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Destinations in Catalonia

 

         

 

Travel Books about Spain

 

 

More information on the Net:

 

Catalunya Tourism

Turespaña: Catalonia

Lleidatur (the Province of Lleida)

Catalonia Pyrenees

 

 

Destinations in Catalonia

 

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►Barcelona

 

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Besalú

Cadaqués

Figueres

Girona

►Pals/Peratallada

Sitges

Tarragona

►Vall d'Aran

 

**

Cardona

►La Seu d'Urgell

Montblanc

►Tossa de Mar

►Vall de Boi/Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes

Vic

 

Catalonia is a country inside a country. The Catalans has gradually got more independence from Spain (regulated in a new law of 2006). Without weapons, but with a very strong economy, they have strengthened the Catalan language and increased their independence. There are about 7 millions living in Catalonia today and the population has risen with 1 million just the last decade. This region is a region of growth!

Catalonia is also on of Spain's two major tourist regions (Andalucía is the other one). Half of the tourists are Spaniards. The summer is the high season, but the mild climate and the city of Barcelona attract visitors during the winter as well.

As a visitor you will see that Catalonia in some ways is a bit different from the rest of Spain. Catalonia is more expensive than most other destinations in Spain (except Madrid and the Baleares). Spain do have the philosophy that they will offer good standard for the money spent (like we find in Germany and Austria). In Catalonia this isn't always the truth. Some hotels, in the province of Girona and in Barcelona city in particular, are priced ridiculous high.

Behind every destination name below, you'll find the name of the province in parenthesis.

 

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Barcelona (Barcelona)****

 

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

► Videos of Barcelona: 1       2        3

Turisme de Barcelona

Turespaña: Barcelona

Ajuntament de Barcelona

LodgePhoto: Barcelona

BBC: Climate Barcelona

 

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

Museu Picasso

Fundació Miró

Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona

FC Barcelona

Museu Marítim de Barcelona

Museu de Cerámica

Museu d'História

 

Casa Batlló - Antoni Gaudí

Gran Teatre del Liceu

Palau de La Música Catalana

Barcelona has the last 15-20  years become one of Europe's most popular tourists destinations. The summer Olympics of 1992 was the takeoff regarding it's popularity. Barcelona has very much to offer. Please browse through the links to the left to find out what's on offer.

Big cities like Barcelona use to be able to "swallow" huge amounts of tourists without losing it's identity. But in Barcelona too many of the tourist tend to gather in the Gothic area. Try to visit during the autumn or late in the winter. Many criminals do also gather in Barcelona. The negative aspects of a big city is for a tourist much more obvious here than in Madrid and Sevilla.

 
3Excursions
 

*Montserrat.***

 

 

There has been a monastery at Montserrat for more than 1000 years. The buildings we find here today were built during the 19th century. The location is utterly spectacular. Because of huge amounts of tourists visiting Montserrat, try to avoid the main season. Please have a look at these photos.

 

 

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Besalú (Girona) ***

 

 

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Besalú - Vila Comtal

LodgePhoto: Besalú

 

 

Besalu (2 000 inhabitants) is a beautiful medieval town which offers a relaxing night before you drive further on.

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Cadaqués (Girona)***

 

 

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Turespaña: Cadaqués

CapCreus Online: Cadaqués

 

 

Cadaqués (2 000 inhabitants) is like an Andalucian white town located by the sea. The location is marvellous. You can see the house where Salvador Dalí once lived and here is an artist hotel where you can sleep. (see "Accommodation" to the left.) To stroll around in the idyllic streets of Cadaqués is just a delight, but try to avoid the main season.

 

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Cardona (Barcelona) **

 

 

                     

 

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Turespaña: Cardona

Cardona Sempre

 

 

Cardona do have three big attractions; the castle, the salt mines and the old town. The castle, today a Parador,  is located in a spectacular position above the town. A lunch or a night sleep here is a good choice. The salt mines is found just outside the town.

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Figueres (Girona) ***

 

 

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Figueres Tourist Information

Turespaña. Figueres

Fundació Gala - Salvador Dalí

 

Figueres (35 000 inhabitants) is know because of the artist Salvador Dalí. His museum makes this town an interesting destination.

3Excursions
 

*Empúries.

 

 

Empúries is located between Figueres and Pals (25 km away from both towns). Here is the ruins of the ancient Greek-Roman town of Enpúries.

 

 

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Girona (Girona) ***

 

 

 

Accommodation (nearby)

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Video of Girona

Ajuntament de Girona

Turespaña: Girona 

LodgePhoto: Girona

Museu d'Art

La Catedral de Girona

 

 

Girona (75 000 inhabitants) is an exciting town with plenty of old houses painted in different colours. The houses alongside the river is something special, but whether they are beautiful or not, people don't agree.

