Catalunya Area Information
Catalunya could be described as a country within a country; an amazing diversity of landscapes, a people justifiably proud of
their language and culture, traditions that date back thousands of years and world renowned gastronomic excellence.
Easy access by road, rail and air makes Catalunya an ideal destination for holidays, offering something for everyone; sporting facilities, cultural activities, fascinating places to visit and stunning beaches.
Barcelona, surely the most exciting, modern city in Europe, is easily reached from any of the properties we offer on the following pages.
A proud and vibrant province The north of the region sits below the foothills of the Pyrenees. Dense forests of cork and pine trees surround the picturesque village of Darnius, famous for its carefully restored stone houses. Close by, the vast reservoir of Boadella offers water sports whilst nearby, the medieval village of Capmany is famed for its excellent wines and respected restaurant.
Within a short drive are the beaches of Port de la Selva and Port de Llanca, whilst the Marine Natural Park of Cap de Creus lies just to the south with the imposing monastery of St Pere de Rodes perched on the mountain behind.
Situated at the western end of the dramatic Sierra del Cadi, Coll de Nargo is a good base for exploring the wide range of sporting facilities available at nearby Seu d'Urgell, such as white water rafting, kayaking, horse riding, paragliding and mountain biking.
Heading south, the vast plains of the Emporda are home to stunning medieval villages of Ullastret, Cruilles, Torrent, Palau Sator, Peratallada and Pals. The lively commercial town of La Bisbal is the centre of the ceramics trade and has a colourful market.
The market town of Palafrugell has three coastal bays within a few kilometres. Calella de Palafrugell, a pretty white washed fishing village plays host to the festival of 'havaneres' or sea shanties during the early summer.
Stylish Llafranc, has a perfectly formed bay with a tiny yacht harbour. Here you will find an array of traditional restaurants along the sea front serving an impressive range of tasty local cuisine.
Tamariu is the next beauty spot along the coast with its narrow horseshoe bay and sandy beach surrounded by pine clad cliffs. At night, its sprinkling of restaurants come alive, prettily lit up and offering the freshest of fish from the day's catch.
Picturesque Aigua Xelida has hidden coves and sits on a spectacularly indented coastline. Nearby, the hilltop castle town of Begur offers amazing panoramas and hidden alleyways and squares among the narrow streets of its old quarter.
Below, its headland drops breathtakingly to the tiny shoreline villages of Sa Riera and Sa Tuna and beyond to the Mediterranean. Properties in the picturesque wooded hillside of Casa de Camp lie discreetly hidden along the winding lanes between the pines.
The Catalan fishing harbour of Palamos proffers a maze of back streets with hidden tapas bars and some of the best fish restaurants in the area. Just inland, the hamlet of Vall Llobrega lies quietly amidst vines and woodland and boasts two respected local restaurants.
Follow the back road through the wooded foothills of the Gavarres mountains via the hamlet of Romanya, famed for its two excellent restaurants.
Heading west towards Girona the very local village of Santa Cristina d'Aro offers a mix of shops and restaurants and a varied range of sporting opportunities.
The countryside around the hamlets of Bell Lloc and St Miguel d'Aro is ideal for walking and cycling whilst the hamlet of Llambilles, only a short drive away, offers a diverse range of cultural attractions, shopping and renowned restaurants.
The Catalan capital, Barcelona, teems with life and atmosphere, unforgettable architecture, wonderful museums, a Gothic quarter, a thriving port, vibrant 'ramblas', the best in shopping, traditional bars and restaurants... and so much more. This colourful and exciting city is seemingly inexhaustible and easily traversed via its efficient public transport system.
West of Barcelona open farmland seemingly stretches on forever. Here, in the Terres de Lleida, the pace of life is slower and more traditional, the vast plains yielding crops of wheat, maize and important fruit harvests, whilst the town of Agramunt is famed for its chocolate and turron.
To the south, gentle rolling countryside stretches out to the spectacular wetlands of the Ebro Delta, a Natural Park. Here the landscape is rich in flora, fauna and an amazing variety of birdlife which can be found along this deserted coastline of dunebacked beaches.
The inland hilltop village of Horta de Sant Joan, medieval and Catalan to its core was home to Picasso from 1889-1909 and boasts a museum displaying reproductions of all the works he produced during his stay.
In the medieval town of Valls folklore plays an important role with the Castells, or human towers (opposite), being a tradition that has been practised here for over 200 years.
Local Cuisine
The Catalans are justifiably proud of their cuisine. Try something different – chicken with peach, partridge with grapes, rabbit with almonds, goose with pears or lobster with chocolate.
Local Fiestas
An important part of Catalunya life, fiestas range from local village celebrations to large scale organised activities. Most villages acknowledge their patron saint's day with a 'feste'. On the National Day of Catalunya, 11th September, large scale celebrations take place all around the province, culminating in 'sardanas' and fireworks into the night.
Climate
Catalunya has a Mediterranean type climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. While summers are hot and at times humid, in coastal areas the afternoon heat is usually tempered by sea breezes and the influence of the Pyrenees means temperatures are more comfortable than in the south of Spain.
Getting there
Barcelona airport is well served by scheduled airlines and the low cost carriers fly into Girona, Barcelona and Reus. For those who prefer to drive, Catalunya is easily accessible by road.
‘Low cost carriers’ operate services to Barcelona from many UK airports such as:
Jet2 Belfast and Leeds/Bradford
Mytravellite Birmingham
Thomsonfly Bournemouth, Coventry and Doncaster/Sheffield
easyJet Bristol, Gatwick, Liverpool, Luton, Newcastle and Stansted
Fly Globespan Edinburgh and Glasgow
bmibaby Manchester and Nottingham East Midlands.