Park surface area: Land: 8.445 hectares (including 2,578 hectares of nature reserves) – Marine: 564 hectares.
Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance 1993.
ZEPA (Special Area for Bird Protection).
Points of interest
The Parque natural del Delta del Ebro holds a great importance internationally as more than 300 species of birds (of the 700 that exist in Europe) have been observed at the Delta. This includes resident, pre and post-nuptial migration as well as wintering flocks. It is the second largest wetland in the western Mediterranean. (The first being the Camargue in France.)
Park surface area: 35,000 hectares (Within the park is also Les Fagedes dels Ports Natural Reserva with 866,89 hectares)
Other protection: It is part of the European Natura 2000 network and a Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA). Also a Site of Community Importance (SCI). Most of Els Ports natural park is included in the core area of the Tierras del Ebro Biosphere Reserve, known as the EbreBiosfera. (2013)
Towns and Villages: Alfara, Arnes, Cenia, Horta de San Juan, Mas de Barberáns, Pauls, Prat de Compte, Roquetas and Tortosa
Points of interest
The Els Ports Natural Park mountain range (Parque natural de Los Puertos) consists of calcareous rock dating back to the Mesozoic era and is characterized by its sheer outlines. It holds many peaks over 1000m, the highest of which is Mont Caro at 1447 metres. The rivers cut deep gorges creating an area of sharp contrasts.
Towns and villages: Cabacés, Cornudella de Montsant, La Bisbal de Falset, La Figuera, La Morera de Montsant, La Vilella Alta, La Vilella Baixa, Margalef and Ulldemolins
Points of interest
The most famous image of the park is the spectacular rocky walls of the Mayor cliff whilst the main peaks of the Serra de Montsant Natural Park are Roca Corbatera (1,163 m), Piló dels Senyalets (1,109 m) and la Cogulla (1,063 m).
This mountain region is also a famous red wine-producing zone and some of the best vineyards are located near the Cartoixa d’Escaladei, a Carthusian Order monastery.
As in most mountainous areas of Catalonia climbing is very popular here. So much so that new regulations were recently brought in controlling the numbers of climbers and climbing and routes (Vias ferratas) in the area. If you are climbing in the area then check in with one of the information centres first to find out about any new by laws and restrictions.
Some fantastic images from the area in this short video
Fauna
The park has a wealth of fauna, with endemic and very rare species in Catalonia. Mammals such as greater horseshoe bat, wild cat and Spanish ibex.
Birds of prey such as Bonelli’s eagle, golden eagle, peregrine falcon and kestrel as well as many other birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and fish.
Find a hotel close to the Serra de Montsant Natural Park
With regard to the vegetation, holm oak and shrubs dominate the majority of the landscape and there are also many Aleppo and Scots pine forests, as well as oak forests in certain areas.
Monumental trees
In the area there are four trees declared monumental and are well worth seeking out. The Encina del Mas de la Barba, the Alcornoque del Mas de Les Moreres, the Tejo de la Cueva and the Sabuco de Fontalba. (Only the latter two are within the boundaries of the Montsant Natural Park.
Tejo de la Cueva – Cave Yew (Taxus baccata L.)
Year of declaration: 1992 DEC. 29.075.01
Total height: 15.10 m
The Cave Yew is approximately 1200 years old. It is the yew with the largest crown measured in Catalonia. This female specimen is located at the top of the barranco de la Taverna in front of a cave known as the Cueva del Tejo in the municipality of Margalef.
Sabuco de Fontalba – Fontalba willow (Sambucus nigra)
Year of declaration: 1988 DEC. 29,157.01
Total height: 8.50 m
Normally shrubs, the Fontalba elderberry stands out for its trunk and crown dimensions. It is located in the municipality of Ulldemolins, where the Tagus stream joins the ravine of Fontalba. A short distance away is the Olletes sink hole, which is why it is also known as Les Olletes elderberry.
Hiking and biking
There are numerous routes in the Serra de Montsant Natural Park. Ask in the tourist office for maps detailing the eight simple flora routes, eleven municipal itineraries that take you through villages and five cultural routes that include the traditional shepherd routes (Caminos del Priorat), the via ferrata of Montsant and a cycling route. In addition, the GR 65-5, GR 171 and GR 174 trails cross the natural park.
Information/Visitors Centers
The main information centre of the Serra del Montsant Natural Park is in Carrer Major in the town of La Morera de Montsant. There are also information points in Cornudella de Montsant and La Vilella Baixa, and a tourist office in Falset.
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Declared a Natural Park: 1972. The first management plan for the park dates from 1972. A second plan was approved in 1982 due to the excessive growth of the urbanizations that surrounded it. In 1987 the natural park was declared by a decree of the Generalitat of Catalonia and then In 1998 the plan was modified to expand the park limits by an additional 4,055 hectares to the current 13,694 hectares.
Park surface area: 13, 694 hectares
Towns and villages: Castellar del Vallés, Granera, Matadepera, Monistrol de Calders, Mura, Rocafort y Vilumara, Rellinars, San Lorenzo Savall, San Vicente de Castellet, Talamanca, Tarrasa and Vacarisas
Points of interest
Sant Llorenç del Munt i L’Obac Natural Park, the first Natural Park to be declared in Spain, is a largely rocky mountain massif in central Catalonia close to Barcelona. The highest summit (where the Romanesque Monastery of Sant Llorenç del Munt is located) is called la Mola at 1,104 metres. Montcau 1,056 metres is another important peak of the massif.
Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies in Spain.
