Refugi de Malniu

Refugi de Malniu is a staffed mountain refuge located at 2,138 metres above sea level in the municipality of Meranges, in the Baixa Cerdanya comarca of the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. It sits at the foot of Puigpedrós, the highest peak of the Baixa Cerdanya, beside the Malniu lakes, within the Cerdanya – Alt Urgell National Reserve. The refuge is owned by the Ajuntament de Meranges (Meranges town council) and was inaugurated in 1954. It is guarded year-round by Jordi and Glòria, who have run the refuge since 2001, with a team of professional assistants. The refuge offers 54 places in bunk beds with mattresses, duvets and pillows; guests must bring a sleeping bag. There are dry toilets inside the refuge, while outdoor WC and hot-water showers are available about 50 metres away during the summer season. Services include drinks and meals, a pellet stove and a multimedia space. When the guardian is absent, an emergency shelter with 4 places is available. Room use is from 15:30 to 08:30, with silence from 22:00 to 07:00. Kitchen hours vary seasonally: breakfast from 07:15 to 08:30; kitchen open until 15:30 from 1 September to 30 June and until 16:00 from 1 July to 31 August; dinner at 20:00 from 15 June to 15 September and at 19:30 from 16 September to 14 June. Access is typically by road: from the N-260 at the village of Ger, take the turn-off towards Meranges, pass the village and follow the forest track for 10 km to the refuge. On foot, Meranges is about 1 hour 30 minutes away and Guils de Cerdanya about 2 hours 30 minutes. The refuge lies on the GR-11 long-distance footpath and the Ruta dels Estanys Amagats (Route of the Hidden Lakes). The nearest refuges are Engorgs and la Feixa, also on the GR-11. The Puigpedrós (2,914 m) can be climbed from the refuge. Two lakes are nearby: Estany Sec, immediately adjacent, and Estany de Malniu, about 35 minutes' walk away. The refuge is close to the French border (2.4 km at Puig Pedro de la Tosa, Porta, Pyrénées-Orientales) and the Andorran border (6.7 km at Portella Blanca d'Andorra). In 2015, renovation works enlarged the rooms and common areas, increasing capacity from 20 to 54 places. Dry toilets were built inside and a wood stove was installed. The refuge remains an active mountain hospitality business owned by the local municipality, serving hikers, climbers and nature visitors in the Catalan Pyrenees.

The Refugi de Malniu was inaugurated in 1954 and is owned by the Ajuntament de Meranges (Meranges town council). It was built to serve mountaineers and hikers in the Cerdanya – Alt Urgell National Reserve, at the foot of Puigpedrós and beside the Malniu lakes. For decades it operated as a traditional mountain refuge with limited capacity. In 2015, renovation works were carried out to enlarge the rooms and common areas, increasing the number of places from 20 to 54. Dry toilets were constructed inside the refuge and a wood stove was installed. Since 2001, the refuge has been guarded by Jordi and Glòria, who continue to run it with a team of assistants. The refuge remains an active municipally owned mountain hospitality business, serving visitors on the GR-11 and the Ruta dels Estanys Amagats.

• 2015

  Renovation works enlarge rooms and common areas, increasing capacity from 20 to 54 places; dry toilets and wood stove installed.

• 2001

  Jordi and Glòria become refuge guardians.

• 1954

  Refuge inaugurated.

A traditional, municipally owned mountain refuge in the Catalan Pyrenees, offering basic but welcoming accommodation and meals for hikers and climbers.

• Accommodation (54 places)

  Bunk beds with mattresses, duvets and pillows; guests bring sleeping bags.

• Meals and drinks

  Breakfast, dinner and kitchen service with seasonal hours.

• Emergency shelter (4 places)

  Available when the guardian is absent.

• Hot showers (summer)

  Outdoor WC and hot-water showers about 50 m away, summer season.

1. 1El Refugi - Tienda Baserefugimalniu.com
2. 2Refugi de Malniu - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Refuge de Malniu - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org