About
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici is Catalonia's only national park, a high-mountain landscape in the Pyrenees where granite peaks rise above alpine meadows and more than 200 lakes sit scattered across the terrain. Its name, which translates roughly as "winding waters," gives a sense of the place: streams meander between rock and grass, and water seems to collect in nearly every hollow.
What a visit is like
The park is best suited to walkers and hikers. Its well-marked trails lead through high-altitude scenery, and the route you choose will shape the day. Some paths take you along the shores of the lakes, others climb toward the peaks and open out over the surrounding valleys. Because the landscape changes quickly with altitude, a walk here can move from meadow to bare granite within a short distance.
Things to consider before you go
- Come on foot: the park is designed for hiking, and the trails are the main way to experience it.
- Plan the route: trails vary in length and difficulty, so choose one that suits your fitness and the time you have.
- Dress for altitude: conditions in the high mountains can differ sharply from those in the valley below.
- Check details locally: access arrangements and current conditions should be confirmed before you set out.
The surrounding area
The park sits in the Catalan Pyrenees, so a visit can be combined with time in the wider mountain region. Many people treat it as the centrepiece of a trip, using nearby valley villages as a base and returning each day to the high trails. Whether you spend a single day among the lakes or several days exploring the mountains, the park rewards those who come prepared to walk and to slow down.