Les Guilleries & the Sau Reservoir Viewpoint
Just 35 kilometres southwest of Girona, the Sau Reservoir in the Les Guilleries massif hides one of Catalonia's most surreal natural spectacles: the 11th-century Romanesque bell tower of the submerged village of Sant Romà de Sau rising from the water like a ghost, its height above the surface changing with the seasons. The surrounding forested hills are perfect for hiking and the views across the
The Submerged Bell Tower
The village of Sant Romà de Sau was deliberately flooded in 1963 when the valley was dammed, and the bell tower — left standing as a landmark — has become an iconic Catalan image. In dry summers or drought years the water level drops enough to expose the entire tower and sometimes the ruins of the old church walls around it, creating an almost apocalyptic scene that draws photographers from across Europe.
The best viewpoint is the Mirador del Ter on the reservoir's eastern bank, a short signposted walk from the car park at the end of the GI-5201 road. The view from here takes in the full length of the reservoir, the tower and the forested ridgeline of the Collsacabra plateau beyond.
Hiking and Wildlife in Les Guilleries
The PR-C 76 trail loops around the reservoir's northern shore through holm oak and pine forest, taking about three hours at a relaxed pace and offering repeated water-level views. Spring brings wildflowers and nesting birds including the endangered black stork; autumn turns the hillsides rust and gold.
The nearby Parc Natural del Montseny begins just south of the reservoir and can be combined into a longer day trip from Girona. The village of Rupit, a 20-minute drive from the Sau dam, is a perfectly preserved medieval stone village perched above a gorge and makes an excellent lunch stop after the hike.
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