Parc de l'Agulla and the Agulla Reservoir
Just two kilometres from Manresa's old town, the Parc de l'Agulla wraps around a glittering reservoir fringed with pine and poplar trees, offering swimming beaches, paddleboat hire, cycling trails and picnic meadows that feel a world away from the city. On summer weekends it is where all of Manresa comes to breathe.
The Reservoir and Its Activities
The Agulla reservoir was created in the 1960s by damming the Cardener River and has matured into a genuinely beautiful lake with clear water, a sandy beach area and a sailing club. You can rent paddleboats and kayaks from the lakeside kiosk between June and September, or simply swim from the beach, which has lifeguards in summer.
The 4.5-kilometre walking trail around the full perimeter of the reservoir is flat, shaded and suitable for all ages and fitness levels. It passes through pine forest, over the dam wall with its vertiginous views down the gorge, and through open meadows where herons and egrets fish in the shallows.
Cycling, Birdwatching and the Cardener Gorge
The park is a key node on the Bages cycling network, and several marked mountain-bike trails fan out from the reservoir into the surrounding hills and vineyards. The most rewarding leads northeast along the Cardener gorge toward the village of Sant Joan de Vilatorrada, passing dramatic red-rock cliffs and small waterfalls.
Birdwatchers will find the reed beds at the northern end of the reservoir particularly productive: great crested grebes, purple herons and kingfishers are regularly recorded here, and in winter the lake attracts diving ducks and cormorants. Bring binoculars and arrive early for the best sightings.
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