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Banyuls-sur-Mer to L'Estartit over the Col de Banyuls

Banyuls-sur-Mer, Languedoc, FranceMixed

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Friday 19th September 2025

96 km
Distance
568 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Mixed
Surface
Download GPXMap
On the road: Banyuls-sur-Mer to L'Estartit over the Col de Banyuls

Elevation profile

Total ascent
568 m
Distance
96 km
0100200300400m0 km2040608096 km331 m · highest, at 10.0 kmStartFinish

Route overview

Suitable for riders comfortable with moderate climbing and mixed surfaces over a moderate distance.

96 km point-to-point ride from Banyuls-sur-Mer, France to L'Estartit, Spain over Col de Banyuls with 642 m climbing.

Starting near Banyuls-sur-Mer at 0.5 km, the route climbs the Col de Banyuls from 4.7 km, rising 290 m over 4.6 km at an average gradient of 6.3%, reaching 337 m at 9.3 km. The surface is mostly paved (84%), but 16% is gravel or unpaved. Roads include 59% minor roads and 16% tracks, with some quiet streets, main roads, and cycle paths. There are 6.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes and nearly 15 km on roads with speed limits over 80 km/h. The climb followed by a 4.1 km descent from 10.3 km drops 132 m. The highest point lies beneath Puig del Migdia (377 m) at 11.8 km.

Highlights

  • Col de Banyuls climb, 290 m gain
  • Puig del Migdia nearby at 377 m
  • Longest descent 4.1 km dropping 132 m
  • Crosses border from France to Spain

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed· crosses into Spain

  1. Mas Perotet 4 km
  2. Mas Parer 4.9 km
  3. Mas Atxer 5 km
  4. Mas de Vallàuria 5 km
  5. els Vilars 17 km
  6. Espolla 19 km
  7. Mollet de Peralada 22.6 km
  8. el Priorat 24.3 km
  9. Ullastre 24.7 km
  10. Masarac 24.9 km
  11. el Pla 28.3 km
  12. Cabanes 29.6 km
  13. els Hostalets 33.2 km
  14. Figueres 36.5 km
  15. Sant Pau de la Calçada 38.8 km
  16. Vilabertran 41.1 km
  17. el Far d'Empordà 44.3 km
  18. l'Oliva 44.3 km
  19. Vila-sacra 46.1 km
  20. Palol 46.1 km
  21. Fortià 48.7 km
  22. Vinya Gran 49.9 km
  23. el Pont del Príncep 54.4 km
  24. Vilamalla 54.6 km
  25. Siurana 55.7 km
  26. Tonyà 55.9 km
  27. Estanyet 56.5 km
  28. Garrigàs 58.4 km
  29. Ermedàs 58.5 km
  30. Santa Eulàlia 60.1 km
  31. Palau 60.5 km
  32. Sant Miquel de Fluvià 62.2 km
  33. Sant Mori 63.1 km
  34. Vila-robau 64.7 km
  35. Palol de Fluvià 64.9 km
  36. Valveralla 66.6 km
  37. els Masos de Ventalló 66.6 km
  38. Ventalló 67.3 km
  39. Palauborrell 69 km
  40. Pelacalç 70.3 km
  41. Can Puig 71.2 km
  42. Viladamat 71.6 km
  43. Albons 75.8 km
  44. Bellcaire d'Empordà 78.8 km
  45. la Bolleria 79.1 km
  46. Ullà 82.6 km
  47. Torroella de Montgrí 84.3 km
  48. el Traient 88.6 km
  49. l'Estartit 90.3 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
4.7 km4.6 km290 m6.3 %23.3 %337 m
56.6 km1.8 km57 m3.1 %5.5 %114 m

High point 337 m at 9.3 km; low point 1 m. Passes beneath els Culers, Puig de Rabus, Martal.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
59% minor road · 16% track · 12% quiet street · 7% main road
Main roads
6.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
14.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
3.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
Carretera del Coll de Banyuls (9 km), Route du Col de Banyuls (6 km), GIV-6024 (5 km), GI-641 (4 km)
Surface
84% paved · 16% gravel or unpaved
Gradient
12% climbing · 14% descending · 74% flat
Steep sections
1.8 km over 5% · 1.3 km over 8% · 1.1 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 16% at 9.1 km
Longest descent
4.1 km from 10.3 km, dropping 132 m

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 17 km, from 2 km to 19 km.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0.2 kmToilets · 30 m off route
  2. 0.4 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
  3. 0.5 kmCarrefour Express · supermarket · 70 m off route
  4. 29.7 kmCan Keda · restaurant · 120 m off route
  5. 36.6 kmCafeteria Fàbrega · café · 30 m off route
  6. 36.8 kmOlympia 2 · bike shop · 70 m off route
  7. 37.2 kmFarmàcia Rodeja Roca, Adela · pharmacy · on the route
  8. 41.7 kmRestaurant El Pa Volador · restaurant · 60 m off route
  9. 42.2 kmToilets · 240 m off route
  10. 67.4 kmDrinking water · 50 m off route
  11. 74.8 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
  12. 78.7 kmRepair stand · 90 m off route
  13. 82.5 kmDrinking water · 140 m off route
  14. 84.4 kmCasa Moner · bakery · 240 m off route
  15. 84.5 kmRepair stand · 200 m off route
  16. 88.7 kmRestroom · toilets · 140 m off route
  17. 90 kmBike shop · 160 m off route
  18. 90.6 kmPastisseria Brugués · bakery · 130 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 0.4 kmBanyuls-sur-Mer (station), 410 m off route
  • 37.1 kmFigueres (station), 40 m off route
  • 54.3 kmVilamalla (station), 190 m off route
  • 62.3 kmSant Miquel de Fluvià (halt), 170 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 2 kmSquare Jean Ferrer (picnic site)
  • 9.5 kmColl de Banyuls. (viewpoint)
  • 16.5 kmSant Pere dels Vilars (ruins, 145 m)
  • 36.5 kmA Narcís Monturiol 1819-1885 (monument)
  • 75.9 kmCastell d'Albons (castle)
  • 78.9 kmAntigua Església preromànica de Sant Joan de Bellcaire (monument)

At the start

  • Le Jardin de St Sébastien · restaurant · 20 m
  • Le Banyulenc · café · 380 m
  • Cave l'étoile · bar · 60 m
  • Arbre à Pain · bakery · 370 m
  • La ganotte · restaurant · 70 m

At the finish

  • Blau Marí · café · 80 m
  • Spar · supermarket · 140 m
  • Pastisseria Brugués · bakery · 150 m
  • Pa amb vi & sucre · bakery · 110 m
  • La Terrassa del Fornet · café · 120 m

Stay after this ride

  • Santa Anna · hotel · 20 m from the finish
  • Marcona · hotel · 40 m from the finish
  • Hotel Coral · hotel · 70 m from the finish
  • Hotel Cal Tet · hotel · 90 m from the finish
  • Hostel Costa Brava · hotel · 160 m from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Mixed
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
6–8 hours riding
Season
September
Best months
Apr to Oct — daily highs of 18–30 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café/shop/water 16.7 km from 2 to 18.7 km
  • 6.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 14.8 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
  • 1.8 km gravel or unpaved road sections

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

11 photographs from the road

Stage of