# Puigcerdà

Puigcerdà is in Girona Pyrenees. Puigcerda is a border city, but since the Schengen treaty, as became the main city in the Cerdanya County. including some shared services with France like the Hospital. It is in the heart of the Eastern Pyrenees skiing region.

## Understand

The town was founded in 1178 by Alfonso II of Aragon, who ordered the construction of a city on a hill called Mont Cerdà. Its economy is based on tourism. The markets are crowded (every Sunday, there is a market and craft fairs are frequently held). It is an important center for Nordic sports and has several ski resorts a few kilometres away. It also has golf courses.

### Tourist office

* 42.4325791.9263041 Tourist office (Oficina de turisme de Puigcerdà), Plaça de Santa Maria, ☏ +34 972 880 542, turisme@puigcerda.cat. M-F 09:00-16:00; Sa 10:00-14:00, 16:00-19:00; Su 10:00-14:00. (updated Mar 2025)

## Get in
### By plane

* Barcelona El Prat Airport BCN 156 km (97 mi) away
* Girona airport GRO is 155 km (96 mi) away
* Perpignan - Rivesaltes Airport PGF in France is 106 km (66 mi) away
* Andorra–La Seu d'Urgell Airport LEU is 55 km (34 mi) away , but mostly used for Charter flights.
* 42.3863891.8666671 La Cerdanya Aerodrome (Aeròdrom de la Cerdanya), ☏ +34 661 232 703. Suitable for private flights. (updated Mar 2025)

### By train

* 42.4295271.9246572 Puigcerdà station, Carrer de l'Estació, 5. Line R3 La Tor de Querol(F) - Puigcerdà - L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (updated Mar 2025)

### By car

* The C-16 from Manresa across Cadi Tunnel (Toll) to N-260 Puigcerda.
* The N-260 (Eix Pirinenc) goes to la Seu d'Urgell to the west and to Ripoll to the east.
* The N-152 crosses the border to Bourg Madame (France) to the N20 towards Andorre or the D66 to Perpignan.
* The N-154 is a Spanish road that enters France until the Spanish city of Llivia.

## Get around
### Parking

* 42.4338981.9314053 Parking Escales del Convent, Carrer de les Escales del Convent. Free. (updated Mar 2025)
* 42.4374811.9259414 Parking Passeig de la Séquia, Passeig de la Séquia. Near Puigcerdà lake. free. (updated Mar 2025)
* 42.4332371.9263715 Parking Saba Plaza del Call, Rambla de Josep Maria Martí 8. from €3.1/hr. (updated Mar 2025)

## See

* 42.4363221.9269311 Puigcerdà Lake (Estany de Puigcerdà). An artificial lake that has been known since 1260. In the 19th century, the Schierbeck Park was added to the lake, promoted by the Danish consul German Schierbeck. It was remodelled in 1992. (updated Mar 2025).
* 42.43261.926272 The Bell Tower (Campanar de Santa Maria). A 12th-century tower. These are the only visible remains of the old parish church of Santa Maria, which was destroyed in 1936. It now houses the tourist office. (updated Mar 2025).
* Church of Sant Tomàs de Ventajola. A Romanesque church documented since 958.
* Cerdà Museum
* The railway station. Line 3 of Renfe Rodalies (La Tor de Querol-Puigcerdà-Barcelona-l'Hospitalet de Llobregat).
* Convent of Sant Domènec. Founded in 1290 by the Dominicans and expanded during the reign of James II. It suffered damage during the earthquake of 1428 and during the French War. In 1835, the convent was abolished and became a barracks and later a school. Part of the cloister from 1610 remains. It is the headquarters of the Cerdanya County Library and the Sant Domènec de Puigcerdà Nursing Home.
* Puigcerdà Hospital

## Do

* Skiing. There are many ski resorts ins less than one hour drive, including those in France and Andorra.

## Eat

Typical dishes:
* Trinxat made with potato, winter cabbage and a kind of bacon
* Duck with turnips
* Sautéed mushrooms Assorted mushrooms fried with garlic
* Garlic soups made with bread and garlic

## Go next

Llivia