ROMANYÀ DE LA SELVA
The Donkeys of Les Gavarres live in forest enclosures in the ancient parish of Romanyà de la Selva, today a hamlet in the municipality of Santa Cristina d’Aro. The area is well known for its vestiges of prehistoric life, the use of forest resources and the Church of Sant Martí, as well as its close relationship with the great Catalan writer Mercè Rodoreda. Romanyà can be reached by road from Calonge, Llagostera or Santa Cristina d’Aro.
All of our treks take place in this area. The meeting point for excursions is at Can Llach Mountain Pass, about three kilometres from the hamlet, just beyond the Can Llach farmhouse. Heading out of Romanyà de la Selva, take the asphalted path in the direction of Puig d’Arques until you come to the Can Llach mountain pass, where you can park your car.
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LES GAVARRES
The Les Gavarres Massif is located between the counties of Gironès and Baix Empordà, very close to the Costa Brava. It’s a natural protected area, with a typically Mediterranean climate and landscape in which cork oak and holm oak groves are prevalent. The highest peaks in this area stand over 500 metres above sea level.
The presence of vestiges of prehistoric life indicates that the Les Gavarres Massif has always been inhabited by humans. This landscape has been transformed over the course of several centuries, until well into the 20th century in fact, thanks to the use of forest resources. The progressive abandonment of the massif in the 20th century meant that many manmade infrastructures fell into disuse. The network of paths and trails offers a wide variety of signposted routes, along with other much more solitary ones.