Catalonia is an autonomous community of attractions. Map of Catalonia, Spain

Catalonia has made too much headway in the news over the last couple of months. I propose to forget a little about political tension and take a walk in the sights of this amazing region. Despite the concerns of travelers and the decline in tourist flow, Barcelona is still one of the most popular destinations for international tourists. This region can offer you a lot and in this article we will visit the most beautiful places in Catalonia together.

Besalu

Crossing the stone bridge leading to the historic center of Besalu, you can be sure that you will return to the Middle Ages. Declared a national historical and artistic attraction and located in the La Garrocha region of Girona, this wonderful city stands out for its Jewish baths, the church of the monastery of Sant Pere and Sant Giulia, the Romanesque house of Cornell and the gothic room of the Palacio Royal Curia.

Cadaqués

The peninsula's easternmost city is located on the Costa Brava in Girona, which combines fishing traditions with beautiful and crowded beaches, being one of the most popular places to visit in Catalonia. This place was popular among artists such as Picasso, Marcel Duchamp and Dali (visitors can explore his House Museum). You will be happy to get lost among narrow streets and whitewashed houses, enjoy the local cuisine, visit archaeological sites and go on an excursion to the Cap de Creus Nature Park.

Kstelfulit de la Roca

On a basalt rock 50 meters high and about a kilometer long, there is a small town Kstelfulit de la Roca with a medieval atmosphere. Among its buildings stand out the church of Sant Salvador (13th century), the bell tower of St. Francis and Plaza Mirador, which offers stunning views.

Cardona Castle

In the province of Barcelona, \u200b\u200bCardone is the most important medieval fortress in the area. Thanks to more than 12 years of history, this fabulous castle today is a tourist magnet, allowing you to enjoy the grandeur of its millennium-old walls, towers, Romanesque church, monastery and even ghostly stories.

Montserrat

If, in addition to walking, you want to climb the rocky peaks, then you should make a stop in Montserrat and visit its Natural Mountain Park, where you can also see many exotic plants. At the very top is the famous Romanesque abbey of the XII century. This place a few kilometers from Barcelona is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to visit in Catalonia. A tour here can be combined with exploring the sights of Barcelona.

Sitges

In this fishing village at the foot of the Garraf Massif, 38 kilometers from the capital of Catalonia, modernity and tradition have combined. Its rich architectural and cultural heritage is in harmony with the fantastic film festival, marinas, beautiful beaches and excellent tourist infrastructure.

Valley of Fights

A tour of the Boi Valley and its rich nature in the Catalan Pyrenees should be included in the list of the most beautiful places to visit in Catalonia. Get ready for medieval villages, Romanesque churches, ski slopes and hot springs, located at an altitude of 1,500 meters above the sea. The valley is home to Aigues Tortes National Park and Lake San Maurizio with magnificent alpine landscapes, rivers, waterfalls and forests, where flora and fauna retain their wild state.

Take a walk with me through the towns and parks of Catalonia.

Girona is one of the oldest cities in Catalonia. It is located just 35 km from the Costa Brava. This city has retained its medieval face: majestic walls, Gothic and Romanesque churches, the historical center of the entire Jewish quarter - all these places show visitors a tourist and historical significance. Girona is a vibrant and modern city, located on two banks of the river. He managed to maintain his pristine, pleasant and peaceful appearance.

Discover all the attractions of Girona.

Cadaqués

Cadaqués is the most picturesque city on the Costa Brava. This small settlement is cut off from the noisy world by the Cap de Creus mountain range. In the twentieth century, Cadaqués was a fishing village - a favorite place of poets and artists of Spain. In Cadakas, Salvador Dali spent a huge period of his life: all his childhood he lived there, and later - bought a house nearby. At the moment, this house houses a museum of his memory. In addition to it, Marcel Duchamp, Joan Miro, Rene Magritte, Garcia Lorca, Pablo Picasso loved to create here.

Salvador Dali House Museum in Cadaqués

The Salvador Dali House Museum in Cadaqués is entirely dedicated to the artist. The museum was opened in 1996. It represents a huge number of fishing houses that Salvador Dali built in the form of a maze. Tourists are invited to see the workshop of the famous artist, rooms, library and conservatory.

