La Tramunta | Cycling with a North wind.

Alt Empordà is a land of contrasts. Open plains that seem to never end, gentle mountains that announce the Pyrenees, narrow gravel roads and tracks that wind between olive groves and wheat fields... and, above all, a protagonist that conditions every outing and every pedaling: the Tramuntana. This north wind, dry, cold and sometimes fierce, that comes down with momentum through the valleys and that, for the cyclist, can be an enemy, an ally or both at the same time.

The Tramuntana is not just weather: it is character, identity and landscape. It shapes nature, cleans the sky until it is sharp and blue. For those who arrive for the first time, its strength can be surprising. For the cyclist who lives here, it is simply part of the game.

Rolling in a land made of wind

Every route in the Empordà changes according to the wind. A flat road can be a gift or a torture depending on how it blows; a climb can seem harder only because of the gusts that force you to grit your teeth; a descent can turn into navigation. The Tramuntana gives personality to the route, adds intensity and turns even a familiar outing into something different.

On mild days, it offers free speed. It moves forward lightly, almost effortlessly, as if the bike had wings. But when it is unleashed with force, the pedaling becomes firm and focused. It is time to grip the handlebars well, stay on track and accept that the wind is also part of the experience.

At Gravel House we believe that the Tramuntana offers opportunities to do routes that would normally be a bit far away. Taking advantage of the tailwind, one can cross the entire Alt Empordà and Baix Empordà (from North to South) with great efficiency and speed, thus using the energy to ride in the lower part of the Empordà and enter Girona, either through the plain or through the mountains.

Long routes between regions: from the north of Alt Empordà to Baix Empordà, Girona and back by train.

L'Empordà allows you to travel long routes that connect regions and combine mountains, plains and coast. They are perfect routes to enjoy the wind in your favor in the right sections, explore medieval villages and end the day returning comfortably by train.

From Gravel House we can set up tailor-made routes for each group. There are countless options for the Tramunta to take you like a locomotive both on the road and on gravel. However, in all these routes, the train that travels from south to north (against the Tramuntana) becomes a perfect ally: it allows you to travel long distances without worrying about the logistics of the return. We love to finish the routes in Girona and take the train back to Figueres or Vilamalla. The latter is only 4km from the house.

Tramuntana: identity, challenge and beauty

The Tramuntana is part of the DNA of the Empordà. Farmers respect it, artists have described it for centuries and cyclists face it —or take advantage of it— every day. Riding it is learning to feel the landscape in a different way: more alive, more changing, more intense.

Because as any Empordà local would say, the Tramuntana is not something to be endured: it is something to be lived with. It forces you to concentrate, teaches you how to manage effort and, when the wind blows in your favor, gives you moments of pure speed that are hard to forget.

We hope these tips help you enjoy and cycle with the Tramuntana and not against it. At Gravel House we want to be part of this adventure, so don't hesitate to contact us to organize your next cycling getaway in the Empordà.

We hope you can discover it soon!