Discover Catalonia
Accommodation in Catalonia
In AigĂĽestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, elevations range from 1,200 to 3,000 metres. Its landscape includes more than 200 lakes as well as numerous rivers, gorges and wetlands. This glimpse of nature alone suggests one possible direction when planning a stay in Catalonia. Art, architectural history and regional cuisine offer other focuses.
Landscapes and nature experiences
Cap de Creus Natural Park is Catalonia’s first maritime-terrestrial natural park and was established in 1998. It includes the restored Romanesque monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, built between the 10th and 12th centuries. The natural park and monastery thus bring together two distinct interests: exploring a protected landscape and visiting a historic building. You can consider these aspects separately when choosing the focus of your trip; this does not imply a combined outing or a specific route.
The Ebro Delta Ecomuseum presents natural habitats such as the river, lagoon, riparian forest and springs, as well as areas shaped by people: huts, gardens, rice fields and the irrigation system. It also includes an aquarium. This brings both the delta’s natural environment and the human shaping of its landscape into view. Catalonia’s specially protected natural areas also have visitor facilities that make visits easier and help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the values underlying their protection.
Art, architecture and history
The DalĂ Theatre-Museum is housed in the former municipal theatre of Figueres. More than 1,500 works by Salvador DalĂ are on display there, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, stereoscopic works, installations, holograms and photographs. This broad range makes a visit relevant to different interests in DalĂ’s work. Activities, temporary exhibitions and guided tours complement the offer. If you choose art as your focus, this museum offers a specific way to explore a single artist and a variety of forms of work.
Buildings and historic ensembles also offer different ways to explore cultural history. Sant Climent de Taüll has fully preserved its original features and is used for tourism and cultural purposes. The UNESCO World Heritage property Works of Antoni Gaudà comprises seven buildings constructed by Antoni Gaudà (1852–1926) in or near Barcelona. Poblet Monastery has a fortified royal residence and houses the pantheon of the kings of Catalonia and Aragon. These examples differ in their architectural history and function, so you can weigh them according to your personal interest in architecture, UNESCO World Heritage or royal history.
Montserrat is considered an open-air museum that brings together artistic, historical and natural heritage in a geologically remarkable setting. The Camà de les Canals i de l’Aigua, GR 5/96, is known as the Montserrat Pilgrim’s Way and has a long historical tradition. Comparing these two themes may be helpful: one describes Montserrat as a place of cultural and natural heritage, while the other is a pilgrimage route with a historical tradition.
The archaeological ensemble of Tarraco includes Roman walls, the imperial cult precinct, the square featuring the Provincial Forum, the circus, the colonial forum, the Roman theatre and the amphitheatre. Tarraco was the first and oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula and an important administrative and commercial city in Roman Spain. The variety of surviving features gives you several specific points of interest for exploring Roman history.
Wine and regional cuisine
Wine regions and gastronomy can also shape your trip. Catalan wine tourism offers insights into the world of wine, the history of wineries and wine-growing landscapes. Catalonia has 11 wine designations as well as one Cava designation. These figures give an indication of the variety within the wine scene without equating individual products or wineries.
Catalan cuisine stems from the region’s agricultural and livestock activities and is based on local products. Together with wine, it offers a distinct way to experience the region’s character, alongside nature, museums and architectural history. When planning a stay, you can consider whether culinary themes will determine your choice or whether you would rather focus your time on landscapes and cultural sites. This way, you can tailor your search for a hotel in Catalonia to the kind of trip you want to take.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Tarragona, Girona, Barcelona, Lleida, Balearic Islands, Murcia, Madrid, Ciudad De Melilla.
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