THINGS TO DO IN CATALONIA

During your holiday rental you can visit one or more of the most beautiful regions of Catalonia.

Because of al these initiatives, the tourist, - who attaches very much importance to the respect of the environment choosing his holiday destination - can be sure to spend a splendid holiday!

In the extreme north of the Iberian Peninsula, along the Mediterranean Sea, the traveller will find a region, as big as Belgium and Holland together, and where 60 % of the space is protected!

Rather small, this region however offers a very big variety of landscapes. 144 protected nature reserves of different categories are situated between the enormous plains and the 200 km of sinuous mountains, including a national park, applying the most rigorous ecological norms. All along the 580 km of exuberant coasts, the traveller will discover 88 beaches and 21 yacht basins, which acquired last year the prize of the 'Bandera Blava Europea' (European blue banner) in exchange of the provided efforts with regard to the environment.

But Catalonia offers you even much more! These few pages present various kinds of activities - cultural visits or excursions, by feet, by horse or by bicycle, selected because each of them continuously contributes at the conservation of the environment. The gastronomy also is essential, especially because it consists of very first quality ingredients. A big choice of opportunities to discover with friends or with the family.

GIRONA: The Brave

An explosion of life in a diviiiiiiiine space!

The traveller can't be else than thrilled of Girona. >From the Costa Brava with its small coves of crystal clear water, there are only a few kilometres to reach the Pyrenees, where the mountains of more than 3.000 meters are waiting for the fans of winter sports. Between the two of them a spacious region is stretching with small medieval villages, in the middle of cornfields and fruit trees. Macs de l'Albera, situated close to the French border and the coast, is an ideal park for lovers of nature and especially of Mediterranean turtles, a menaced species, actually protected by different programs of reinsertion.

One of the main attractions of the mountain massif is the breathtaking view from the summits, a real palette of contrasts between the colours of the sea and of the land with the mountains on the background. In Castell d'Empries, a charming medieval town, the old factory 'La Farinera' is been converted nowadays in a museum, dedicated to the transformation process of corn to meal, a technology used until the end of the XIXth century. The most surprising are the wooden machines, fed of electricity by an antiquarian water turbine that still perfectly works.

Figueres is situated nearby, the city where the famous artist Salvador Dal was born and died. In 2004 we celebrated the hundredth birth anniversary of this authentic genius of the surrealistic art. The three museums of the region forming the Dal-triangle have programmed activities and expositions, illustrating his extraverted character in different art facets.

Other masterpiece: the Illes Medes, a pure jewel of nature, receiving all the year over the deep-sea diving fans. The islands are indeed considered as one of the most beautiful water biotopes of Europe!, as much for its state of conservation as for its wealth of flora and fauna of the sea bottom. More to the south, the fishery museum: el Museo de la Pesca of Palams tells us about the present and the future of fishery in the Mediterranean Sea. During the summer funny visits are organised, guided by pirates!, as well as trips by boat with Latin sails, including the plunge in the sea.

By bicycle and equipped with the map, collectively published by Santa Cristina d'Aro, Sant Feliu de Guixols y Platja d'Aro, the traveller will discover that the coast is much more than only beaches! Because of the multilingual explications, it is very easy to venture without get lost in the Mediterranean forests, following the ancient pathways

At only a few kilometres, at Arbcies, the Sunday before the celebration of Corpus Christi, people celebrate the 'Enramades', decreed of national interest! At this occasion, the streets are decorated with carpets of multicoloured flowers, giving off its perfume in the whole village. During seven days, the local population organize happenings such as the night-excursion with torches or the partner ball, accompanied by old popular songs. On the road to the Pyrenees, the traveller will discover the volcanic area of La Garrotxa, a landscape of great beauty and large ecological value. The wealth of its nature is so enormous that it has been given cause for the adoption of a 'Carta verde europea de turismo duradero' (European Green Charter of durable tourism). This 'charter' defines quality programs and tourist activities regarding the natural environment. It competes also for honouring the traditions and customs and for promoting the commercialisation of handcrafted products in the agrarian food shops.

The park Vall de Nria also dedicates to the conservation of the natural resources. It has been given the prize for that matter of label UNEN EN ISO 14001 in 'Gestin del Medio Ambiente' (Environmental Management). The only way to reach this park is by feet or by the rack railway.

While the children have a good time in a workplace, discovering some ecological values such as the importance of the renewable energies compared with the not renewables, the adults can spend an enjoyable day visiting the sanctuary and the museums, or making an excursion on foot, by boat or on horseback.

The Plan of Development of Durable Tourism of Girona of 1999 has given cause for the opening of an observation post for the territory quality, supporting especially the programs of reduction of the noise pollution or a more rational consumption of water. The success of this initiative is due to the attachment of the local population to their roots.

