GR1 route through Odèn, from Canalda to Valldan

The route begins in the town of Canalda, with an altitude of 1,150 m, with Puig-arnau to the east, Caballera to the west and the barony of Enncies at noon. The parish church, dedicated to Sant Julià, is of Romanesque origin. Here we find the great Roca de Canalda where we can discover different caves full of history.

If we continue along the path, we will discover Sant Miquel del Soler, a small 12th-century Romanesque church covered with slabs. It has a single pointed nave, ending with a semicircular apse.

Climbing to the top of Coma del Boix, in a privileged location are the remains of the Castle of Odèn, documented since the 11th century. Its silhouette can be seen from afar and from the castle there is a splendid view. Here we also find the parish church of Santa Cecilia de Odèn, the current church is an 18th century building built on the southern wall of the old Romanesque church, from which, in addition to the wall, many of its stones were used.

Arriving in Cambrils we stop at the Salinas de Cambrils , they are mountain salt pans, not sea salt pans, and currently they are one of the few in the Pyrenees that are in a good state of conservation. A place where you can charge yourself with energy inside its therapeutic pools, in a completely restored historical setting and where guided tours and cultural and leisure activities related to salt are also carried out.

Already in the town of Cambrils, the capital of Odèn, in addition to the main center with the parish, town hall and two inns, it has the Racó to the east and Llinars to the north. The remains of the castle and various hermitages of Romanesque origin stand out.

Halfway between Cambrils and Valldan is the elevated viewpoint Mirador de Serra-seca, 1,234 m, with extensive 360º views. After going up and contemplating the visual spectacle of the area, we continue the GR1 and we will find the Salzer Necropolis, these megaliths are located chronologically in the ancient bronze and in the Chalcolithic. These are rectangular and quadrangular Pyrenean chambers delimited by two large lateral slabs. Access would be through a vestibule with a lowered slab threshold. In addition, fragments of the cover slab on the tumulus are preserved.

At the end of the route, in the southwestern sector of the term, where the waters already run directly towards the Segre, is the village of Valldan, where we will finish in Sant Just and Sant Pastor, the parish that belongs, unlike the others of the municipality, to the bishopric of Urgell.

Text and images: Odèn City Council