Discover El Prat de Llobregat

Discover El Prat de Llobregat through its varied highlights: paths along the banks of the Llobregat, a protected pine forest, coastal scenery and traces of maritime history. When planning your trip, it is also worth bearing in mind the different visiting conditions: Pineda de Can Camins is accessible only at certain times as part of a guided tour, and a reservation is required to visit CRAM.

Riverbank paths and pine forest

The walkable Parc del Riu runs along the right bank of the Llobregat within the municipality of El Prat de Llobregat. The river park also includes the Camí del Sorral path. The area covers 6.7 hectares and features a network of paths and an almost two-kilometre-long riverside promenade running parallel to the river. Areas to relax, numerous play facilities and a lookout tower complement the riverbank. In this compact area, you can enjoy the riverside in a variety of ways.

La Pineda de Can Camins offers a different kind of landscape: this almost 30-hectare pine forest is recognised as part of the Natura 2000 network. Its distinctive plant life includes orchids and rare mushroom species; woodpeckers and tits are among the birds that live in the forest. However, visits are only possible as part of a free guided tour. Pineda is open for these tours only on the first Sunday of each month at 11 a.m. No tours take place in January, February, July or August. Bear these dates in mind if the pine forest is one of your planned destinations.

The Mirador de l'Illa, about 20 metres high, offers views of the pine groves of Can Camins and El Prat beach. Looking northwest, you can see almost the entire La Ricarda site, the Casa Gomis and the airport’s third runway. The viewpoint thus offers a view of named landscape features and structures in the surrounding area.

Coast, wetlands and wildlife

El Prat beach stretches for 5.5 kilometres from the mouth of the Llobregat to the Estany del Remolar lagoon. Three kilometres of it are suitable for public use. You can reach the beach on foot, by bike and, seasonally, on two bus routes. Facilities include beach bars, lifeguard and supervision services, and the Centre Municipal de Vela. There is also a dog beach that is open at night. There are 850 parking spaces for private vehicles; in summer, these are managed as a Green Zone.

The landscape around the Edifici del Semàfor is another of the coast’s distinctive features. The building is set in a wetland landscape with floodable marshes, rushes, sea beet, glasswort and significant esparto grass stands. Several bird species forage on a quiet natural beach, including the black-winged stilt (corriol camanegre), Audouin’s gull (gavina corsa) and osprey (àguila pescadora); the black-winged stilt nests there. The combination of marshland, plant communities and birdlife gives this stretch of coast a different character from the beach area with its aforementioned facilities.

Buildings with maritime history

The Carrabiners barracks were built in the mid-19th century to control smuggling and monitor the coast. A later chapter in the history of the coast is the Edifici del Semàfor, built in 1887. It was used to regulate maritime traffic close to the coast. The guards who lived there communicated by flag with Castell de Montjuïc to report possible incidents or shipwrecks. The two buildings thus represent different roles in coastal surveillance and maritime communication.

The town’s history and cultural life are also reflected in L’Artesà. The building was established in 1919 on the initiative of a property owners’ association as a centre for social events and theatre performances. After renovation, it reopened to the public in 2019 and became a venue for theatre, dance, music and circus, covering more than 5,000 square metres. This development links its original role as an events venue with a broad artistic programme.

Guided tours and other topics

During the CRAM tour, the exhibition “A favor de la biodiversidad, un mar de esperanza” explains the problems affecting the sea and the species that live there, and highlights local conservation efforts. A guided visit lasts 90 minutes and includes the education building as well as the clinic building, which houses various exhibitions. You will also get a glimpse of the animals recovering there. Advance reservations are required for the visit.

The municipal tourism routes also focus on a range of different themes, including family routes, suggestions exploring the town’s history and heritage, and experiences centred on local products. Together with the nature and coastal attractions, they let you choose whether you are most interested in landscapes, biodiversity, the maritime past or culture.

Discover more destinations: Cruïlles, Torrent, Molló, Fornells De La Selva, Cabanes, Foixà, Campdevànol, Avinyonet De Puigventós

For the wider travel overview: Girona.