ACTIVITIES AND LEISURE. WHAT TO DO IN MAS CA LA COIXA.
Tortellà is a small village of 700 inhabitants, located in the Alta Garrotxa, the abrupt, wild, sometimes impenetrable holm oaks and box woods which make up the almost unhabited Alta Garrotxa, so different to the more comfortable, softer Lower Garrotxa, with its wide valleys full of small villages such as la Vall d'en Bas and la Vall d'en Bac. Tortellà is 350 metres above sea level. This relatively low altitude and the shelter of the mountains creates a microclimate with soft winters and a wide variety of flora and fauna.A part of the communal territories of Tortellà is included in the PEIN (Pla d'Espais d'Interes Natural, or Areas of Natural Interest Plan) for its preservation , as are some other territories of different municipalities in the Alta (Higher) Garrotxa. These craggy hills that take you to France, the rock-faces and the impenetrable woods remind you of the old times when these mountain paths were used by merchants, soldiers, smugglers and "trabucaires"(bandits with guns), passing their goods from one place to another without any customs control (as you can imagine, these woods were not very safe for the police in those days...). 

But the main pride of Tortellàis is its Romanesque bridge over the Lierca river. It is easily reached from our masía walking by an interesting path belonging to the G.R. net (Gran Recorrido or Grand Route) in 40 minutes; or by mountain bike, if you are in good form, because there is quite a distance), or more easily by car (5 minutes).Besides the walkers, the bridge area is also very popular among bathers and people descending ravines (pot-holers).The high and medium course of the Llierca river, descending wild among cliffs, sometimes with very narrow pass between two stonewalls, is a very interesting excursion on foot. In the highest course of the Llierca, you will find the abandoned Sant Aniol d'Agulles hermitage and some incredible cold waters, stone paradises and some meadows to rest in during the two hours walk. If you prefer to do sport in an easier way , there is a public swimming-pool and tennis-court in Tortellà.Not very far away (6 km.) there is a "pitch and put" in Sant Ferriol, between Argelaguer and Besalú. And passing Besalú in Figueres direction (20 km.), there is the Torre Mirona Golf Club. If you are looking for new experiences enjoying nature, there is a great deal in the surrounding area (la Garrotxa and l'Empordà areas): - balloon flights in Santa Pau

- parachuting in Ampuriabrava, near Rosas Bay - all kind of water sports: sailing ,windsurfing, kayacking are available on many Costa Brava beaches ; kayacking is also available in Banyoles lake, where you will also find rowing boats, pedal boats and bicycles to rent - scuba diving in the protected area of Medas Islands and another interesting underwater areas in Costa Brava -horse riding in different areas - bird watching in the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, near Rosas Bay - bike riding in the mountains, near the sea , or by ancient railway lines between Olot and Girona, passing through Anglès.....

A very Mediterranean tradition still alive today is Market Day. Evey day of the week, you will find big and small open-air markets in towns and villages all over Catalonia. It's a pleasure for the senses, a colourful and lively show of fruits, vegetables, olives, cheeses, plants, clothes, shoes, tools, all kinds of goods you can imagine.Let's wander among the people and the different stalls where you can do your everyday fresh shopping or buy crafts or souvenirs of these holidays. And talking about shopping, in many cities ( Girona, Figueres) and medieval villages ( Besalú, Pals, Peratallada, Santa Pau) you will find big and small treasures in antique dealers: let's have a look into the old times, the entrance is free. Another interesting must in shopping are the handicrafts: pottery (in la Bisbal), copper (in Ripoll, close to the Santa Maria monastery, there is an interesting workshop), leather and so on. Ask in the local tourist information offices for more references. In Girona province you will find an incredible landscape variety within a very few kilometres: lakes, volcanos, mountains, rivers, valleys, plains, beaches, cliffs, marshes, even botanical gardens....And we can't forget all the sites with special cultural references - Romanesque and Gothic arts, the Jewish presence, Modernist exemples , thermal activity, monuments of historical or religious importance....And in this meteoric review, we can't miss out the museums. Girona province keeps an interesting group of museums, apart from the "classics" ( art, history, archealogical and local ); we especially encourage you to visit some of these: the Dalí Museum (Figueras), the Museum of Cinema (Girona) , of wine (Perelada), of cork (Palafrugell) , of toys (Figueras) , pottery (La Bisbal), old cars (Sils) , volcanos (Olot) , life in the Pyrenees (Ripoll) ,...For more information, have a look at our section 'Routes', of what to visit. We can't miss this occasion to cheer you on to taste the Catalan cuisine: from the simplicity of toasted bread with tomato or garlic and olive oil, always present with the "embutidos" ( a wide variety of pork sausages), the 'escalivada' (grilled onions, aubergines, potatoes and peppers), the 'esqueixada' ( cod), the butifarra amb mongetes y alioli (grilled sausage with white beans and garlic sauce ), the mar y muntanya ( literally sea and mountain, crayfish with chicken ), the fresh seafood and fish, the pork and veal home recipes, and so on. And at dessert time, you can't miss the 'crema catalana', the postre de músico (literally, musician's dessert, nuts and dried raisins, with a glass of sweet wine, moscatel), and many others. It will be endless and we surely will be missing out many known specialities, that's why we encourage you to taste Catalan and Spanish cuisine and their famous fruits and wines. We are afraid that your holidays this year won't be long enough to get to know everything that Girona keeps for you as a secret world to discover and enjoy.... We are waiting for you ...!!! 

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