Driving the Panoramic L-501: The Road That Has It All

Located in the northern part of Catalonia, Spain, the Panoramic L-501 road has it all: great vistas, countless primitive stone tunnels, forested areas, parts carved into rock, narrow and curvy sections, and, above all, it is a quiet road not very crowded.

L-501 Road

Where is the L-501 road?

The road is located in the comarca of Solsonès, in the Lleida province, in the northeastern part of the country.

How long is the L-501 road?

The road is entirely paved. It’s 41 km (25.47 miles) long, running west-east from Coll de Nargó to Coll de Jou, on the LV-4241 Road. The road is very sinuous, following the profile of the mountains, and has an almost alpine landscape with forests and water. It is a road not to rush on because you cannot do it. Narrow like itself and with many blind curves, the asphalt is acceptable, not completely clean but rough, and does not have too many patches. You can ride calmly.

Is the L-501 road open?

Set high in the pre-Pyrenees mountain range, the road climbs up two mountain passes: Coll de Boix and Coll de Jou, where the road ends. The pass is typically open all year round, but short-term closures are common in winter due to dangerous weather conditions.

When was the L-501 road built?

The road, commonly known as La Pista (The Track), was built in the 1950s by the Comandancia de Obras de la IV Región Militar with war prisoners of the Spanish Civil War condemned to forced labor.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez