Colomers Circus

This glacial work of nature's art is located in the Aran Valley in Catalonia, Spain. The Colomèrs cirque contains almost fifty blue-water lakes of different sizes that form part of the headwaters of the Garonne River. It is made up of a series of peaks over 2,500 metres high and beautiful natural Pyrenean landscapes.

The circus was named after the French explorer Charles-Joseph Colomès de Juillan (1799-1870), a French-born bridge and road engineer of Spanish parents who discovered it in 1838.

The Colomèrs cirque is formed of granite materials and is the source of the Aiguamoix river, which flows into the Garonne de Ruda river, opposite the village of Tredós. In the lower part of the valley is the 9-hectare Aiguamoix reservoir, which forms part of the regulation system of the Artíes hydroelectric power station.

Being above the forest boundary the vegetation of the cirque is rhododendrons, meadows and wet grasslands. In the lower areas above 2000 metres there are black pine, blueberries and junipers. Yellow daffodils bloom in spring, saffron in autumn, forget-me-nots and columbine.

In all the lakes of the Colomèrs cirque, river trout and red mullet have been introduced for recreational fishing. The fauna of the area also includes the common frog, the toad, the lizard, the marmot, the squirrel in the pine forest and the golden eagle.

Enjoy the tour of the Colomèrs Circus

Although the itinerary is suitable for anyone, you should bear in mind that the terrain is rough and rugged with granite and rocks, which can make the hike a little difficult. But in reality you should do it with all the time in the world so that you can enjoy every spot, every landscape, the lakes and the beauty of this wonder of nature.

One of the best known is the route of the 7 lakes in the Colomèrs cirque. It has some steep climbs and descents, but the nature and scenery are worth the effort. It is considered one of the best hiking routes.

The route is circular and can be done in either direction (to the left or to the right). The length of the walk depends on the route you choose: the short route lasts 3 to 4 hours or the long route 7 to 8 hours. Bring a backpack with food, hydration, sunscreen and hiking shoes. The landscapes are majestic.

It is on the long route that you can best appreciate the beautiful lakes, as they are one after the other. The last lake is small and is known as Garguilhs de Jos. From there it is about 0.6 km (20 min. approximately) to reach the big dam and the Estanh Major Refuge of the big Colomèrs dam, which is a little difficult, but where the route ends.