For those in the know, the Pyrenees of Catalonia has earned a reputation as an all-season adventure playground for travellers. It’s easy to see why. The sweeping valleys of the Pyrenees of Catalonia boasts seemingly endless hiking routes, high-adrenaline outdoor pursuits, incredible natural scenery and some of the most diverse flora in Europe as well as an opportunity to watch wild fauna in their natural habitats including the mighty ós bru (brown bear). However, the area is so much more than an adventurer’s paradise, thanks to its plethora of outstanding architectural and cultural sites and charming villages and towns, that all enjoy their own unique personalities. Families also take centre stage with six certified and dedicated resorts for little ones and their parents to enjoy in the area. It’s time to discover the real Pyrenees of Catalonia.
BACK TO NATURE
A territory in the north of Catalonia, bordering Spain, Andorra and France, the Pyrenees of Catalonia invites you to get back to nature with five nature parks and Catalonia’s only national park, Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. You can amble among dramatic woodlands that are brimming with flowing rivers, cascading waters and sky-touching mountains. Stroll the Carros de Foc route and you will more than likely catch a glimpse of antelope, lazily grazing or a golden eagle, eyeing up its next meal. Over in Vall d’Àneu, cleanse the mind, body and soul with a ‘forest bath’ in the largest fir tree forest on the Iberian Peninsula as you absorb the sights, sounds and smells of your surroundings. Next, if you consider yourself an amateur ornithologist, head over to Casa Leonardo in the small village of Senterada, where a specialised guide will help you tick off a host of species from your bird-watching list alongside kaleidoscopic butterflies, buzzing dragonflies and botany. The education continues with a lesson about the ancient rivers of lava that used to flow through La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park. Here, you can explore some of Catalonia’s most spectacular non-active volcanoes and sites including Croscat, Santa Margarida, Montsacopa by foot, by bike via the Carrilet Greenway Olot or from above with an exhilarating hot-air balloon ride.
ADRENALINE ADVENTURES
The Pyrenees of Catalonia really is the pleasure ground for all outdoor enthusiasts, no matter your escapade, no matter the time of year. From running, paragliding and mountain climbing to 4 x 4 excursions, helicopter flights and rafting, there is no sport too extreme for the Pyrenees. For cyclists, set a course for where the roads and paths turn from tarmac to pebbles and stone. Surrounded by verdant, undulating hills, the Montgarri Loop will charm you with its epic panoramas of mountain landscapes and lush pastures, filled with cows and horses. As you travel by foot or bike, the sound of rushing water will grow from a soft din to a rousing invitation. Heed the call and dive into Catalonia’s premier ‘aqua-tainment’ offering, Noguera Pallaresa River. Reaching speeds of more than 40 kilometres per hour, its rapids are considered to be some of the finest in Europe to showcase your kayaking and rafting skills. Guaranteeing thrilling fun, be warned, the rapids are not for the faint of heart.
For those searching for something a little more relaxed on the water, set sail for Torrassa Lake in the heart of the Pyrenees, where you can master the basics of kayaking in idyllic, peaceful surrounds. When you’re back on terra firma, enjoy a family fun outing at the El Pallars Sobirà Ecopark, where there are more than 90 activities to experience including 500 metres of ziplining, several hiking trails, mountain biking, canoeing, fishing and free-fall jumping. Up next, slip on the hiking boots and take on the 84 kilometres of hiking at the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Reserve. Enjoying more than a 10,000-metre elevation gain, the route possesses eight mountain refuges for some much-needed rest and refuelling. For the most supreme views of the natural reserve, the best advice is to take the circular route in the anti-clockwise direction.
HIT THE SLOPES
As the gentle climes of summer and autumn give way to the colder temperatures of winter, swap your hiking boots for skis. The Pyrenees of Catalonia is home to 650 kilometres of skiable pistes, comprising 16 ski resorts – 10 alpine and six cross-country – the area is one of the largest and most varied skiable domains in southern Europe. Alt Pirineu Natural Park offers the opportunity for skiers to come into direct contact with nature while zigzagging down the sleek slopes. Over in Baqueira Beret, those unfamiliar with the white stuff can get to grips with their snowshoes with an excursion through the snowy mountains of Val d’Aran. Starting in the Pla de Beret, you climb to the ski station before following the course of the river Malo, where you will weave through a small valley between meadows and subalpine forests until you reach your destination of Lake Baciver.
Next, combine the thrill of sledding with man’s best friend and enjoy a mushing experience. A deep-rooted practice in the Pyrenees, hop aboard a sled and allow the powerful huskies to whisk you through the ice and snow-laden landscapes. Or if you find yourself in Ohmamiglú in January and February, embrace your inner Inuit and construct an igloo to call your own. However, if you are feeling very brave (and very warm), plunge under the surface with an ice dive at Vall de Núria. Located at an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres, the lake is nearly seven metres deep. Here, you can enjoy an underwater tour where you will discover a natural, vibrant light show, thanks to the effects of sunrays filtering through the holes in the ice. Once you have dried off, heat up with a hearty plate of exquisite Pyrenees gastronomy. Girella (a Pallars regional sausage), palpis (a stuffed, deboned leg of lamb) and daines (biscuits filled with aromatic herbs) will assist in raising the temperatures and your comfort levels when you abandon icy cold outside for the warm interiors of a welcoming restaurant. In Masella, nocturnal skiers conclude the adventures of the day with a bountiful mountain meal at Pla de Masella restaurant, whereas visitors to the Niu de l’Àliga (Eagle’s Nest) are served up tasty dinners with stunning views of the Cerdanya Valley.
CULTURAL CALLING
Beyond the natural parks and the majestic ski resorts of Baqueira Beret and Boí Taüll, the area is bestowed with dozens of medieval villages and heritage sites. Travel through Vall de Boí and you will be rewarded with a magnificent collection of Romanesque churches. Believed to be one of the most prime examples of pictorial art and architecture in the Lombard Romanesque style, make sure to check out Nativitat de Durro and Santa Maria de Cardet. On the banks of the Valarties and Garonne rivers, sits the Roman village of Arties in the densely forested Aran Valley. Bestowed with a distinct cultural identity due to being located on the Atlantic side of the granite mountain range, the village is made up of stone and slate houses, 12th century Romanesque churches and restaurants dishing out scrumptious Aranese fare like olha Aranesa (a slow cooked stew of meatballs, potatoes and noodles). Wander around the protected park until you come to two thermal swimming pools next to Banhs d’Arties. Here, you can go for a dip where the ancient Romans once bathed.
Next, discover the secrets of the skies at Sant Quirc de Durro. A stargazing viewpoint eight miles southwest of the village of Taüll, allow yourself to be in awe of the stunning views of stars and constellations of the night sky. Time your visit to coincide with the last week of June and you will be able to take in the sight of hundreds of villagers descending the mountains with flaming torches for the ancient fire ritual, Falles del Pirineu, that marks the summer solstice.
