Explore the Spanish Pyrenees
Discover the tantalizing sights and sceneries, when you explore Spanish Pyrenees this year in conjunction with Catalan’s Year of Cultural Tourism. Take a rental campervan and get to know the landscapes filled with natural and human creations. From the valley town of Vielha to Figueres, the birthplace of artist Salvador Dali, the Spanish Pyrenees has plenty to offer the adventurous and the artistic traveler within. When you decide to explore the Spanish Pyrenees, it’ll be a trip you’ll likely never forget.
Places to visit in the Pyrenees
Vielha
Vielha is a small Pyrenean city that sits on the confluence of the Garona and Nere rivers. A favorite weekend destination for outdoorsy types because of it’s beautiful valley setting and lively dining scene, Vielha serves as a suitable basecamp for hiking or skiing Vall de Boí. There are numerous walking itineraries that will take you pass Baqueira and onto the Bonaigua Mountain pass so leave your rental campervan for the day and explore the flora and fauna surrounding the valley.
La Seu d’Urgell
Often referred to as Spain’s gateway to Andorra, La Seu d’Urgell is another one of those lively Pyrenean valley towns worthy of a stop when you explore the Spanish Pyrenees. Its well-preserved medieval center has cobblestone streets and a beautiful Romanesque cathedral that dates back to the 12th century. Located just a little over two hours away from Barcelona, La Seu makes for a great daytrip especially for travelers looking to take in a bit of the Pyrenees.
Puigcerdà
The largest town in the Pyrenean valley also happens to be right on the border between Spain and France. Puigcerdà is the capital of Cerdanya, within the province of Girona. The city has a deep history dating back to the 1100s when the indigenous people of Iberia referred to as Ceretani settled in town. While in town, take a peak at the ruins of the 12th century church of Santa Maria, which was almost destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. There’s also a Gothic church dedicated to Saint Dominic worth peeking into. The 600-year Catholic Church stands tall inside the city’s historic center.
Ripoll
When you explore the Spanish Pyrenees, it’s almost impossible not to stop by Ripoll. Historians might say it is the birthplace of Catalonia. It’s famous mostly because of the Monestir de Santa Maria, a Benedictine monastery that dates back to 9th century. Considered as one of Catalonia’s most powerful monastery during the medieval period, its influence expanded across Spain with branches that included another infamous Catalan abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat. Its crypt holds the remains of the Counts of Barcelona, including Count Wilfred the Hairy, the first of Barcelona’s hereditary counts.
Figueres
The birthplace of one of the Spanish greats, Salvador Dalí, is only a short 90-minute drive north of Barcelona. Figueres attracts mostly fans of the artist who come in droves to check out the Dalí Theatre-Museum, but it also has a couple of other quirky museums including the Toy Museum of Catalonia and the Technical Museum.