Tossa de Mar

Tossa de Mar is a gorgeous little town located in the east of Spain. It is located about 90 km from Barcelona. The city is part of Catalonia and is one of the beautiful cities on the coast. Tossa de Mar is a source of inspiration for many creators. For many centuries this place was considered a resort for wealthy Europeans. Today, little has changed: prices have become more affordable, but the town still remained so picturesque. This place is perfect for families.

Montserrat Monastery

Montserrat Monastery was built back in 1025 by Rippolsky Abbot Oliba. Of course, this is not the first temple that appeared there, because the first monasteries were built back in the 9th century. It was then that this territory was conquered from the Muslims. Montserrat is a large mountain range located in northern Spain, in the center of Catalonia. These mountains are simply unusually beautiful, they have a bizarre shape, in some places they look like sand castles. Directly in the mountains is another monastery.

Sitges

Sitges is an approximate party and bustling resort town that can even rival Ibiza. You can’t say for sure where there are more nightclubs, round-the-clock restaurants or bars. It should also be noted that this city is the capital of Spanish gay culture, as well as the most popular venue for all informal carnivals and processions of the country.

Rupit

Rupit is an ancient city of unprecedented beauty. It is located in Catalonia, just before the cliff itself. This is a very small city, because not many more than 300 inhabitants live in it, and it was built in a gorge on a frozen lava. This lava formed after the eruption of a volcano more than 11 thousand years ago. Tourists occasionally visit Rupit, but experienced tourists will never pass him by. The landscapes in this city are one of the most beautiful: Rupit is located on a cliff, where a clear blue sky can be seen from either side. In ancient times, this city was called the "city of witches," because it was in this place that the warlocks were brought and executed. People believed that any forces lose their power here.

Besalu

Besalu is a real open-air museum. It is the pearl of Catalan medieval architecture, as well as the historical capital of the province of La Garrocha. This city began its existence in the form of a fortress, which was built by the ancient Romans. This fortress seemed to connect the center of the Empire and the conquered lands of the Iberian Peninsula. Historians did not come to a consensus when this town was finally founded. However, it is known for certain that the “golden period” in its history is the time after the overthrow of Muslim domination.

Lloret de mar

Lloret de Mar is one of the most famous resorts on the Spanish coast. Only connoisseurs of antiquity will appreciate the typical Spanish buildings and the old church. Well-developed infrastructure, there is a huge network of various hotels. Also, the city is simply replete with countless shops and entertainment centers. Along the whole city stretches a huge coastal strip, which borders a rocky coast. For lovers of outdoor activities there are lots of offers, you can do water sports. The city does not sleep at night. Millions of lights are lit, excited crowds of tourists go out into the street, numerous clubs and restaurants begin to work.

Salou

Salou is the largest resort on the Costa Dorada, which is also its capital. Everything has been created for a good holiday: the Mediterranean mild climate, sandy beaches, warm sea, a huge number of parks and interesting places.

The city is filled with various historical places that you simply must visit. At the very beginning of the city there is an information stand where all the famous buildings are indicated. The stand contains unique places of the city and a plan of the area. I would like to note that the stand is made in 8 languages.

Port Aventura

In the immediate vicinity of the city is a huge amusement park. It is divided into several thematic sectors. A huge number of attractions that your children will definitely enjoy are located here. From the city you can walk or get on a taxi.

Tarragona

Tarragona is a town located on the Mediterranean coast, 100 km from Barcelona, \u200b\u200bwhich is the capital of the province of the same name. Today, the population of Tarragona is about 110 thousand people. Here is one of the largest commercial ports of Spain. Also, there is an existing oil refinery.

The city was founded in the III century BC. Then he had a higher status than the current capital of Spain.

My reports from Catalonia:

Costa Brava Coast

The Costa Brava is the most picturesque place in Spain. This is the northern coast of Catalonia, which stretches from the French border to the city of Blanes. Translated from Spanish, Costa Brava means "wild coast." Every year thousands of tourists visit this place who want to enjoy the incredible beauty of these places.

Barcelona and football

Catalonia is the heart of Spanish football. It was here that the team of the autonomous community of Catalonia settled in Spain. The organizer of this community is the Football Federation. The main population of the Spanish province has the right to play for this Spanish club. Catalonia joined UEFA, has membership in FIFA.

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Catalonia is an autonomous community occupying the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. Catalans themselves call their homeland Catalunya. All other peoples that make up the population of Spain call this region the Castilian word Cataluña.

