The Tren dels Llacs
Almost three quarters of a century old, the Tren dels Llacs (Train of the Lakes) offers a truly panoramic journey of almost two hours. Linking Lleida - the capital of the Catalan province of the same name - to the small pre-Pyrenean village of La Pobla de Segur, following the meanders of the Segre and Noguera Pallaresa rivers, this tourist train reveals splendid views of the pastures and crops, the lakes and the Catalan mountains as it travels north.
The history of this line goes back to the beginning of the last century, when a project for a trans-Pyrenean train was conceived that would run between the Andalusian town of Baeza and the Ariège town of Saint-Girons, via the port of Salau, a border area in the heart of the Pyrenean massif. Although the Lleida-Balaguer section was inaugurated in 1924, it would take more than 25 years before the Balaguer-La Pobla de Segur section was added. In 2007, the Catalan government began a project to restore this abandoned line and turn it into a tourist attraction, so that in 2009 the Tren dels Llacs was back in service! It was soon decided that two trains would run on this route: a historic train and a panoramic train.
The historic train offers a nostalgic journey on board picturesque vintage wagons built in 1968 and pulled by diesel locomotives. These include an amazing mail van and a cafeteria car with tables and comfortable seats as well as a spacious bar from which to enjoy the scenery. The panoramic train is much more modern, with large windows so that you can see the spectacular swerve. Equipped with 200 seats, it is also adapted for people with reduced mobility and has been designed to allow cyclists to take their bikes on board.
In short, whichever train you choose, the tour will be sensational. Along the 89 km route, the train passes 17 stations, goes through 40 tunnels and crosses 75 bridges. The first part of the journey is along the banks of the Segre river, between Lleida and Balaguer, with the vast plains of the Serra Llarga-Secans de la Noguera on the left of the train. After Balaguer, we enter the majestic mountain range of Montsec and its imposing limestone walls, before entering the territory of Pallars Jussà. The train then leaves the course of the Segre river to follow the course of the Noguera Pallaresa river, dotted with sparkling lakes. The historic train (€33 return) runs almost every Saturday during the day from April to October, while the panoramic train (€25 return) runs four Saturdays a year from mid-July to mid-August. More information at: www.trendelsllacs.cat
La Cremallera del Vall de Núria
The Cremallera de Núria, the highest railway line in southern Europe, opened on 22 March 1931 and is still the only way to reach the magnificent Pyrenean enclave at an altitude of almost 3,000 metres, known as Olla de Núria , a deep mountain area in the north of the Catalan province of Girona. Starting from the town of Ribes de Freser, it is 12.5 km long and climbs valiantly up the mountain over a difference in altitude of more than 1,000 metres. It is the only alternative to the mule track to reach this important pilgrimage site (the monastery-sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin of Núria, now the patron saint of skiers, which has been visited by pilgrims since the 12th century, is well worth a visit), but it is also a place of leisure: in winter, one practises the ski there on a dozen tracks, in summer, it is the excursion which takes over, with foot or horse, but also the stroll in boat or canoe on the lake. A journey as short (40 minutes) as it is intense, with chamois, marmots and golden eagles often on the trip!
As soon as it was commissioned, the line was electrified. Built on a metric gauge, the topography of this mountainous area made it possible to operate it by simple adhesion on the first 5.5 km stretch of road. The remaining 7 km were the heart of the problem: to overcome the segments with gradients of up to 15%, the line had to be equipped with a double rack and pinion system, allowing the train to hold on tightly to the ramp, like a mountaineer with his ice axes. The electric locomotives pulling the passenger cars were renewed in 1985 and again in 2003, with Swiss equipment, manufactured by the Stadler Rail workshops (the same locomotives as those of the Montserrat rack railway).
For train enthusiasts, a visit to the permanent exhibition dedicated to the Cremallera de Núria (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), which can be found at the train departure station in Ribes-de-Freser, is highly recommended. It allows you to get an idea of the successive technical advances in train technology as well as to delve into the region's past through historical and cultural themes. Older versions of the train are on display, accompanied by fairly detailed explanations and descriptive videos. An instructive visit that highlights the importance of opening up the Núria Valley and the essential role that the arrival of the train played in the valley's economy.
Running all year round, the Cremallera de Núria usually makes five departures a day from Ribes de Freser, between 9am and 6pm, and costs €25.50 per adult (€15.50 for children aged 4 to 13). The train stops in Queralbs, the last town accessible by road before the Núria Valley. A magical journey through a land full of character and untouched by human presence, as dreamy under the winter snow as it is under the summer sun. For more information: www.valldenuria.cat.
