Rocacorba Cycling Covid-19 Policy
Open Space
We are situated on the estate of Can Campolier in a remote area on the outskirts of the town of Banyoles, near Girona. Our estate is centred around the main villa, but consists of three separate buildings spanning acres of open space. Each property has its own private outdoor area.
For the safety of our guests and staff we have implemented the following protocol:
General Guidelines
Anyone displaying symptoms of Covid-19 will be denied check-in, please do not travel if you feel unwell.
Your room and bathroom will be solely your domain, nobody else from outside of your party will enter during your stay.
Use of the communal outdoor spaces such as the courtyard, gardens and field areas will be determined by local regulations, however social distancing measures must be adhered to.
A distance of 2m will be kept between staff and guests at all times.
Check-in
We will operate a no-contact policy when checking in and out. Keys will be made available at your villa upon arrival and communication will be via email or instant message.
Bathrooms
Each room has a private bathroom.
Travelling
We ask that everyone respects the current government restrictions on travel within provinces, regions, and countries.
Cleaning Protocol
We comply to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene at all times and have applied additional measures to comply with Covid-19 requirements.
If you require any further information please contact us via email on info@rocacorbacycling.cc. To download this document click here.
First Look At Our All New Bike Area
Just over 12 months ago we took the high-pressure hose to the floor in the downstairs vaults. As the concrete started to emerge so did our ideas for what those rooms could become. We wanted a visually stunning but also practical bike area where we could store and work on bikes but which also doubled as a comfortable place for guests to shower, change, and sit on the sofa with a coffee after a ride.
The end result is better than we could have imagined.
Transformation Underway
Can Campolier is a bit like an archeologist dig: we slowly uncover the past and discover new potential as we make our way through the house. We always had the idea to develop the downstairs area but it wasn’t until we took a high pressure hose to the floor and walls that we really saw all that it could be.
Originally, the downstairs was where some of the livestock were housed and cared for. When we moved in, there was even still old hay piled up in the corners. It was dusty, dark, and, frankly, we had other areas to focus on. But as the business expanded, we needed more space. Slowly, the downstairs became storage and then, over time, it was clear it had to be cleaned up and made into a proper usable space.
We started to clean, chip away at the disintegrating concrete, and then the vision was really clear. We called in the contractors. In a few weeks the team of 8 workers had transformed the area and revealed beautiful arched ceilings, exposed stone walls, and a crystal clear vision. It would be a space that was all about the bike. Of course, our bike workshop and rental bikes would be stored there but now it would also be a space for riders with shower facilities, seating areas to enjoy a coffee or two, and space to get ready to ride.
Plus, we all kinda liked that the foundation of the house is the foundation of our business: bikes.
Although it has moved on from cattle to bikes, as with the rest of Can Campolier, we will preserve the authentic feel of the space. Our top of the line carbon Cervelos and 3Ts will be perfectly at home next to the old brick but we hope bringing the space back into use will also tie a little of our cycling DNA into Can Campolier.
Work is still ongoing with but we look forward to sharing coffees and ride stories in our new cycling zone very soon.
The Harvest Tour
Our first olive harvest last year was, well, our first: complete novice farmers with no olive picking experience who realized pretty quickly that our olive trees make a ton of olives—almost literally. In the beginning we called on a few close friends to come help us out but, as word got around town, more and more people asked us if they could come pick olives too. Soon, people were riding over to spend an hour or so in the orchard, others driving up to spend the day in the trees.
Surrounded by wonderful old olive trees and friends, what seemed like a daunting task turned out to be fun that was actually short-lived. When all the olives were picked and pressed into wonderful olive oil, the fun began again as we gave each pair of helping hands a piece of the harvest. We still get messages and pictures of fond memories and wonderful meals made with Can Campolier olive oil.
With such a successful first harvest, this year we’re officially opening the orchard with the Harvest Tour. Spend the morning with us on bikes and then return to the estate in the afternoon for an orchard lunch and olive picking. Enjoy the roads, the olive trees, and take home delicious hand-picked, cold-pressed olive oil.
Join us for the Harvest Tour
Explore Catalonia
You can't ride all day every day and even if you could, you'd be missing all that Girona has to offer. Whether you're coming with your family, a non-cycling partner, or you're looking to add some local adventures, take the time to explore all that Catalonia has to offer. Read our guide to get inspired!
