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!
There’s no need to travel to Northern Europe to enjoy the magic of Christmas markets: in the regions of Barcelona there are many towns and cities that organise beautiful fairs where you can buy figurines for the nativity scene and all kinds of traditional decorations. Some remain open until 23 December, but why wait until the last minute? Visit one this weekend and feel the warmth of Christmas spirit.
Some believe that gastronomy is a landscape placed on the table, a surprising statement that could not be more true in the counties of Barcelona. With an enormous diversity of crops and a prodigiously rich coastline, an infinite number of products await discovery every day of the week in the markets and, more specifically, at a host of traditional gastronomic festivals.
In the regions around Barcelona, Christmas is a celebration that is enjoyed with family members around a table laden with traditional dishes. In a region with such a wide range of quality products, it is surprising that there is such a consensus about the menu for the holiday season. Hearty soups, free-range chicken, salads with seasonal vegetables and nougat are must-haves. Would you like to know what people usually eat at this special time of year?
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