Catalonia is part of the Kingdom of Spain, which does not prevent local residents from dreaming of their own independent state. Once it was a strong and powerful monarchy, occupying the territory of the modern autonomous community and the French department of the Eastern Pyrenees (the so-called Catalunya del Nord).

Catalonia is arguably the best part of Spain

Current Catalonia consists of four provinces:

Barcelona
Girona
Lleida
Tarragona

The provinces, in turn, are divided into 41 districts.

Borders

In the north, Catalonia borders on France and Andorra. The western neighbor of autonomy is friendly Aragon. In the south-western direction stretches no less friendly Valencian community. It is known from history that both of these regions once made up a single kingdom, in which Barcelona dominated.

In the east and southeast, Catalonia is washed by the affectionate Mediterranean Sea. No wonder the province was once one of the leading maritime powers in this part of Europe.

The coast takes 580 kilometers. As a rule, it is all strewn with beaches.

Major Cities

The largest, most significant cities are:

Barcelona
Girona
Igualada
Manresa
Lleida
Tarragona
Sabadell

These cities have important economic and tourist significance.

Capital

The capital of Catalonia is Barcelona. In Spain, it is the second city in terms of population. And in beauty and originality, probably the first.

The capital of Catalonia is Barcelona

The capital of the region is a large Mediterranean port. It is also an important commercial and industrial center of the whole kingdom. And the most attractive object in terms of tourism.

Barcelona in numbers:

area of \u200b\u200bthe city is 100 square meters. kilometers
altitude 12 meters
1.6 million people (2011 census)
phone code + 34 93
postcodes 08001-08080
official website www.bcn.cat

Population

The population of Catalonia has more than 7 million people. True, only a third of them are true Catalans. The rest are from the less affluent Spanish regions (Andalusia, Murcia, Galicia). Economically developed autonomy in recent years has attracted more and more Spaniards.

Catalonia: A Complete Guide to Autonomy

The proportion of foreigners permanently residing in Catalonia is also high. According to the latest data, there are 14% of them.

By the way, the population density of the autonomy is one of the highest in the Pyrenees. The indicator is 225 people per 1 sq. Km. kilometer. In the capital, the figure is an order of magnitude higher.

Holidays

The most colorful holiday of Catalonia festa major. This is a kind of City Day, more precisely, Saint Day, patronizing this or that city. It turns out that each settlement has its own festa major, which takes place at the same time.

The holiday lasts several days. A variety of contests are held, craft fairs, attractions and festivities are held. Both children and adults have fun.

A typical Catalan holiday fun is to build live towers. People climb onto each other's shoulders, forming a multi-tiered castel. Participate in such construction only after special training.

Main holiday National Day of Catalonia (Diada Nacional de Catalunya) is celebrated on September 11th. On this day in 1714, the region lost its independence.

And now a video in which the well-known television traveler Dmitry Krylov talks about Catalonia:

Cities
The autonomous community of Catalonia (Cataluna, Catalunya, Catalonha) lies in the north-east of the country, between the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees. Historically, Catalonia occupied almost the entire northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, but now part of its territory lies in France. Catalonia has its own government (Generalitat) and president, Catalan, Spanish and Aranic languages \u200b\u200bare used here. This is one of the most industrially developed regions of the country, preserving, however, its historical and natural identity - there are many ancient cities, castles and protected areas.
sights
The capital and most beautiful city of Catalonia - Barcelona is considered the second largest city in Spain, the main economic center of the country and a large Mediterranean port.
Then we begin the excursion program. Get all tickets for future excursions and trips at “Bas Plana” (these are sightseeing buses), everything is very organized and much cheaper than tour guides offered. At each public transport stop, a Bas Plana employee will show you in Russian where to go and give you a free avenue with a map of the area. Tip: buy cards in a store owned by “Bas Plana” for 10 trips or more; when calculating such a card, the cost of one trip to nearby cities will cost about 1 euro.
Park "Port Aventura"
On the second or third day, go to the park Spain Catalonia attractions "Port Aventura". That's where you will have the opportunity to get a huge portion of adrenaline and a lot of positive emotions in addition. "Port Aventura" is visited annually by more than 3 million people, it is the most visited amusement park in Spain and the second largest in Europe after Disneyland Paris. The park has a huge territory (117 hectares), divided into several thematic zones: Polynesia, the Mediterranean, the Wild West, Mexico, China. This park will appeal to both adults and children.
I advise you to take tickets with a double visit to the park (a single visit for two - 44 euros, double only 54 euros), that is, it is impossible to go around and ride all the slides in one day, given the number of people visiting the park. For example, one of the slides had to wait in line for about 2 hours. If you visit the park in the evening, the waiting time will be many times less. Be sure to ride on the highest hill in Europe - “Shambhala”. The hill breaking all records of speed and height. This is a new attraction, the opening of which took place on May 12, 2012. Needless to say, emotions go through the roof! Experience the effect known as “air time” by losing contact with the seat. After the flight to Shambhala, they could not stop trembling in the legs. The cameras will capture your unforgettable flight, and there is the opportunity to purchase a disk or photo for memory (which we did not fail to do).
Shambhala I would also like to mention the attraction "Hurakan condor" (height - 100 m, free fall 86 m). When the flight up reaches the final point, the breathtaking from a height, and then you are thrown down! Take a ride - you won’t regret it!
Hurakan condor A large number of restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops are concentrated in the part of the park called the Mediterranean. In this part of the park is the attraction "Furius Baco", accelerating to 135 km / h (top speed) in 3.5 seconds. The thrill of acceleration is simply unforgettable, especially for those who will sit on the left side of the center, and even in the front seats. On the first day of our visit, we were not able to ride the Furius Baco, I had to go again (we must not miss such emotions!). You can talk a lot about this amazing park. But it’s better to see it for yourself.
The Spaniards are very bright and funny. Nightlife here is in full swing until the morning. Fans of nightclubs and discos will find worthy places that will appeal to even the most demanding regulars of night hangouts. For example, "Pacha", which is located in La Pineda, 10 minutes from the city of Salou.
The disco is famous for its foamy and theme parties and the coolest DJs.

Regions of Spain: Catalonia

Famous European musicians such as the French Bob Sinclair, David Guetta and DJ Tiesto often perform here. DJ Axwell. The club is designed for 3000 people.
Barcelona
You’ve been in this wonderful country for several days now and it’s time to visit Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthe second largest city in Spain. It is also cheaper to go to Barcelona from the aforementioned “Bas Plana”. If you are a football fan, take Spain Catalonia attractions with the premises of the famous Camp Nou stadium.
Camp Nou is the largest stadium in terms of capacity, not only in Spain, but throughout Europe. We are fountain lovers, and therefore our tour of Barcelona consisted of a sightseeing tour and an evening show of singing fountains. In this wonderful city there are a huge number of famous architectural monuments, and during our trip we stayed for a short time in each of them. Since the tour is only a sightseeing tour, the time devoted to sightseeing is not as much as we would like. Visit the Park Guell, Rambla Square and much more.
Photos of the Park Guell But let us dwell in more detail on the famous project of Antonio Gaudi, the Temple of the Sagrada Familia (Sagrada Famí-lia), built on private donations since 1882. This is one of the most famous long-term construction projects in the world. The very beautiful and unusual appearance of the temple is amazing with its power and magnificence.
Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthe capital of Catalonia, is a vibrant city known for modern art, innovative architecture, high fashion, exciting nightlife, interesting restaurants and shops. Costa Brava is formed by many small cities and small fishing ports, such as L’Escala, Palamós or Sant Feliu de Guixols. In Costa Brava you can enjoy the magnificent beaches.
There are many historical monuments, museums and art treasures in Catalonia. Artists such as Dali, Miro and Picasso were inspired by this region. Here you can enjoy a fascinating medieval village. Museums and art treasures of Catalonia are among the most important sights of world significance - in particular, the Dali Museum in Figueres.
In Catalonia, an abundance of restaurants for every taste, from the simplest, home-made food, with surprisingly low prices, to the most expensive. You will enjoy Catalan cuisine. Catalonia has many wine cooperatives that produce red, white wines, a refreshing Rose and the excellent sparkling Cavas that accompany any meal.
Attractions Catalonia
Salvador Dali Museum in Figueres

The autonomous community of Catalonia (Cataluna, Catalunya, Catalonha) lies in the north-east of the country, between the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees. Historically, Catalonia occupied almost the entire northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, but now part of its territory lies in France. Catalonia has its own government (Generalitat) and president, Catalan, Spanish and Aranic languages \u200b\u200bare used here. This is one of the most industrially developed regions of the country, preserving, however, its historical and natural identity - there are many ancient cities, castles and protected areas.

sights

The capital and most beautiful city of Catalonia is considered the second largest city in Spain, the main economic center of the country and a large Mediterranean port.