Close By:
Just on our doorstep is beautiful Lake Banyoles. Explore the 6km walking path, the weekend local artisan market, have a lakeside picnic, or enjoy drinks over the water at the best located cafe in town.
In our mind, however, the lake is nice to look at but better to swim in. The highly protected lake means the water is crystal clear. There are only 3 points of access to the lake for swimming. If you’re interested in distance swimming, you can enter through Club Natacio Banyoles to use their 500m buoyed swim line with change rooms, showers, and access to the rest of their facilities, including lounging space on the grass beneath the trees. If you’re more inclined just to cool off or let the kids play, further down the lake past the club there is a swimming point off the treed walking path. There are ladders from the banked grass into the water and a grassy, sun soaked area to enjoy a picnic with stunning views of the lake. The third way is through Banys Vells Cafe. During the summer months, the cafe has a swim area only accessible through the cafe. Enjoy lunch or a drink and take a dip. All three areas are lifeguarded during the summer months.
You might have conquered the climb by bike but the real “Rocacorba” is the sanctuary, located to the side of the main road toward the summit. Originally dating back to 1130, the remains of the castle can still be seen. The structure was rebuilt in 1428 after an earthquake but then fell into decline after the family fled during the 15th century peasant rebellion. The current sanctuary, constructed in the 18th century, was built on top of the previous church. You’ll also enjoy stunning views of the Pyrenees and the coast line.
With views of Lake Banyoles and the rolling foothills toward the Pyrenees, climb up the two viewing decks of Puig Clara. Only 3km from the lake, the trail can be steep in places but is well marked and the views are worth it.
In the City:
Medieval Girona has so much to offer in such a small area. From the Cathedral and Arab baths to the Jewish museum and the many culinary opportunities, explore the ancient walls and cobbles streets along the River Onyar.
There are architectural delights throughout the city and if you’re curious about the riverside homes, the Casa Masó, is one of the only ones open to the public. Designed by architect Rafael Masó (1880-1935), the house is set up how it would have looked when Masó lived there.
The most obvious and prominent attraction of Girona is the Catedral de Santa María de Girona but don’t miss the numerous other historical sites including the Benedictine monestry of Sant Pere de Galligants, the Arab baths, or Girona’s original cathedral, Basilica de Sant Feliu. Of course, if you feel like you’ve seen something before, it may have been a Game of Thrones filming location!
If you’re more inclined to just walk around and soak up the vibe, start in the Jewish quarter. The maze of cobbled alleys and stone staircases date back to the 12th and 15th centuries and will no doubt reveal some interesting places. Take a walk along the stoned wall at the back of the old town for great views of the city and cross the river on as many different pedestrian bridges as you can, including the famous Eiffel bridge (yes, the same designer of the Eiffel tower).
There are plenty of amazing restaurants with cuisines ranging from local Catalan to vegan and everything in between. For the cyclist, see and be seen at the cycling cafes including Espresso Mafia or La Fabrica; grab a meal at Federal or Rocacorba Cafe; or take a seat in the Plaça de la Independència and people watch with a local beer.
For the Foodie:
El Celler de Can Roca and Rocambolesc Gelateria, Girona
If you’re a foodie with the ability to make a reservation almost a year in advance, Girona is home to the legendary Michelin starred El Celler de Can Roca. Experience avante-garde cuisine from Joan and Josep Roca. Don’t have a reservation? Take a walk in the old town of Girona for gelato from the same chef at Rocambolesc. With quirky-shaped popsicles and smooth, tantalizing ice creams and sorbets, you might just do a second loop around the old town to justify another helping.
Ca l’Arpa
Enjoy the areas most outstanding products in dishes created by Pere Arpa. Ca l’Arpa is located nearby in Banyoles where you can enjoy exquisite dishes in the spirit of the good old family-run inns.
Pont Vell
Locations don’t come better than Pont Vell. Enjoy a meal overlooking the 11th century Romanesque bridge in Besalu. The stunning view is only rivalled by the food which is prepared by chef Robert Mora who has worked in some of the world’s best restaurants, including El Cellar de Can Roca.
