This territory, which extends over the northern and southern slopes of the Pyrenees, is first and foremost united by a common history, which has seen episodes of great prosperity, but also tragedy in the Middle Ages and in modern times.
This territory is also united by a shared geographical environment, crossed by the unmistakable Pyrenean mountain range with, on the French side, the Canigou peak (2,784 m) and on the Spanish side the Comaloforno (3,033 m) in the Besiberri massif. The Estats peak (3,143 m), the highest peak and the most eastern peak of the Catalan Pyrenees, is shared with the Ariège. To the east is the Mediterranean. This cross-border territory offers quality services and diverse experiences. Through different itineraries and according to your desires, the Mediterranean Pyrenees allow you to enjoy unique landscapes, practice adventure sports, discover geological sites and exceptional monuments. This uniqueness is accompanied by a gastronomy with traditional or innovative flavors, based on local products of great quality.
Landscapes of great beauty and an exceptional natural heritage
The Catalan and Mediterranean Pyrenees territory has unique landscapes of great beauty and exceptional biodiversity, with over 600 species of flora and fauna. It begins at the lagoon complex of Salses-Leucate and continues through the Costa Brava. Then we take the high road to mature alpine forests, mountain meadows and lagoons until we reach the National Park of Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici. This is the only national park in Catalonia, unique in southern Europe. Here you can find peaks of more than 3,000 meters, mountain lakes and a great diversity of animal and plant species. It can be reached via Aigüestortes, a plateau open to all levels of hiking, with a loop or forest route leading to the Estany Llong. The more adventurous and experienced can access it through Cavallers, an area of higher mountains with steep rocks suitable for rock and ice climbing.
The rivers of the national park descend into the plains, cutting their way through the rocks and reliefs forming unique areas such as the Montrebei Gorge (Congost de Mont-rebei in Catalan). This canyon cuts the mountain in two and reveals in some places the turquoise waters of the river Noguera Ribagorçana. It is located in the lands of Lleida, on the border with Aragon. You can get there from the parking of La Masieta, about 2h45 from Barcelona. It is a good place to go for a walk along routes of varying distances, and to admire the steep cliffs by kayak. The geological heritage of the area includes the La Garrotxa Volcanic Park and the Origens Geopark, which covers a large part of the Catalan Pyrenees of Lleida. What a surprise to discover the spectacular remains of dinosaurs, of which several sites have preserved the footprints and egg nests of species such as the titanosaur
The Mediterranean Pyrenees region allows you to enjoy a pure sky free of light pollution, offering a magical spectacle to observe the stars and the stars.
Several valleys and mountains have received the Starlight Foundation certification for the quality of their sky. The Astronomical Park of Montsec, in La Noguera (pre-Pyrenees), opens its doors to astronomy enthusiasts and the public curious to explore the sky.
It offers a permanent exhibition in the main building dedicated to astronomy and space sciences. The region also has the Albanyà Astronomical Park in Alt Empordà (Costa Brava) and, on the French side of the Pyrenees, the astronomical observatories of Le Soler and Pic du Midi: enough to seduce astronomy lovers!
Charming towns and villages
This exceptional natural wealth is covered by a mosaic of ancient towns that preserve an architectural and traditional heritage of great beauty, rich in ancestral customs and traditions. Covering the mountains, valleys and plains, in the middle of a privileged natural environment, a great number of small rural villages reveal themselves to the visitor. These villages, with their narrow streets, are full of charm and have preserved their timeless essence. Here, the present and the past merge. This particular atmosphere can be found in an area that includes Castelnou and Villefranche-de-Conflent in France, and Castellar de n'Hug, Taüll, or Arties, on the Spanish Catalan side. The range of accommodation, restaurants, local products and cultural festivals is also very wide.
Culture, art and tradition
These villages have preserved their culture, their art and their traditions which are still visible today through a preserved heritage. Romanesque art has left its mark on the area, as evidenced by the medieval paintings in the Vall de Boí. The eight churches and the hermitage are classified as world heritage by UNESCO. This concentration of so many churches in a small space has favored a unity of architectural style, based on the Italian Lombard model of the 11th and 12th centuries. On the road to Andorra, on the Spanish side, the cathedral of Santa Maria de la Seu d'Urgell imposes its remarkable architectural ensemble. Built on the foundations of an old cathedral, it has Romanesque sculptures on the cloister, its eastern façade and its windows. Its construction began in the 12th century and marked the peak of Catalan Romanesque art. It was later enriched, which is why it has several styles from different periods
At the foot of the Pyrenees, surrounded by mountains covered with mature forests, in the region of the thousand farmhouses, Solsonès has a vast cultural heritage, such as the Sanctuary of the Miracle. There are the cells and the Benedictine monastery used since 1901 by the monks of Montserrat, and you can marvel at the 17th century baroque altarpiece inside the church, the largest in Catalonia and of exceptional quality. It is also the castle of Mur (castell), whose architecture remained in state has naturally made it the emblem of the border of the Catalan counts. Finally, the Museu Hidroelèctric de Cabdella (Hydroelectric Museum) opens its doors to explain the process of electrification of this part of Catalonia, as well as the socio-economic issues involved.
