Pou de glaç del bosc Puntuí

Pou de glaç del bosc Puntuí is a former ice well tucked away in the Puntuí forest, within the municipality of Cruïlles, Monells i Sant Sadurní de l'Heura, in the heart of the Gavarres massif (Catalonia, Spain). It is one of ten documented "pous de glaç" scattered across the Gavarres municipalities — alongside examples in La Bisbal d'Empordà, Forallac, Calonge and Santa Cristina d'Aro — and a reminder of a regional ice trade that shaped local economies for two centuries.

What exactly is a pou de glaç?

An ice well is a structure built to collect and store winter snow and ice so it could be used year-round — to chill drinks, preserve food and fish, or serve medicinal purposes. In the Gavarres, these wells share a common design: a cylindrical shaft, partly sunk into the ground, topped by a stone vault with a small inspection opening and a loading door, plus a drainage outlet near the base for meltwater. Workers dammed a stream to fill shallow, shaded pools that froze overnight, broke the resulting ice into blocks of around 62 kg, carted them to the well, and packed them between layers of leaves, straw, heather and reeds. The work ran from October to February, at first light when the frost was hardest.

The trade peaked during the 17th and 18th centuries. Blocks, wrapped in straw and sacking, travelled by pack animal or cart to Girona, Palamós or La Bisbal — coastal towns needed ice to keep fish fresh, and since part of the load always melted en route, it was weighed only on arrival. Two trades grew up around this business, the snow weigher and the snow seller, with the season traditionally opening in May. The industry faded in the late 19th century as artificial ice spread, though a few Catalan wells kept working until 1932.

How do you get there?

Pou de glaç del bosc Puntuí sits about a kilometre east of Plaça de l'Oli in Cruïlles, deep in the forest, with no road access — it's reached only on foot or by bike along Gavarres forest tracks. The well is a waypoint on routes from Monells, where loop distances run roughly 16 to 19 km depending on the variant, and on circular routes from the Ermita Mare de Déu de l'Esperança hermitage, about 2.4 km away.

Base yourself in Cruïlles or Monells — both worth a stop in their own right: Monells for its medieval square and stone arcades, Cruïlles for its castle. Bring a trail map or GPS app, since forest paths are loosely marked and the terrain uneven and stony.

What will you find on site?

Today the well stands as a ruin — a partly collapsed, cylindrical stone structure folded into the dense Gavarres woodland. Its main appeal is historical and scenic, offering a tangible sense of how ice was harvested before refrigeration existed. It forms part of the Gavarres Ethnological Interest Zone, declared by the Generalitat de Catalunya in 2011, which protects similar sites, including the well near Font d'en Salomó in the same municipality.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are best, with mild temperatures and the woodland at its most scenic. Summer's dense tree cover offers shade, but midday heat can make the approach tiring, so start early. In winter, or after heavy rain, forest paths turn muddy and slippery, making remote stretches — including the well itself — harder to reach.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pou de glaç and what was it used for? An ice well: a structure that stored winter snow and ice for year-round use — chilling drinks, preserving food, and medicinal needs. In the Gavarres, the trade thrived during the 17th and 18th centuries.

How do you get to Pou de glaç del bosc Puntuí? On foot or by bike only, via forest tracks. It lies about 1 km east of Plaça de l'Oli in Cruïlles, on routes from Monells (16–19 km) and from the Ermita Mare de Déu de l'Esperança hermitage (2.4 km).

Can you go inside the well? No — it's a partly collapsed ruin, so visits are limited to viewing it from outside.

What else is worth seeing nearby? Monells (medieval square) and Cruïlles (castle), plus the ice well near Font d'en Salomó, in the same municipality.