From a small hill, Girona commands the surroundings. The community of the Jewish established until 1492 has left an elegant and peaceful historical centre. Nowadays, this neighbourhood is a labyrinth of narrow alleys where among other things the centre Bonastruc a Porta is situated. This museum, accessible to the public, demonstrates the importance and influence of the Jewish in the region. Some of them have drawn up religious studies, still used nowadays!

LLEIDA: The Surprising

Mountains, valleys and plains alternate in a landscape of enormous beauty.

Also the population is friendly.. People that have been able, in the course of the years, to transform the natural landscapes, humanising them to make agrarian fields and livestock meadows, the two of them important factors for a survival economy. In this way, the 'Ruta de los Oficios' of Antan, presents no less than 6 traditional professions. As at Tuixent, for example, in the northwest of this extensive region, where the 'trementina', an old medicine based on herbs and plants, has given cause for the museum of the 'Trementinaires', giving us an overview of the history of the actual homeopathy. For the fans of durable tourism, there is also the brand-new bio-climatic building 'Planes de Son'. The programs of one-day-activities or practices open the visitors' eyes and teach them how to 'live' the nature in an enriching way.

It isn't even necessary to present the nature reserves: the park of Aigestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici is situated in the high mountains, unique by the magnificence of its landscapes and the wealth of fauna and flora, surprising by its hydrography, composed by nearly 200 lakes and brooks, and is governed with the most rigorous ecological norms. An excursion in such an intact and beautiful landscape will inevitably remain stamped in the memory forever. About ten kilometres more to the south, the Vall de Bo stretches with its total of nine Roman churches, declared to World Heritage by UNESCO, for its state of conservation and the quality of the frescos which decor the walls. The recently opened Centre of Interpretation of Roman Art in Erill la Vall makes the understanding of this magnificent architecture available to everybody, young or older people and facilitates the visit of these churches, accessible to the public during the all year. Very close, at Pont de Suert, the society 'La Petjada', managed by two biologists, passionate of nature, propose thematic itineraries which guide the participants trough the oak forests looking for rests of old traditions and folk stories. The purpose of these biologists consists in updating the natural habitat evolution, caused by the constant migrations of the animals, and in observing the impact of the human being on the environment.

Near by 'The Centre of Reproduction and Protection' of the otters is situated, which takes care of the wounded specimens or orphans before releasing them in the zones where they disappeared. This exotic animal species living in a semi aquatic natural habitat is an excellent detector of the health of the rivers. The otter partially lives in the continent to repose and partially in the water fishing out fishes, crabs and frogs. Halfway up to the capital city, the 'Ruta de los Buitres' (The route of the vultures) in the Terreta valley is inescapable.

With a good pair of glasses it's very easy to observe the eagles like the osprey, the griffon vulture and the Egyptian vulture in their impressive corporations. The site with the less visual contamination of the whole Catalonian territory is situated more to the South. This area is also called the Black Hole of Catalonia! Accompanied by the guides of 'El Pterodctil del Pla d'Agull', the visitors can observe, in spite of the coldness of the night, the stars in between of two sessions of astro-photography.

In the same enclave, the auditorium 'Mas Portal' dedicates to the apprenticeship of nature and helps with the interpretation and the multi- disciplinary knowledge of the environment, by stays for all kind of groups. Another ingenious project, invented and worked out by the experts of the society 'Geodiscovering': seek gold 'like in those days' in the Noguera Pallaresa River. This isn't a joke. There is gold... And it isn't impossible to find some little nuggets. They also give a complete overview of the geology, the biology and the ethnography of the area and a lot of universities of the whole world come up to visit them.

The fans of the gastronomy must definitely visit the 'Fundaci Parc Temtic de l'Oli' at Borges Blanques. In the middle of millenarian olive trees of Roman times, visitors will discover the importance of the olive oil in the Catalan culture and admire the impressive red juicers, the collection of cruets of 45 different countries and the biggest juicer of the world!

TARRAGONA: La Frtil

Sprinkled by the water of the Ebro River, this city has been able to save its charm.

The Costa Daurada is situated in the South of Catalonia, 'Golden Coast' . perhaps because it's keeping secret its gold? In fact, it has to thank its name for the colour of the fine sand of the large sun-drenched beaches, situated along the pure water of the Mediterranean Sea. You can reach this coast by the so beautiful and varied midland, but often hidden for visitors'eyes. The nature reserve Flix, considered as one of the most beautiful sugar plantations of the Iberian Peninsula, is the perfect site to discover several treasures. There is furthermore running a breeding program for storks in this splendid place.

Close by Bellmunt del Priorat is situated, a region rich in minerals. The ancient mines of the last century have been transformed into a museum. The visit of the museum is very original and runs through the subterranean galleries and the exterior constructions of the industrial complex where before they extracted the lead. Another curiosity: the old small working-class houses of that time.

