Massana Plans Eco-Friendly Viewpoint and Trail at 2,572m Pyrenees Summit

The Massana council is advancing plans for a new eco-friendly viewpoint at the 2,572-metre Alt de la Capa summit, complete with an 800-metre interpretive trail featuring just 85 metres of elevation gain to suit a broad public.

Lead councillor Eva Sansa, Tourism councillor Mònica Solé, architect Toni Riberaygua, and engineer Carles Puig presented the project on Friday. The council will award the contract at its next session, with work set to start on the first phase before winter weather arrives—potentially making the site fully operational by next summer if conditions allow. The initiative carries an 837,000-euro budget.

Riberaygua's design employs prefabricated corten steel elements assembled on site, secured by a single concrete anchor akin to nearby ski lift supports. Fully recyclable, the structure minimises environmental impact and can be removed without trace. Its concave, tiered form resembles a high-mountain amphitheatre, shielding visitors from weather during events or stargazing sessions while offering 360-degree panoramic views of the Pyrenees.

Solé described it as more than a lookout: "We want to create a mountain stage, a unique space where things happen." The platform will host cultural activities and tie into Massana's Starlight certification for astronomy experiences. The approach trail will highlight local heritage, landscape, and natural surroundings, delivering "an experience that starts from below," as Solé noted.