September 9, 2010
Català
  English
Français
Agenda
The Counties
The Monasteries
The Routes
The Routes of the Route
GR 175 on foot and Mtb
The route on famíly
Hiking & Mtb
Image Gallery
Festival Calendar
6T Card
Exhibition of the Cistercian Route
Visiting times of monasteries
La Ruta del Cister to Facebook
Nature
Zones of Leisure
With the collaboration of >>
Nature

THE PRADES MOUNTAINS(Alt Camp / Conca de Barberà)

Declared an area of natural interest, the Prades Mountains are a wonderful spot for lovers of mountain-related tourism. They stretch across the counties of L'Alt Camp, El Baix Camp and La Conca de Barberà and encompass the municipalities of Mont-ral, Alcover, Lla Riba, Vilavert, Montblanc, L'Espluga de Francolí, Vimbodí i Poblet, Vallclara and Vilanova de Prades. The summit of La Baltasana (1,202 m) is the highest point of the Prades Mountains and the county of La Conca de Barberà. Visitors who enjoy exploring the human aspect will find a variety of sights of interest, such as Castellfollit, the chapel of the Holy Trinity and the chapel of Sant Joan, amongst others.

From the chapel of Remei in Alcover, going towards Mont-ral, you can pause to discover the Niu de l'Àliga, the waterfall that gives rise to the river Glorieta, whose unusual beauty has been forged by the whims of Nature.

The largest mass of evergreen oaks in Catalonia can be found in the Poblet woods, registered in the PEIN (Plan for Areas of Natural Interest). This is a major protected forestry area with around a hundred springs and an amazingly varied vegetation (white pines, black pines, Scots pines, Canadian red pines, umbrella pines, cedars, spruce, holly oaks, oaks, Pyrenean oaks, chestnuts, junipers, poplars, elms, service trees, cypresses, box trees, Phoenician junipers, heathers, columbines, strawberry trees and a wide variety of ferns).

The geographical characteristics of our counties make them particularly attractive for open air pursuits, such as rock climbing or mountain biking. Spots such as the walls of Penya Roja at La Riba and the GR-175 trail give you a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the countryside.
 

SABURELLA (Alt Camp)

A small spot at the upper basin of the Gaià, which, like the Ancosa plain, is characterised by its transitional landscape between the pre-coastal sierras and the river basins of central Catalonia. This is reflected perfectly in the landscape's vegetation, which is typical of the borderland between the continental oak forests and the coastal woods of holm oaks and laurustinus shrubs

This area is registered in the PEIN for the value of its fauna, as it is home to a large number of native species of Mediterranean woods and rock formations. The zone is characterised by its low and thinly-scattered population which means there are numerous rabbits, partridges and their predators. There are also many very interesting species of fauna to the north-east of this area.

seeing map


ALBEREDA DE SANTES CREUS (Alt Camp)

Albereda de Santes Creus is a unique landscape on the left-hand bank of the river Gaià; it is particularly interesting because it is home to a very representative example of the riverside vegetation of southern Catalonia. The once prevalent riparian deciduous woodlands ( Populetalia albae ), which now no longer naturally occupy large tracts of the central Mediterranean system, have generally been ruined by human activities. This area preserves one of the finest examples of birdlife and wildlife associated with southern Mediterranean riparian systems.

The area offers a unique variety that cannot presently be found in any other river system in southern Catalonia, with the possible exception of certain riverside areas of the river Gaià, the river Algars and the river Montsant.

seeing map


TOSSAL GROS DE MIRAMAR (Alt Camp / Conca de Barberà)

This mountainous area lying between the Francolí and Gaià rivers has a unique calcareous relief. The vegetation here is typical of the country's permanent and secondary communities of coastal holm oak woods and the notable diversity of fauna in this area has justified its inclusion in the PEIN. There is a well-established bird community and some very interesting reptiles, such as Bedriagai's skink ( Chalcides bedriagai ). This area encompasses lands in the municipalities of Figuerola del Camp, in the county of L'Alt Camp, and Montblanc, in La Conca de Barberà.

seeing map


ANCOSA-MONTAGUT (Alt Camp)

A geographical area aligned from north-east to south-west and full of faults in every direction. Mainly made up of calcareous materials, it forms part of the so-called Gaià Black. There are some important paleosol remains in this area. It is made up of a series of mountains that separate the counties of L'Anoia and L'Alt Penedès with a number of peaks and a wide plain at the northernmost end of the sierra.

The interesting thing about the Ancosa sierra is that in a single area it embraces both predominantly Mediterranean features alongside those more typical of sub-Mediterranean wetlands, such as meadows of flowering junquillos ( Plantagini-Aphyllanthetum ). In fact, this area represents one of the southernmost limits in Catalonia for the spread of various sub-Mediterranean species.

The fauna of this area is mainly characterised by Mediterranean species, with some exceptionally interesting ones such as a coleopter beetle ( Sternocoelis duforti ) which is native to the sierra and various species of molluscs (e.g. Trissexodon quadras ) and heteropterous insects (e.g. Orthotylus thymelaeae ).

seeing map


GORGES OF THE RIVER CORB (Conca de Barberà)

This mountainous area lying between the Fancolí and Gaià rivers has a unique calcareous relief. The vegetation here is typical of the country's permanent and secondary communities of coastal holm oak woods and the notable diversity of fauna in this area has justified its inclusion in the PEIN.

There is a well-established bird community and some very interesting reptiles, such as Bedriagai's skink ( Chalcides bedriagai ). This area encompasses lands in the municipalities of Figuerola del Camp, in the county of L'Alt Camp, and Montblanc, in La Conca de Barberà.

seeing map


 
Tourist offices
Cultural Spaces
Leisure
Restaurants
Accommodation
Wins & Caves
Craftsmanship
Agro-alimentary Products
Weather