Catalonia
Catalonia is known for its diverse natural landscape. Between the peaks of the Pyrenees and the dream beaches of the Mediterranean coast, there are wetlands and lakes, forests and rivers, as well as the distinctive wine landscapes in the interior. But not only nature, culture is also very important in Catalonia. Historic buildings from Roman times, imposing churches and fortresses from the Middle Ages, and the colorful, curved works of Antoni Gaudí and other architects of modernism are just some of the things this region has to offer.
Activities in Catalonia
Destinations in Catalonia
Regions
Attractions in Catalonia
Discover the region
The four regions of Catalonia
Catalonia is a region of contrasts. Located in the very northeast of Spain on the border with France and on the Mediterranean Sea, it is divided into the four provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona and Lleida. The first three regions offer beautiful beaches on the coast. Girona and Lleida border the imposing mountain peaks of the Pyrenees. Tarragona offers the wetlands and warlike history of the Ebro Delta, and Barcelona offers the sights of the Catalan capital. In the interior you will find rivers, forests and, above all, wine regions. And if you are looking for cultural experiences, you won't have to look far: in the four regions you will find historic cities, medieval castles and monasteries, modernist buildings and traces of Roman times.
The nature of Catalonia
Catalonia's nature is very diverse: fine sandy golden beaches, steep cliffs and dunes on the Mediterranean coast, forests, wetlands and lakes directly adjacent to them, wine regions in the interior and mountain ranges in the natural parks up to the high mountains of the Pyrenees.
Cap de Creus, in the region of Girona, extends as a peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea and represents Catalonia's first protected area that includes land and sea areas. Due to the last foothills of the Pyrenees, which meet the Mediterranean Sea here, the landscape is remarkably mountainous. Geologically highly interesting rock formations as well as bizarrely shaped corals and a varied marine fauna are ideal for explorers.
The Ebro Delta was not only the site of the famous Battle of the Ebro during the Spanish Civil War, but also features a spectacular natural landscape that includes the most important wetland in Catalonia. In this huge triangle, the Ebro River meets the Mediterranean Sea, blurring the boundaries between fresh and salt water and combining natural vegetation with cultivated land. Natural park and biosphere reserve protect the natural landscape and are a popular destination for birdwatchers.
Photo: Achim Meurer
In the very northwest of Catalonia, not far from the Pyrenees and the border with the region of Aragon, is the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, the only national park in Catalonia. It represents the genuine high mountains with its majestic landscapes and varied flora and fauna. Here you can wander through hundred-year-old black pine forests, visit almost 200 high mountain lakes and, with a little luck, spot the legendary bearded vulture. Glacial phenomena, alpine meadows and scree fields and mountains almost 3000 m high enrich the national park.
Alt Penedès is the oldest of the wine regions in Catalonia. With its vast fields of vines and vineyards interspersed with small hamlets and farmsteads, the region attracts not only wine lovers, but also hikers and cyclists who leisurely explore the countryside. In between or at the end of the day you can of course taste the regional products and a visit to the museum on the history of wine should not be missed.
Catalonia culture
The cultural landscape of Catalonia is no less exciting and varied than the region's nature. From the traces of the Romans especially in Tarraco, today's city of Tarragona, to former Moorish and Templar fortresses, winding Jewish quarters in the towns, impressive churches and monasteries, to the fancy buildings of Catalan modernism, all historical eras are represented.
While culture lovers often visit the Catalan capital Barcelona, which is definitely worth a visit, we would like to focus here on buildings of a different kind. The Catalan Romanesque churches are sights of a special kind. Since 2000, the nine buildings dating from the 10th to 12th centuries in the Vall de Boí in the Lleida region are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can actively explore the churches on the Romanesque Route.
The thousand-year-old Benedictine monastery of Montserrat in the hinterland of the Catalan capital Barcelona is worth seeing not only because of its basilica with numerous paintings and works of art: all around it stretches the nature park of the same name, which is characterized by a bizarrely rugged mountain range. The unique interplay of nature and culture in this famous place of pilgrimage in Catalonia, therefore, attracts not only Christian believers who come to see the 12th century image of the Black Madonna. The monumental architecture and the museum dedicated to the history of the monastery amazes all visitors.
Photo: Gemma Miralda Escudé
Active in Catalonia
Active vacationers are in good hands in Catalonia. The wild rivers are ideal for rafting, kayaking and canoeing, especially in spring during the snowmelt. And there's plenty to see underwater, too. The marine flora and fauna can be explored not only by advanced divers. Whether in the Illes Medes underwater reserve on the Costa Brava, with its crystal-clear waters and sheer cliffs, or on the seabed of the Costa Daurada and the Ebre region, with its rock formations full of caves - it's even worth taking a look in the water.
Photo: Fons del PTCBG
Catalonia is particularly popular with birdwatchers. The extraordinary biodiversity and the different areas of highest ornithological interest attract amateur researchers every year. Especially in the Ebro Delta, the largest wetland in Catalonia, you can discover numerous species, but also the nature parks Els Ports, Cap de Creus or Montserrat are ideal for bird lovers.
Cyclists in Catalonia will be pleased with a well-developed road network that opens up impressive landscapes and cultural destinations. The winding and steep roads are particularly suitable for road cyclists, but mountain bikers also get their money's worth on 6400 km of marked trails.
Photo: Josep Maria Súria Ribera
Of course, Catalonia is also a good hiking area. Almost 9000 km of marked trails are connected to the Iberian and European network of hiking trails. From leisurely walks on the beach and relaxed routes through the vineyards to cultural routes to the monasteries of Catalonia and challenging routes in the nature parks and the Pyrenees, there is something for every type of hiker.
Particularly recommended are the Camins de Ronda in the Girona region. The long-distance hiking trail winds directly along the Mediterranean Sea of the Costa Brava. In the north defined by the last foothills of the Pyrenees, the path becomes flatter in the south, but not boring. Dreamlike villages directly on the sea, cultural and historical sites, but places marked by modernism are also connected by the hiking trail.
Another great route is the Cistercian Route (La Ruta del Císter) in the Tarragona region. The circular route takes hikers into thousands of years of history as well as the beautiful countryside of Catalonia. Hills and small mountains, pretty villages and vineyards lie along this connecting route between the three monasteries of Poblet, Santes Creus and Vallbona de les Monges. These sacred buildings exude extraordinary tranquility and seclusion from the world, exhorting you to take enough time to explore and enjoy everything to its fullest.