In the vicinity of Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthere are beautiful natural parks - Monsenay (40 km from the city, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO), San Llorenz de Munt and Sera d Obac - a beautiful mountainous area with impressive cliffs, and the Font Grog natural reserve a typical Mediterranean forest of pine and stone oaks, however, a mountain monastery is considered a real gem of the area Montserrat (40 km northwest of the city) - the spiritual center of Catalonia. The Benedictine monastery with a 16th-century basilica preserves the image of Madonna La Moreneta (XII century, it is believed that the image was written by Luke the Evangelist himself) - the patroness of Catalonia - and is a real place of pilgrimage. People come here from all over the world to bow to the miraculous Black Madonna, listen to the famous choir of boys or make a pilgrimage on foot to the walls of the monastery.

The largest city in northern Catalonia and the capital of the richest province in Spain - (Gerona, Girona, the Spaniards say Girona, the Catalans call their city exactly Gerona, or Girona) grew up on the site of the ancient settlement of Gerund. North of Gerona, in the town Figueres, is one of the most visited museums in Spain - the Theater Museum of Salvador Dali. Northeast of you can find one of the most beautiful coastal towns of Catalonia - Cadaqués, one of the oldest monasteries of Catalonia - San Pere de Rodes (X century) near Port de la Selva, lifeless landscapes of Cape Creus, as well as the nearby Port ligatwhere is the Dali House Museum. You can also visit one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Catalonia - Besalu (has the status of a national monument) - with its churches of the monastery of San Pedro, San Julian and San Vincent and the Gothic hall of the Royal Palace of Justice. The town is just as colorful Olotas well as the surrounding ancient volcanic areas of the De la Sona Volcanica Natural Park, literally corroded by craters. But the main historical monument of the Upper Ampurdy region (the region of Catalonia between the Mediterranean coast and the Pyrenees) is a small town Ripoll with the Benedictine monastery of the same name located in it, considered the cradle of Catalonia. Founded by Gifre I (the first head of the independent county of Catalonia), it was badly damaged by fires and robberies, so only the front door and the covered gallery were preserved from the monastery complex.

Also in Catalonia there are many castles built in the XIII-XIV centuries, of which Fortard Castle in Tordero, Peralada Castle near Figueres, which hosts the famous music festival and make Spanish champagne, as well as Pubol Castle (XIV century, are especially popular). bought by Dali for his wife). Nearby, just 5 km south of Roses, lie the ruins of the region’s oldest ancient settlement, Ampuryas (VI century BC).

Lerida Province (Lerida, Lleida) - this is more than 600 km of clean mountain rivers and lakes, on the banks of which there are hotels and campsites for fishermen, where you can take equipment and even take a training course; These are the rapid rapids and waterfalls of Tortes, many sports centers on the banks of the Sobir and Noguera rivers, where the world championships in water rodeo, acrobatics and freestyle are held. The landscapes here are not inferior in beauty to the American Grand Canyon, and the orange cliffs of bizarre outlines are crowned with numerous castles.

The provincial capital is a city Lleida - it rises up the ledges up the hill, on top of which a magnificent citadel with the Cathedral of Seo Velha (XII-XV centuries) in the center and the “new cathedral” of Catedral Nova (XVIII century), as well as the Hame Morera Museum of Art and the Archaeological Museum are preserved.

25 km from Lleida lies the old city Fraga with its colorful brick buildings. A little to the north begins the land of the National Park Aigues Tortes y Lago San Mauricio - "Wild Water Reserve", containing 200 glacial lakes on its territory and countless waterfalls, interspersed by small villages, as ancient as the mountains around.

Beach vacation

The coast of Catalonia consists of four shores: (from north to south) (starts 40 km north of Barcelona and stretches along the entire coast of the province), (40-km stretch north of Barcelona to Arenis de Mar), (from Barcelona to south to the resort of Cubellas) and (from the village of Cunit and further to the border with Valencia).