scene of beautiful legends, but originated from
subsidence. This pool, which nestles on the high plateau of El Pla de Corts, is a true scenic delight, offering a mosaic of fields, small patches of forest, and lots of history.
The Vall Fosca and Vall de Manyanet (Dark and Manyanet valleys)
100% Pyrenean environments and the gateway to the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. They offer extraordinary views of peaks such as El Monteixo, El Montsent de Pallars and even Aneto: the roof of the Pyrenees.
A paradise for fauna
Looking up at the sky, it is possible to spot large birds of prey such as the Eurasian griffon vulture, the bearded vulture, the red kite and the golden eagle. Looking at the ground, it is possible to see signs of mammals, such as roe deer, red deer, martens, foxes and wild cats.
A journey of 500 million years
We are part of the Geoparc Orígens (Origins Geopark), where the stones explain over 500 million years of the Earth’s history. The landscape shows us how the Pyrenees were formed and the strength of huge cliffs such as those of the Geganta Adormida
(Sleeping Giantess).
Very human mountains
As you walk along the route, you will notice that you are crossing a territory that has been inhabited from prehistoric times through until the present day. You will discover dolmens, hermitages, churches, enclosed villages, monasteries and Romanesque bridges, as well as mountain shelters and farmhouses.
Paths leading up and down
The old paths are another part of the tremendous heritage of these mountains. They are often very rough, having originally been designed for mules and horses, and still have some cobbled stretches. There are also old shelters, which were once used by flocks seeking pastures.
A reliquary of legends
Visitors will find few territories so full of legends and with so many mysterious connotations. There are places that evoke witches’ covens and where visitors can search for haunted houses or cross bridges said to have been built by the devil himself.
Good gastronomy
Good food is one of the strong points of our territory. Its highlights include xolís and secallona (types of cured sausage), cheeses as original as el tupí and el brossat, and the wines of the D.O. Costers del Segre. There are also other products like la girella (cured lamb sausage), el palpís (a meat dish), river trout, quince aioli, organic meat from Pyrenean brown cows and xisqueta sheep, mostillo (grape syrup) and ametlles garrapinyades (sugared toasted almonds).