The Cremallera of Montserrat
A true Catalan emblem and a symbol of the deep bond between the local people and their natural environment, the Montserrat Natural Park, dominated by its spectacular monastery, is one of the must-see places for anyone visiting Barcelona. To do this, you can take the Cremallera del Montserat (the Montserrat cogwheel train), which in 15 minutes climbs the 600-metre difference in altitude between the small station at Monistrol de Montserat and the monastery, providing travellers with a breathtakingly beautiful spectacle! Including the train journey from Plaça Espanya (Barcelona) and the cogwheel railway through the mountains, the journey will take 1.5 hours.
Montserrat Park is an area of subtle magnetism, offering many surprises to those who enter it. The imposing massif of granite formations with characteristic rounded peaks known as "needles" is home to a unique indigenous fauna - wild goats, Iberian vipers, white-bellied swifts and Bonelli's eagle - which can be seen on a walk along the park's numerous hiking trails or while climbing its walls, as the area is well known to rock-climbers. Nature lovers can stop off at the brand new Geoparc de la Catalunya Central interpretation centre, which will open in 2020 and explore the mountain's history, geology, fauna and flora.
It is estimated that the esplanade on which the monastery of Montserrat is located, a major place of religious pilgrimage in Catalonia, would have been home to four chapels since the year 888. Over time, this group of temples eventually became a real Benedictine abbey, with the basilica being inaugurated in 1592, housing a famous image of the Virgin. Not far away is a museum considered one of the most important in the world for Art Nouveau painting. Also worth mentioning is the exhibition of the Tren Cremallera de Montserrat railway, which is located at the second stop of the cogwheel train at the Monistrol-Vila station. It tells the story of the construction of the daring little railway through texts, images and interactive videos. There are also two funiculars that take the adventure a little further: the Funicular de Sant Joan and the Funicular de Santa Cova.
To make this trip from Barcelona, you must take the FGC R5 line from Plaça Espanya station (one train per hour from 8.30am) and get off at Monistrol-de-Montserrat station. From there, the cogwheel train leaves for the summit every 20 minutes. The return ticket from Barcelona to the monastery costs €11.50 (€6.30 for children aged 4 to 13). There are also tickets that include admission to the museum and a meal. If you have a car, you can drive directly to the Monistrol-Vila station (parking for 900 cars) and board the cogwheel train on the way. More information at: www.cremallerademontserrat.cat/
El Tren del Ciment
The Tren del Ciment (Cement Train), also known as "El Carrilet" (the little train), is a historic train: it was put into service more than a century ago and in its first years of operation was used to transport cement and coal. From 1914 onwards, it carried passengers until 1963. Dusted off and put back into operation by the Catalan railway company Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) in 2005, it now has a tourist vocation. Although the route is fairly short - 3.5 km and about 20 minutes - it allows you to discover the beautiful Berguedà region, located to the northwest of Barcelona, and the magnificent forests and natural landscapes of the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, as well as some of its picturesque villages, in four stops: La Pobla de Lillet, La Pobla Centre, Jardines Artigas and Castellar de n'Hug, home to Catalonia's first cement factory, which was once the economic engine of the region.
The journey begins in La Pobla de Lillet, where there is an exhibition centre set up in the town's old railway station, housing old trains that have made the history of the Llobregat valley. The village is also full of small treasures of Romanesque and medieval architecture, as well as some works by the famous Antoni Gaudí. The second station is La Pobla-Centre, where you can stop to admire the Pont Vell (a superb medieval bridge) and the monastery of Santa Maria de Lillet. The third stop is the Artigas Gardens. Here you can enjoy a stroll through these magnificent gardens designed by Gaudí at the beginning of the 20th century, punctuated by numerous architectural buildings with elements linked to the plant, mineral and aquatic world. Finally, the train arrives at its terminus in Castellar de n'Hug station. In this pretty village with cobbled streets, we find the highlight of the show: the Cement Museum. This imposing modernist building, nestled in the hills and surrounded by an abundance of nature, was the jewel in the crown of the region's economic development in the last century. The visit to the very first Catalan cement factory offers a journey back in time to discover the living conditions of the workers of the past and the rudiments of cement production. A discovery game for the youngest has even been set up: follow the factory's elves!
In addition to the stops made by the cement train, the journey itself is a most pleasant experience in the summer: the four carriages (each of which can accommodate 25 passengers) pulled by an old red and green diesel locomotive are open to the four winds, allowing you to enjoy the magnificent landscapes crossed. The train usually runs on weekends from the end of March to the end of November, with a departure every hour from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm (timetable varies according to the time of year). The cost of the return trip is €9 (€5.50 for children aged 4 to 13). More info on : www.trendelciment.cat