On board the Train of the Lakes
The Tren dels Llacs, in Catalan, travels 90 kilometers of spectacular scenery between Lleida and La Pobla de Segur. In this locomotive, limestone cliffs, calm waters, green forests, with the Pyrenees and their immortal white cap in the background, pass before your eyes. It is the discovery of Montsec following the course of the Noguera Pallaresa and crossing bridges and tunnels.
Land of wines, cheeses and much more
This territory allows you to enjoy local products of great quality. It is a paradise for wine lovers who will not hesitate to start with the land of Muscat in Rivesaltes (the most appreciated wine on the tables of the Catalan counts since the 12th century), followed by a visit to the Birrh cellars in Thuir, in the Pyrenees-Orientales. Towards the west and crossing the border, in Lleida, there is a tasting of Costers del Segre wines. Then, going up to the Pallars and Ribagorça, there is room to discover the new high mountain wines. The Mediterranean Pyrenees invite you to taste a wide variety of wines of great quality and increasing prestige through tastings and guided tours. All this accompanied by delicious meals flavored with local herbs or saffron. This land offers other local products. The mountain meadows have given birth to countless small workshops of delicious and varied cheeses made from cow's and goat's milk, delicious fruits (from the cherries of Céret to the apples of the Vall de Lord), mountain potatoes, sea urchins and shrimps to the Mediterranean coast, pâtés, meats, craft beers, jams and much more.
Cross-border routes
Numerous routes have been designed to explore the Mediterranean Pyrenees in all its facets. The Route of the Lakes is the circuit of contemplation par excellence. Between high mountain landscapes and cultivated plains, the lakes and water reservoirs provide a feeling of well-being and inner peace. Each part of the circuit established in the heart of the Epiremed region has its own charm and treasures. There are a total of 20 lakes to discover, including the coastal lakes of the Salanque in French Catalonia, the lake of Bouillouses at the foot of the Carlit massif. In the Pyrenees of Girona, the Darnius Boadella dam invites you to practice water sports. In the region of Lleida, the enigmatic and magical lakes of the Aran Valley. The Terradets reservoir in Pallars Jussà extends from the Tremp plain to the Terradets gorge. Finally, the encounter with nature and the introspection are amplified during a high altitude hike through the ponds of Port and the lake of Mariola
The great circuit of the Epimered allows you to discover a whole range of landscapes and riches of this land shared between France and Spain, on foot, by bike, by car or by motorcycle. The circuit includes the different itineraries proposed on the Epimered website: land of culture, traditions, history, parks and nature reserves, high peaks and quiet plains, geological sites, Romanesque architecture, local gastronomy... The Mediterranean Pyrenees meet all the requirements of a sea and mountain destination, while reserving a few surprises to be discovered on site...
FUTURE INFO
When is the best time to visit?
The climate of the Mediterranean Pyrenees is similar to a continental climate, with cold winters and hot, sunny summers. The best time to go is from May to October, after the April rains. For skiing, January and February are the best months, but also the coldest.
Duration
It is advisable to go for at least ten days to enjoy the charm of the Pyrenees and its cultural and sporting aspects.
Budget
The main expenses are for accommodation, which is relatively cheap in the low season, entrance fees to some churches, entrance fees to some sites and rented or supervised sports activities. In the winter, prices in the ski resorts can rise.
Public
Lovers of nature and small historic villages, hikers, outdoor sportsmen, friends for a weekend, solo, or with family... everyone will find a way to recharge their batteries.
The advantages
Breathtakingnatural spaces in a unique geological environment
A great diversity of sports to practice, between sea and mountain
Good local gastronomy products (cheese, wine...), accompanied by the meeting with the producers
The discovery of ancestral arts and traditions
The minuses
The roads are sometimes steep and not very practical to drive on, especially if you are not used to it
French is not spoken much when you go away from the coast.
Getting there
The best way to get around the Pyrenees is by car. All the roads are well-developed national or mountain roads. The main entrances between France and Spain are at Bourg-Madame, by the Rei bridge, at Perthus on the sea side, or by Andorra. Sustainable mobility by train: to visit the most fascinating corners of this territory, opt for the Tren dels Llacs on the south side, or the Yellow Train and the Red Train on the north side.
Useful
EPIREMED - More information on the website
More than 600 companies (accommodation, activities, producers...), 17 cross-border routes, 20 thematic experiences and much more to discover the Mediterranean Pyrenees. Project co-financed at 65% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg V-A Spain, France, Andorra (POCTEFA 2014-2020) whose objective is to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spanish-French-Andorran border area in a sustainable development approach
TURALCAT - More information on the website
About 500 rural accommodations, activities, local producers and much more.
Partner of the Epiremed project, the Confederation of Rural Tourism and Agrotourism of Catalonia (TURALCAT) aims to promote the development of sustainable tourism in rural areas.
