With nearly 6,000 km of coastline, stunning parks and protected natural spaces Catalonia has all the ingredients to please any tourist, traveller, adventure-seeker or nature-lover. From the mountains to the sea, Catalonia provides all manner of terrain for enjoying the outdoor life with endless hiking and walking paths.
Here at www.lifeatpga.com we thought we’d whittle down the wide range of walks to showcase the best available in Catalonia.
In the chillier seasons, head inland for some great city walks…
1. Parc de Collserola, Barcelona – 8 times larger than the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, and 22 times larger than Central Park in New York this urban park is the largest metropolitan park in the world. With 8,000 hectares of green land to explore the walking opportunities are endless. The park is home to some 190 species of vertebrates, including squirrels, foxes and the occasional wild boar, as well as a wide variety of bird life.
2. Parc de la Devesa, Girona – Girona’s urban park and although only 40 hectares this plane tree greenland offers a very relaxing walk with many hidden treasures along the way. Click here for a great route, showcasing all the park’s delights.
When the snow melts and the skiiers leave the mountains, step into spring and summer with some invigorating walks at the heart of the Pyrenees.
3. Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa – Located Northwest of Girona in the Catalan Pyrenees lies this protected Volcanic zone and scenic natural park. There are 40 volcanoes and more than 20 lava flows, covering over 12, 093 hectares of land. There are over 25 picturesque walking routes to choose from, all available from the Catalonia Pyrenees Interpretation centre located within the park. The park not only includes breathtaking scenery but also a number of historical sites and towns to explore such as Olot, Santa Pau, Sant Joan les Fonts, all located within the park.
4. L’Alt Pirineu Natural Park – This high park high in the Pyrenees runs over 60,000 hectares and includes a number of natural highlights, such as the highest peak in Catalonia and the largest glacier lake in the Pyrenees. Not forgetting the pretty Catalan villages of Arrós de Cardós, Llagunes or Os de Civís also located within the park where you’ll find excellent representations of this region’s popular architecture.
5. Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes I Estany de Sant Maurici – This spectacular National Park represents a wild and untouched region of the Pyrenees, and is said to have some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in all of Europe. Aigüestortes, which means winding waters, is a reference to its more than 200 crystal clear lakes, meandering streams, rushing rivers, and thundering waterfalls.