Places to See:
Santuari de la Mare de Déu del Mont: With a 360 degree view including Pyrenean peaks, Girona, Banyoles, and the coast on a clear day, it’s worth the drive up the narrow mountain road. Explore the church at the top and linger in the view by grabbing lunch at the summit restaurant.
Ruta del 7 Gorgs, Campdevànol: The “Route of 7 Gorges” is a 7.5km family friendly hike that starts in Campdevànol. You can easily spend the day meandering in the forest and following the route that will take you to seven different waterfalls where you can take a dip or even jump in at some spots.
Costa Brava: There are countless amazing beaches along the Costa Brava from Tossa de Mar to L´Escala, just take your pick. The beaches around the town of L’Escala offer a variety of different bathing options where you can enjoy the deep, clear turquoise water.
Towns to Visit:
Besalu: The impressive stone bridge into the historical stoned village is something special to walk across. Wander around the cobbled streets and enjoy a bite to eat with views of the bridge.
Castelfollit de la Roca: The incredible village perched on the cliff is an impressive sight. Wander inside and you’ll forget the sheer drop is so close. Grab an ale, stout, or fruit beer at Poch’s microbrewery or book a hot air balloon for views of the volcanic nature reserve, La Garrotxa.
Figueres: Home of Salvador Dalí, explore the Dalí Museum or, if you’re visiting in August, enjoy the outdoor acoustic music festival.
Cadaquès: There is no better place to enjoy a seafood paella than in this stunning coastal town that inspired both Picasso and Dalî. With access to the natural park of Cap de Creus enjoy the beauty of the wild Costa Brava coastline as well.
The Next Chapter
You can just imagine the family working where we’ve started to dig out the new pool. Originally the vegetable garden, you can still see the built-in benches in the remains of the stone walls where they would rest. We’re definitely keeping those benches.
The position of the pool moved several times during planning and was discussed at length over months, as are all the renovation plans; but, ultimately, the house always reveals what is best and we’ve learned to trust that. There is always an initial idea of what we want but when you live on a property like this one, you get to know it. All the quirks, how it functions and how people flow through the spaces, the scars of wear and tear, the layers of modernization—it isn’t a blank slate. Respecting what is here always presents challenges but working with what we have allows us to refurbish and reinvent instead of replace and erase.
For the recent updates to the Germa building, we especially wanted to reinstate the doors opening onto the courtyard. The action is always in the courtyard and it’s probably been that way since the house was built. We wanted to re-establish that connection, not just for the building, but so our guests can feel that connection too. It’s easy to think of Can Campolier as historical, and it is, but it’s also still a functioning property so it’s not just about highlighting what it used to be, it’s also about showcasing what it still is.
There is so much history on this land and, as we modernise and bring the Rocacorba Cycling vision to life, there is a hope that this will become another chapter in the long story of Can Campolier. The truth is the house has 300 years of history before us and hopefully, with our help, 300 years of history after us. It’s a significant part of our lives but we are merely custodians of Can Campolier, hoping to leave it better for the future.
Our First Olive Harvest
None of us ever thought we would buy a giant vibrating comb. That’s essentially what an electronic olive-picker is. If you thought you would never read a sentence like that in your life, think about how we feel writing it! First and foremost, we are cyclists, not farmers. Nevertheless, with Can Campolier we became the caretakers of over 100 olive trees and so the farming began.
As with most of our farming endeavours, it all began with a Google search. We needed to know everything: when to harvest, how to test if the olives were ready, how to pick them, press them… and pretty quickly after that: “buy electronic olive picker online”.
An electronic olive picker is basically two big-tooth combs on the end of a long vibrating stick. With a large net covering the ground around the tree, up and into the branches goes the vibrating comb while the farmer (that’s us) makes a combing motion.
Waterfalls of olives fell from the branches and, with the help of a few extra hands, in the space of four days we had collected over 400 kilos of olives. Of course, the only thing to do with 400 kilos of olives is to press it into oil. Locals had directed us to a specialized olive oil pressing place (yes, those exist) near Roses and so we drove our harvest towards the coast.
In the end we picked 900kg of olives, made farmers out of 10 people, and came home with 100 litres of home-grown, cold-pressed olive oil. It didn’t just taste good, it tasted satisfying.
Contact us if you would like to join the olive harvest in 2019 and get your hands on the giant vibrating comb!
