The Catalan Agency for Cultural Heritage (ACdPC) has set up a pass to explore different cultural ensembles in the region. With this pass, you can discover that Catalan cultural heritage is wide open to you. This card gives you unlimited access to 29 places for one year. You can buy the card in almost all the places or online, more information on the website. The pass has two options: an "individual" pass or a "multi-person" pass if you are traveling with a family or group. Here are some of the places you can enjoy.
The monumental complex of Sant Pere de Rodes
Located in the north of Catalonia, a little out of the way and isolated, the monastery is one of the treasures of Catalan Romanesque art and one of the most emblematic of the region. The monumental ensemble - the monastery, the village of Santa Creu and the castle of Verdera - in the heart of a breathtaking landscape. But above all it is one of the most interesting monumental sets to discover the medieval world
The archaeological site of Empuries
It is the ancient gateway to the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula by the Roman civilization. It is a reference site for Greek culture on the peninsula. Two archaeological sites can be discovered in just over an hour, the Greek city Empòrion and the Roman city Emporiae. And in the adjoining museum, don't miss the sculpture of Esculapi.
The archaeological site of Ullastret
This archaeological site includes the magnificent ruins of Poblat Ibèric - an Iberian village from the 6th century BC, located on a small hill surrounded by walls. All this in a 100% Mediterranean atmosphere with pine and cypress trees
The Girona Art Museum
Located in the former Episcopal Palace, the Girona Art Museum allows you to discover the architecture of the time, since the first references to the place date back to the 10th century
It is the most important art collection of the bishopric and the province of Girona. From the Romanesque style to the Noucentista (early 20th century movement), including Baroque and Art Nouveau, the museum displays paintings and sculptures from different periods. Through its rooms, discover a beautiful collection of ceramics, gold and silverware and liturgical art dating from the pre-Romanesque to contemporary art. Don't miss the glass table from the 14th century on which the cathedral's stained glass windows were made
Cardona Castle
Dating from the 11th century, Cardona Castle offers a breathtaking view of the Cardener basin and the Salt Mountain. At that time, the exploitation of salt made the castle one of the political epicenters of the Crown of Aragon. It is a place full of history, with still some beautiful original buildings that have been preserved
The Archaeological Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona
Located at the entrance to Montjuïc Park, in the former Palace of Graphic Arts built for the 1929 Universal Exhibition, this museum houses a fine collection of archaeological remains. The MAC offers a true journey to the origins of Catalonia, with remains ranging from the Paleolithic to the medieval period. Its permanent collection of more than 50,000 objects includes outstanding pieces such as the Mosaic of the Three Graces (3rd century).
The Museum of the History of Catalonia in Barcelona
Take advantage of your stay in Barcelona to continue with the history museum. At the entrance to La Barceloneta, this museum occupies a large brick building known as the Palau del Mar. In the past, the place was occupied by warehouses and received the goods of the ships that came to anchor in the port. On five floors, you can discover the history and memory of Catalonia, from prehistory to the present day, through objects, documents and historical reconstructions.
The National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia
As soon as you arrive, you can admire the building dating from 1907 that once housed the Vapor Aymerich Amat i Jover factory. Today, the National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia is mainly about the industrial development of Catalonia through boilers, chimneys and other machines. But not only! We also discover an amazing collection of old cars, we go back over the history of the computer, and even why not, we take a walk through the different sources of energy as the engine of human activity and industrialization. Young and old alike will be amazed!
The National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona
Come and discover the remains of the city of Tarraco, the ancient name of Tarragona! From the first century BC, this site was occupied by the Romans and today we can admire many marble statues from the theater, mosaics, coins, ceramics ... All discovered during excavations in the area.
The Royal Monastery of Santes Creus
Three Cistercian monasteries are important in the region: Poblet, Vallbona and this one. The one in Santes Creus is the only one that no longer has a monastic life today. Built in 1160, it was constructed according to the same model as the Cistercian monastery and fortified in the 14th century. It will be protected by the rich families of the Catalan nobility as well as the kings of Aragon. Don't miss the church, austere, simple but spectacular, which contains the royal tombs of Peter the Great, James the Just and his wife Blanche of Anjou. The stained glass windows and the baroque altarpiece by Josep de Tremulles are also worth a visit, before lingering on the scriptorium and the monks' dormitory. Also take time to visit the magnificent Gothic cloister.
The Charterhouse of Escaladei
This is one of the must-see places in the region. Built by the monks of the Carthusian order in the 12th century in 1194, it was the first monastery of their order on the Iberian Peninsula. For some 700 years, the monks built mills and cultivated vines before abandoning the place in 1835, following the law expropriating all the religious in the country. Today, the visit is that of ruins, but the scale of the construction impresses. Do not miss the visit to the Renaissance cloister, recently restored. It is also possible to visit the reconstructed cabin-cell of a Carthusian monk. With prior reservation, you can even enjoy a guided tour in French
The castle of Miravet
Built on a cliffside, Miravet Castle stands majestically next to the Ebro River. The oldest remains of the castle date back to the 11th century, in the Al-andalusian style.
This ancient Muslim fortress was donated to the Order of the Knights Templar in the 12th century by Ramon Berenguer IV. The Knights Templar turned it into an important commandery center and monastery
When, in the 14th century, Rome ordered the dissolution of the order, Miravet Castle was one of the last to resist, holding a siege of about a year in 1307 and 1308. When the siege fell, the castle passed into the hands of the Hospitaller order. Today it remains an essential witness of the medieval military architecture with a style between the Romanesque and the Gothic. Inside, you can admire the unique nave with a barrel vault, the wall of almost 25 meters as well as the place of arms. But don't miss the terrace which offers a superb view of the surroundings. From there, you will better understand the strategic importance of this site, which played a major role in the conflicts that affected the region, from the Wars of the Segadors to the Battle of the Ebro.
And a host of other visits
And if you are still not convinced by the Bat à Bat pass, you can also visit the Palau Forge, the canonical church of Santa Maria de Vilabertran, the Carles Fontserè studio, the Girona Archaeology Museum, the old Santa Caterina Hospital, the Rafael Casanova House Museum, the Cement Museum, the Claramunt Castle, the Sedo Workers' City Museum..
FUTURE INFO
Duration
The subscription is valid for one year, unlimited, from the first validation. In order to enjoy and discover the region, we recommend at least one week.
Budget
30 € for the normal rate, 25 € for the reduced rate. If there are several of you, you can choose the Multipersonnel option - for you and up to three companions maximum, at 70 € for the normal rate and 60 € for the reduced rate. Conditions for reduced rates to be consulted on the website
Public
For all. Free admission for children up to 16 years old
Opening hours
The opening and closing times vary according to the place. Remember to check beforehand
The Plus
Reduced rates for certain groups (over 65 years old, retired, with international student card, large family card).
A leaflet on the 29 spaces to visit
A real good plan if you stay for a long time.
Getting there
By car. Certainly the easiest way to visit the region and its remote areas
By public transport. The region is well served by train and bus
By plane. The airports of Barcelona or Girona are a good starting point
Formalities
There are no particular formalities for French nationals. A valid identity card is sufficient
Covid: remember to check any documents required. At present, it is necessary to fill out a form + to present a health pass
AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE IN SPAIN -Moreinformation on the website
Useful
CATALAN AGENCY OF CULTURAL HERITAGE -Moreinformation on the website
Portaferrissa, 1
08002 Barcelona
Tel: +34 93 316 28 00
