Ideas for enjoying nature close to Barcelona
If you’re the sort of person who enjoys combining cultural visits in cities with nature excursions, here are four of the routes favoured by Barcelona locals, who also like to get away from it all and enjoy the outdoors, especially when these beauty spots are so close to home. These routes offer something for everyone and, like almost every other route in the country, can be enjoyed all year round.
Life in textile model villages
If you have a curious mind and are looking for a family-friendly activity, then plan a day trip to the colònies tèxtils (textile model villages) of the regions of Barcelona. Built between the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century, they’re still full of working machines, fabrics you’re allowed to touch and plenty of amazing stories. Ready to journey into the past?
A respite in nature
Peace and quiet. Berguedà is a paradise for those who need to flee from the city and get away from it all, even if only for a few hours, in nature at its most peaceful. Stress is nowhere to be seen in this mountain region... and nobody misses it at all! This is a land where purity reigns.
The Cathars’ Route
Looking for an alternative to the usual mountain destinations? In the Pirineus Barcelona area, you can follow in the footsteps of the Cathars along the Camí dels Bons Homes (Path of the Good Men), a trans-Pyrenean route stretching from the Sanctuary of Queralt, in Berga, to the Château de Montségur, in the Ariège department in Southern France. This route is now a Long-Distance Path (GR-107) and is suitable for hikers, equestrians and —in most sections— mountain bikers. It’s a truly unforgettable experience, however you choose to travel it!
Lots of people dream of a holiday in the countryside, staying in the heart of nature, trying typical dishes, discovering traditional trades and experiencing village life. Are you one of them? Keep reading! You’ll find a selection of suggestions for enjoying sustainable rural tourism in the regions of Barcelona.
Get your mountain bike or gravel bike ready, grab your helmet and water bottle and set off on an adventure. Whether you are alone or accompanied, enjoy some of the best routes in the province of Barcelona, discover the Penedès region, the famous Cavalls del Vent route or a route that will take you both to the sea and the mountains. Are you ready?
If there is an art movement linked to Barcelona, it is Modernisme. As a symbol of flamboyance and modernity for the bourgeoisie of that time, we still have many examples of this aesthetic revolution that emphasised curved shapes and highlighted the importance of detail and craftsmanship.
Barcelona is the cradle of this avant-garde art. Furthermore, in the different regions of Barcelona and very close to the city, there are also great gems that have largely gone unnoticed, perhaps because they are not on Passeig de Gràcia. If you have not visited them yet, you should do so as soon as possible.
