The Silent Route
About this good practice
The Silent Route is the result of the enhancement of a road, the A-1702, with a 58 km long that runs through a range of landscapes between the counties of Andorra Sierra de Arcos and Maestrazgo, from the moors of Gargallo and Ejulve, to the north, to the solifluction slopes typical of high mountains, to the south. This road is characterized by its curves, its ravines and the extraordinary landscapes it crosses.
Considered a "bad" road by the residents of the area, it was decided to value it as a panoramic road. The beginning and the end were marked, a name was given to identify it, a web page was created with photographic material to describe all its charms: the landscapes that it crosses, the villages, the trails, the BTT routes, the landmarks that you cannot miss and even its history. And shortly after its inauguration, a logo was placed on a road siding in order to invite visitors to stop to observe the landscape that can be seen from there and take a souvenir photo with “Silencioso”, the emblematic goat of the route.
Thus, an unknown road with a bad reputation for its structural deficiencies has become a tourist product that attracts more visitors every day. Since its creation, many sections of it have been improved for the benefit of residents and visitors. In addition, establishments in the area have become increasingly involved in the development of this product, creating a product club to boost and promote it.
Currently, dynamic actions are still being carried out
Resources needed
2 techniques of the Maestrazgo and Andorra Sierra de Arcos counties.
In terms of financial resources:
Signage, website, brochure-€18,000, videos, photos -€5,000, reproduction of the goat logo -12,000 €, reproduction of El Cayman - €12,000
From own funds and subsidies 50%.
Evidence of success
Much of its success is due to the motorbike community making the road their own, and promoting it as one of the best roads to do on a motorbike.
The results are seen both on social media, where those who ride it share their photos at the different landmarks along the route, in the number of motorbikes that are seen on the territory and in the stickers left by those who pass through it.(increase in users by 30%).
Potential for learning or transfer
This practice serves as an example for the enhancement of resources that we have and to which we do not give importance. As with little money and a lot of imagination, they can become a tourist product and revitalize a territory.
The highway crosses the territory of two counties and all the work to enhance and create the product has been the result of the collaboration and intense work of both. Without him this project would not have been possible nor would it have obtained such good results. Collaboration across administrative boundaries enriches projects.
The tourists themselves are the best prescribers of a tourist product. Part of the success has been thanks to the fact that the tourists themselves, without intending to, have become the main promoters and defenders of the product, authentic ambassadors of it. In this sense, social networks have been a very useful tool to give them a voice.
Also, despite the initial mistrust there finally been great involvement
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
County Council of Maestrazgo and Andorra Sierra de Arcos