If there is a region rich in clay, of course it's Miravet , a really lovely village, where during centuries the Christians, the Jewish and the Arabs were peacefully living together! We can find a cultural heritage of this coexistence in the artesian workplaces where magnificent objects in terracotta are still produced by hand, made according to the traditional Arabian techniques. The tourist can buy big jugs to conserve wine or oil, or jars, very practical to conserve the water fresh with the hot weather of Spain. In the most southerly area, the Ebro river mouth forms a very beautiful delta of 320 square meters and offers one of the loveliest aquatic habitats of the westerly Mediterranean Sea. The landscape extends endlessly with surprising ponds, populated by migratory birds and with enormous rice paddies.

If you want to know something more about the nature reserve, you can visit the ornithological museum at 'Casa de Fusta', the ecological museum at Deltebre or make one of the several excursions on foot, by bike or by kayak, from Sant Carles de la Rpita. Also worthwhile is to visit the farmhouse 'Lo Mas de la Cuixeta' at L'Encanyisada.

The program takes the visitor to a rice paddy to, in accordance with the season of the year, cultivate or harvest this so tasty product. After such a tiring day, there is nothing better than make a short excursion aboard of a boat, dragged by horses!

Continuing our trip over the coast to the North, the traveller gets to Cambrils. This village has a very important fishing port and several ecological and tourist itineraries also start from here, like excursions throughout the village or the countryside by ancient routes with a natural and monumental magnificence.

This region also is famous for its warm fountains and its cure programs in the different health resorts. The most surprising spring is for sure the one of the small lake in the middle of the beach of Coma-Ruga. These waters have a healthful effect for persons who suffer from joints and bones, or from the blood circulation or from coetaneous illnesses, like psoriasis.

BARCELONA: The Inexhaustible

Place of permanent dialogue between vitality and traditions that survived the past.

Barcelona is green, although the majority of the tourist doesn't perceive it in this way. There is nothing more to do than admire the parks surrounding 'The City of the Counts' to be convinced. That's anyway what the pedagogical and cultural activities are reflecting, organized for the local population as well as for the visitors by the ecological centres of the different villages.

At the Costa del Garraf, the ecological activity is concentrated in the Llobregat delta, the second in Catalonia concerning the surface (97 km). The splendid nature reserves invite the traveller to observe the local fauna.

In the midland, the small village of Capellades wouldn't be noticed at all, if there wasn't the 'Museu Molí Paperer' demonstrating us how to produce paper like in the epoch of its invention. It's really surprising to be present at this process with authentic tools and machines of the XVIIIth century, still functioning perfectly nowadays.

And this is only an example between the 20 forming the network of the museums dedicated to the conservation of the industrial tradition of Catalonia, in those days the base of the great economical power of the region in the XIXth century. Several museums are distinguishable for its contents, but also for its building housing them, as it is in the case of the Museo of Science and Technology of Terrassa, a really pure jewel of the industrial architecture.

In the real heart of Catalonia, Montserrat, the holy mountain, stands up, making a deep impression and amazing the visitors by its millenarian sedimentary rock forms. It's a remarkable mountain massif, abruptly rising out of the Llobregat River and the point reaching 1.236 metres. It's been a long time since the beginning of its formation and however .. Montserrat continues to perform its magnetism on each of us!

Another funny suggestion makes us thinking a little bit at the Far West: 'Paisatge i aventura' organizes namely a journey by wagon through the Castelltallat mountain massif. The covered wagons are dragged by horses and during a weekend or longer the traveller lives in it.

At only a few kilometres, the traveller discovers all an assortment of curiosities and tourist attractions as the 'La ruta de los Castillos' from Besora to Montesquiu , architectural patrimony, offered by the local population to the tourists. At Roda de Ter you can see the ancient technology of cultivation and storage of the medieval agriculture in a shed of the XII-XIIIth century. Furthermore there is the Archaeological Museum of 'l'Esquerda', or the 'Camí dels Maquis' at Santa Cecília de Voltregà , where the owners of the country house 'Mas el Corral' will count you old bandit folk stories.

For people who want to have a good time, there is also an excursion on donkey back through the Montnegre i Corredor nature park organized by the association 'Rucs del Corredor'. This association is dedicated to the preservation and protection of this menaced animal species, since the disappearance of the traditional country life.

At the Costa del Maresme, the CRAM (Fundaci per a la Conservaci i Recuperaci d'Animals Marins - Foundation for the Preservation and Protection of the Sea-Fauna) is fascinating to see how they help the whales and dolphins washed up on the beach, to let them go later on again. This way they also rescue other accidentally fished up or ill sea species. This foundation develops also research projects in its veterinarian clinic reserved for protected species.

But not only the nature is durable .. There is also the culture..