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La Seu d'Urgell (Lleida) **

 

 

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Turisme de La Seu

Turespaña: La Seu d'Urgell

Lleidatur: L'Alt Urgell

Diocesan Museum of Urgell

 

 

La Seu d'Urgell with it's 15 000 inhabitants is located just before entering Andorra. A shopping trip to Andorra is perhaps compulsory, but it's much better to stay overnight in La Seu d'Urgell. To stay in Andorra is like staying in a huge supermarket. The town is has great nature with mountains all around.

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Montblanc (Tarragona) **

 

 

 

Accommodation (nearby)

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Montblanc Medieval

Jorgetutor: Fotos de Montblanc

Conca de Barberá

 

 

This small medieval town with 6 000 inhabitants is located inland from Tarragona. Montblanc had it's most glorious past during the beginning of the 14th century. After a decline during the 20th century (until 1970) there has been a revival lately with renovation projects and an increase in the population. The city walls are the town's biggest attraction. 8 km away in Les Masies de Poblet, there is a very good accommodation alternative (see "Accommodation" to the left).

 

3Excursions
 

*Monestir de Poblet

 

 

 

 

Monestir de Poblet is a huge monastery which is worth a visit.

 

r.

Accommodation

 

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Pals og Peratallada (Girona) ***

 

 

 

Pals                                                                              Peratallada

 

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Ajuntament de Pals

Turespaña: Pals

CapCreus Online: Pals

 

 

Pals is a very nice, small and renovated town (2 000 inhabitants). And the coast (the beaches) isn't that far away! Peratallada is 8 km further inland. There are just 150 people living in Peratallada, but they have a good accommodation alternative. The Parador in Begur, about 10 km from Pals is another interesting hotel.

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Sitges (Barcelona) ***

 

 

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Sitges Turisme

► Ajuntament de Sitges

Turespaña: Sitges

 

 

Sitges, 40 km south west of Barcelona is a beautiful small town with 20 000 inhabitants. Sitges is a very popular destination among people from Barcelona and gays from all over Europe. Here are several very good beaches.

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Tarragona (Tarragona) ***

 

 

 

Accommodation (nearby)

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

►Videos of Tarragona: Video  1  2  3  4  5  6

Turespaña: Tarragona

Patronat Municipal de Turisme de Tarragona

Museu Nacional Arqueológico de Tarragona

Museu d'História de Tarragona

 

 

Tarragona (100 000 inhabitants) is one of the most interesting towns in Catalonia. Attractions are a Roman Amphitheatre, a roman aqueduct, a beautiful point of view (Balcó del Mediterrani) and much more.........But here are also many ugly buildings from the 20th century (like in many other cities).

3Excursions
 

*Monestir de Santes Creus:

 

 

 

In Santes Creus, 35 km north of Tarragona, we have another nice Catalan monastery. Watch a movie of the monastery here. More photos here..

 

 

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Tossa de Mar (Girona) **

 

 

 

Accommodation (nearby)

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

►Videos of Tossa de Mar:   1      2     3

InfoTossa

Turespaña: Tossa de Mar

The Online Guide to Tossa de Mar

 

 

Tossa de Mar has an old town and city walls. The town with 4 000 inhabitants is one of Costa Brava's prettiest.

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Vall d'Aran (Lleida) ***

 

 

Salardú in Vall d'Aran

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Turismo del Valle de Aran

Lleidatur: Vall d'Aran

 

 

Vall d'Aran is located at the French border. The people of Vall d'Aran do have their own language because the valley in the old times was pretty isolated from other parts of Spain. This green valley is worth a visit during the summer. Here is tourism during the wintertime as well. But for foreigners, please visit the Alps and Dolomites during the winter, not the Spanish winter sport regions. The villages of Salardú and Arties are good choices for a night stay (or more....).

 

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Vall de Boi/Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes (Lleida) **

 

 

            

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Pagina oficial de la Vall de Boi

gencat: Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes

Fotosearch: Aigüestortes

Turespaña: Erill-La-Vall

 

 

The national park of Aigüestortes do have mountains all around. It is possible to enter the park from east or from Vall de Boi in the west. Vall de Boi do have several beautiful church towers in the villages. Entering the park from Vall de Boi may be a good alternative.

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Vic (Barcelona) **

 

 

 

Accommodation

Map

 

More information on the Net:

 

Ajuntament de Vic

Turespaña: Vic

LodgePhoto: Vic

 

 

Vic is a very old city with 30 000 inhabitants. Much industry and ugly buildings are to be found, but also some very beautiful parts in the city centre. About one mile outside town is a Parador with a marvellous location and many facilities. If you are driving by, consider this Parador.  (see accommodation to the left.

 

3Excursions
 

*Monestir de Santa Maria, Ripoll (Girona):

 

Monestir de Santa Maria is a famous monastery in Ripoll, 40 km north of Vic.

 

3Excursions
 

*Sant Joan de les Abadesses (Girona):

 

 

This small town (4 000 inhabitants) is located 15 km further north east of Ripoll (and 40 km west of Besalú). Here too is the monastery the big attraction.

 

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