Natural Parks in Catalonia

Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park

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Cadí-Moixero Natural Park
  • Region: Catalonia
  • Province: Barcelona, Gerona y Lérida
  • Declared a Natural Park: 1983
  • Park surface area: 41,059 hectares
  • Towns and villages Alàs i Cerc, Alp, Bagà, Bellver de Cerdanya, Castellar de n’Hug, Cava, Das, Gisclareny, Gósol, Guardiola de Berguedà, Josa i Tuixent, Vansa i Fórnols, La Montellà i Martinet, Riu de Cerdanya, Saldes, Urús, Vallcebre.

Points of interest

The Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park (Catalan: Parc Natural del Cadí-Moixeró) is located to the north of Catalonia and near to the border with Andorra. A rugged terrain in the comarques of Alt Urgell, Berguedà and Cerdanya, the protected area stretches for more than 30 kilometers over the mountain ranges of Serra del Cadí and Serra de Moixeró, with the peak of Vulturó at 2,648 metres.

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Alt Pirineu Natural Park

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Alt Pirineu Natural Park
  • Region: Catalonia
  • Province: Lérida
  • Declared a Natural Park: 2003
  • Park surface area: 69.850 hectares (2018 Enlargement of the surface of Alt Pirineu Natural Park up to 79.317 hectares.)
  • Towns and Villages: Alins de Vallferrera, Esterri de Cardós, Farrera, Lladorre, Llavorsí, Montferrer i Castellbò, Tirvia, Valle de Cardós and Valles del Valira

Points of interest

The Alt Pirineu Natural Park is the largest natural park in Catalonia and is located in the Catalan Pyrenees between the Val d’Aran in the west and Andorra to the east. It is interesting to note that all the nearby towns and villages are outside of the parks limits.

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Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

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The Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park was created is the only protected area with National Park status in Catalonia
  • Region: Catalonia
  • Province: Lérida
  • Declared a Natural Park: 1955 (National 1995)
  • Park surface area: 40,000 hectares
  • Towns and Villages: Alto Aneu, Valle de Bohí, Espot, Esterri de Aneu, Alto Arán, Sort, La Torre de Cabdella and Vilaller

Points of interest

The Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is the only protected area with National Park status in Catalonia. It is located in the central part of the Pyrenees and divided into four regions (Alta Ribagorza, Pallars Sobirá, Pallars Jussá and Valle de Arán) in the province of Lérida.

The geography of the area is high mountain and a large part of the territory exceeds 1000 metres and including some peaks that exceed 3000 metres. Two spectacular valleys stand out. To the west the valley of the San Nicolás River with its characteristic meadows and meanders from which the name “Aiguas Tortas” (tortuous waters) comes and to the east the valley of the river Escrita with the beautiful lake of San Mauricio.

Within the national park there are around 80 lakes. The main ones are: Llebreta, Serradé, Contraix, Llong, Mussoles, Ribera, Morrano, Dellui, Redó, Negro de Portarró, Ratera, Barbs, Munyidera, lakes of Amitges, San Mauricio , Negro de Peguera , Monges, Travessani, Mangades.

The area has also become famous as a starlight destination. The Starlight Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 to promote the protection of the night sky and the development of “astrotourism” and there is an ever growing list of starlight destinations in Spain to visit.

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Macizo de Montserrat Natural Park

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Macizo del Montseny Natural Park
  • Region: Catalonia
  • Province: Barcelona
  • Declared a Natural Park: 1987
  • Park surface area: 3,630 hectares
  • Towns and villages: Bruch, Collbató, Monistrol de Montserrat and Marganell

Points of interest

The Macizo de Montserrat Natural Park is a multi-peaked mountain range near Barcelona. The main peaks are Sant Jeroni (1,236 m), Montgrós (1,120 m) and Miranda de les Agulles (903 m). This area is well known for the site of the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat and the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary.

Day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona

Take a half-day trip from Barcelona to Monserrat. See views from the mountain, visit a famous monastery, and take a walking tour.

Begin your day with pickup and enjoy the most exclusive views of this spectacular natural setting, the Holy Mountain. This rocky monument is known for the whimsical shapes of its peaks soaring through the sky.

After visiting the monastery, your guide will take you on a walking tour to take in the stunning views from the site that was declared a national park in 1987. Next, you’ll visit the Holy Cave, where legend has it the Virgin appeared. It is now a center of pilgrimage and prayer.

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