Spain and Andorra

Part 1: Turin - France - La Coruna - Finisterre

Part 2: Santiago - Burgos -

Saragozza - State of Andorra - France

Part 3: back to home

crossing France

North SPAIN, state of ANDORRA, FRANCE

11 days, 4570 km, almost 63 hours riding

July 31 - August 10, 2024

Google Maps path day 1
gpx path day 1 Google Maps path day 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                    gpx path day 2
Google Maps path day 3
                gpx path day 3                                                                                                                                               Google Maps path day 4
                                                                                                                                                                                                    gpx path day 4
Google Maps path day 5
                gpx path day 5                                                                                                                                                Google Maps path day 6
                                                                                                                                                                                                 gpx path day 6
Google Maps path day 7
                gpx path day 7                                                                                                                                                Google Maps path day 8
                                                                                                                                                                                                 gpx path day 8
Google Maps path day 9
                gpx path day 9                                                                                                                                                Google Maps path day 10
                                                                                                                                                                                                gpx path day 10
Google Maps path day 11
                gpx path day 11

Total costs: food, snacks, souvenir, fuel, highways in France on the way there, hotels, parkings etc...

2120 euro in 11 days.

SHORT TIPS (full experience in the video-story above!)

July 31, 2024 (495 km):

You will find here info about Sestriere Hill and we speak you about Monginevro Hill here.

On the highway we see the indication for "Les Penitents", and looking carefully we can see theese rocks. They are rock formations shaped like monks (or chimneys), called "The Penitents" because of their story. They are common in this area of Haute Provence.

We stay overnight at hotel Les Mimosas in Lunel.

August 1, 2024 (about 550 km):

On our way, we see the indication for Narbonne Cathedral and we decide to visit it.

August 2, 2024 (270 km):

We stop in Bilbao and we look at the particular structure of the Guggenheim Museum. It's a Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 1997 to repopularize Bilbao. Designed by an American architect, it has a structure that reminds me the Opera House of Sidney, very particular.

Overnight at hotel Felisa Spa: really nice and not expensive at all, expecially considering what it offers. And if you have a motorbike you can park inside their covered garage for free.

August 3, 2024 (450 km)

We stop at San Pedro beach: you can find a short about this paradise here. A beautiful beach.

In the afternoon we stop to visit Isla Pancha lighthouse and its surroundings. Built after 1857 as a lighthouse, during last years it has become an hotel. Then we move a bit on this amazing "Estrada do Faro" (Lighthouse road), to visit "O Cargadoiro", which has an interesting history. It was built to load the ships for iron trade. Now only a half bridge remains, a nice panoramic point.
Arrival at La Coruna.

August 4, 2024 (about 150 km)

Visit at the famous Tower of Hercules of La Coruna, an ancient Roman lighthouse from the II century A.D. It's 48 metres high and it's the most ancient lighthouse in the world still working.

After our visit we go to the historical city centre of La Coruna, so close to San Anton Castle. It's a castle of the fifteenth century, directly on the ocean. With Santa Cruz and San Diego castles it was part of a strategic network for the defence of La Coruna city.
After visiting also the centre, we ride to Finisterre.

We reach the southernmost point up to the lighthouse. It is a municipality called Fisterra in Galician, the language of the region of Galicia, where it is located. The Spanish name is instead from Latin "finis terrae", end of the earth: Cape Fisterra is one of the westernmost points of peninsular Spain.

August 5, 2024 (380 km)

On our way we can see so many Horreos, Galician granaries you can see everywhere in Galicia, Asturias and north Portugal. Structured in the shape of a hut, made with stone or wood, they have slitted walls to allow internal ventilation. Also they are on the top of stones against mice and humidity.

We arrive in Santiago de Compostela and we visit this city and Cathedral.

We stay overnight in an absolutely great hotel: La Lecheria, in Val de San Lorenzo, an old dairy about 50 kms from Leon.

Walking around the hotel we also try a typical dish: the tequeños. They are fried appetizers filled with jam, cheese, chocolate, etc. Here you have the video of our tasting to understand better what they are.

August 6, 2024 (440 km)

Reaching the beautiful Burgos, where we stop for lunch and visiting.

In the evening, we arrive at the hot Saragoza, still 38*C at 8 p.m. This is my second time in this nice city and again it's so hot!!

August 7, 2024 (435 km)

Close to Bassella, we see the indication for the Motorbike Museum and we decide to visit it, despite the ticket of 14 euro per person. It offers the chance to see many motorcycle models from the origins. A rich and well valued collection.

In the afternoon we enter the state of Andorra, I was so curius about. Andorra is the capital of this state, the highest in Europe, at 1023 m above sea level. Also called La Vella or Pyrenees capital, it has no airports or train stations.

We discover that there are 2 ways to reach France: through Envalira Tunel or with a road going uo to Port Envalira.

August 8, (370 km)

We change our road to see the Millau viaduct, a toll highway bridge that crosses the Tarn valley. It's 2460 m long and 343 m high, and it is the highest vehicular bridge in Europe, as well as one of the highest in the world.

We follow the indication for the Gorges du Tarn.
Though La Loubiere Hill, in the evening we arrive at the mountain refuge "Montlo Relais des Cerfs", in Mont Lozère.

August 9, (235 km)

We cross Escrinet Hill to Villefort lake.

We wanted to see also the Gorges du Nan, a canyon carved by Nan river, connecting the little city of Cognin-les-Gorges to Vercors massifs. The road was built in 1894 on an old mule track, in part still visible.

Great view but so short!!!!

August 10, (170 km)

We go up to Lautaret Hill an alpine pass that is 2058 metres high. Open all the year, it was a stop during the Tour de France several times.

From the top of Lautaret, we go on to 2642 m: the top of Galibier Hill.

Then we go down reaching Valloire and its typical straw-and-hay sculptures.

Last, but not least, we cross Télégraphe Hill, 1566 m on the sea level.

After Modane, passing also Mont Cenis Hill (2083 m high) with its wonderful lake and dyke, we reach Susa and Torino again.

A great travel from ocean to mountain, with wonderful views and places! We really advise you to visit them!