Font de Comabella

Font de Comabella is a roadside spring and trail waypoint on the Carretera de la Rabassa (CS-130), above the village of Juberri in Sant Julià de Lòria parish. The current parish tourism guide places the Comabella recreation area at kilometre 5.99 of the road and gives an elevation of about 1,389 metres. Other municipal tourism material lists the Font de Comabella fountain at the same kilometre, with an approximate height of 1,380 metres. These entries describe nearby elements of the same roadside zone, but the mapped spring should not be confused with the wider picnic area, parking or family trail.

The fountain is best known as a starting reference for exploring the forests between Juberri and La Rabassa. Visit Andorra’s Macarulla route for “El món trapella d’en Llimoi” gives the Font de Comabella zone as the route access point. The published family circuit is about 2.25 kilometres long, has around 142 metres of ascent and is described as moderate, with an estimated time of about an hour and a half. Its directions ask visitors to bring mountain footwear, carry water and food, check the weather, keep to the marked trail and avoid lighting fires. Those figures describe the complete circuit, not the distance from the parking area to the spring itself.

The official route uses the spring-area parking as a base for a family walking circuit through the surrounding forest. The Macarulla activity includes story-themed stops and playful tasks for children, but those installations and route materials belong to the wider Llimoi path, not to the water outlet alone. Families should check the current condition of the route and any signs at the trailhead before setting out. The official guidance says the circuit is not suitable for people with reduced mobility, and adults should supervise younger children, especially those under three years old.

Comabella sits on the rising road that connects the lower parish with Juberri and La Rabassa. The route climbs through a landscape of forest, clearings and mountain-side settlements, with access to Naturland farther up the road. This is a useful stop for walkers who want to begin a short marked circuit or continue toward higher trails, but it is not an urban fountain reached by a level pavement. Visitors driving should use the signed roadside access and park without blocking traffic or private entrances. The road is used by vehicles travelling between Sant Julià, Juberri, Naturland and the upland routes, so crossings and roadside walking require care.

Several sources use “Comabella” for more than one local feature. The parish recreation directory lists the Comabella picnic area, while the mountain guide separately identifies Font de Comabella as a fountain. The Macarulla leaflet calls the route start “Zona font de Comabella” and provides trailhead coordinates. Recent outdoor tracks also use Font de Comabella as a waypoint on routes that continue toward Coll de la Rabassa, La Rabassa, Font dels Traginers and Sant Esteve de Juberri. These references support the mapped spring’s identity and its practical association with the trailhead, but the individual picnic-area facilities should not be attributed to the spring as if they were part of the water source.

The wider area has more than one fountain. Municipal information also names Font del Fornell, Font de la Ca and Font de Montllobar along the Rabassa road, each with a different kilometre point or elevation. They are not alternate names for Font de Comabella. Hikers continuing uphill should use the name and kilometre marker for each source rather than assuming a single fountain will supply the route. The Macarulla route specifically begins in the Comabella zone; it is not a survey of water points or a certification that any fountain is potable.

There are no fixed opening hours for the outdoor spring. The road and marked hiking route may be accessible throughout the year, but conditions change with weather, snow, ice, maintenance and daylight. The official leaflet encourages checking the forecast and staying on the marked circuit. Higher trails toward La Rabassa can involve steeper terrain and more exposed conditions than the short family loop. Select a route appropriate to the season and your group, and do not assume that a roadside start makes the entire outing easy or safe in winter.

Current flow and drinking-water quality are not confirmed in the sources reviewed. A public map pin or the word “font” does not guarantee treated or tested water. Carry your own drinking water for the family circuit and for any onward walk. Drink from the spring only if clear, current municipal signage explicitly states that it is potable. Do not leave waste or food around the source, and take care not to damage the spring fittings or nearby vegetation.

The Comabella zone is also connected with the Jardins de Juberri, Naturland and several longer walking or cycling routes, but these are separate destinations. GPS tracks published by visitors record widely different total distances because they may start in Sant Julià, Juberri, Aubinyà or La Rabassa and may be hiking or cycling itineraries. Use the official Macarulla leaflet for the short family circuit and a separate route map for a longer journey. Do not reuse a long-distance track’s elevation or timing as if it described a direct spring visit.

Font de Comabella is a practical mountain-side stop where the road, a named spring and marked family trail meet. Its main value to visitors is as an access point for the surrounding forest and the Macarulla route. Confirm current parking and route signs on arrival, bring water and weather-appropriate footwear, and distinguish the fountain itself from the broader recreation area. For higher trails, plan a separate outing with appropriate navigation and enough time to return safely.