Day 534 - 31/03/2015 : Red leaf and autumn poem

A haunting sound is heard softly whistling,
like a magic flute in the distance playing,
luring summer leaves to hum and sway,
to don new colors, to dance and to play;
and like a Mexican Wave the merriment spreads:
an infectious mood carried by the autumn winds.

Soon the Autumn Ball is in full swing,
oblivious to the fate autumn will bring.
The sound grows louder, the party raucous,
the swaying erratic, the movement vigorous,
and like whirling Dervishes unable to stop,
autumn leaves reluctantly begin to drop.

Day 533 - 30/03/2015 : Siurana Abbey

Even though Siurana is a tiny town, it's known to be one of the most beautiful places in Catalonia. Those who love trekking have visited this town and the wonderful buildings inside it.

One of the is the Abbey which can be seen from different locations with the deep cliff behind and Siurana reservoir below. Panoramic views are breathtaking wherever you stay and we were lucky to catch this picture with the first autumn colors just behind the Abbey.

As a relevant fact, Siurana was the last Arabian place conquered by Catalan Christian.

A must !

Day 532 - 29/03/2015 : Siurana reservoir

Look at this picture, breathtaking !!!!

The reservoir of Siurana is located in a magnificent setting, surrounded by the Serra de Montsant and Muntanyes de Prades. It stops the river Siurana, the main tributary of the Ebre river to the lands of Tarragona.

From Siurana the views of the reservoir are gorgeous, definitely you will be shocked. To reach on the ground you should drive into C-242 road from Cornudella de Montsant to the South.

Take a seat from the cliffs and put your feet up, you deserve it !

Day 531 - 28/03/2015 : The Montsant Range

Being in Siurana, we've a privileged view of the Monsant range. These mountains are part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range. The main peaks are Roca Corbatera (1,163 m), Piló dels Senyalets (1,109 m) and la Cogulla (1,063 m). The Serra de Montsant, meaning 'Holy Mountain Range' is thus named because there were many hermits living in the range in early Medieval times^.
 
The Montsant mountain range is currently a protected area, the Serra de Montsant Natural Park.







 This mountain region is a famous red wine-producing zone; some of the best vineyards are located near the Cartoixa d'Escaladei, a Carthusian Order monastery. It gives its name to the Montsant wine-producing area.

It deserves a visit !!!

Day 530 - 27/03/2015 : Siurana street

You can't enter to Siurana by car, or in the least bit is advisable. This tiny town is particularly known due to the peaceful atmosphere and the charming streets.

We didn't find anybody in our walk from the parking to the Abbey, only we heard some children playing in their house.

Cliffs around the village are popular among climbers due to the abundance of sport climbs up to the grade of 9b The development of Siurana as one of the world's best climbing destinations is often attributed to Toni Arbones.



La Siurana is the Christian name for the town. Originally, it was known by the Latin name of La Seviriana, but was changed to Xibrana after being conquered by the Islamics. A memorial cross was erected in 1953 to commemorate the reconquest of Siurana by the Christians in 1153, 800 years before.

Pay attention on the next pictures, you will be shocked !

Day 529 - 26/03/2015 : The first house of Siurana

After the crossroad in Pla de L'Isidret, we continue straight forward until the end of the road and we come across with the first house of Siurana, which seemingly is governing all the cliffs and the Montsant range.

Siurana is a small medieval and charming town in the top of the mountains which belongs to the municipality of Cornudella de Montsant.

Surrounded by gorgeous landscapes, climbing walls, with incomparable views to the lake and to the Natural Park of the Montsant, its few medieval houses of stone, on the brink of madness raised the precipices that confer a singular enchantment and beauty to this old town. The only access is by car, trough the highway that connect from Cornudella de Montsant.

A must in your Catalonia trip !

Day 528 - 25/03/2015 : Morrot de Ciuranella

Having driving into C-242, just before reaching Cornudella de Montsat you will find the crossroad for Siurana. After a first bored kilometers you will reach one of the best postcards in Catalonia : the view of Barranc de l'Estopinyà with the Montsant range on the background.

This picture has been headliner in some Catalonia tourist magazines, and really it deserves. On the right side Siurana's clifts, also known as Morrot de Ciuranella, in one of the most picturesque scenes in Catalonia with the serpent road trying to scratch the mountain.

Definitely, a country to enjoy it !

Day 527 - 24/03/2015 : Priorat scenary

We haven't said before, but Albarca was the first town we reached being in Priorat shire, another relevant wine are in Catalonia.

Leaving Albarca we take C-242 road on the way to Cornudella de Montsant, the main town in kilometers, keeping the Montsant range on the right side.

It was November therefore the vineyards seemed be slept, although the landscape was very amazing indeed. Not only was the countryside amazing, but also breathtaking as you will see in the following pictures.

You can't get out !

Day 526 - 23/03/2015 : Albarca

We left Prades on the way to Siurana, the countryside is changing but we were impressed when we saw a little town located in a hill, we'd reached Albarca.

This village is practically deserted (5 inhabitants are registered) and preserves all its old charm. There is a beautiful Romanesque church and various walking routes leading from the village on to the Montsant mountain range.

 The village has a mountain shelter and rural lodgings, therefore think about spend some day enveloped in the silence.

Wind down !

Day 525 - 22/03/2015 : Prades, Santa Maria church

Finally, we entered into Prades, the town giving the name to this amazing land. We will be recognizing quickly the shape of the most relevant building, Santa Maria church.

This colorful church is a merge of styles, being considered a transition construction between Romanesque and Gothic eras but with Renaissance topics in the facade.

The door on the right side is called 'la porta falsa' (false door) belongs to the runes from the old Romanesque city and it was the main entrance to the church in times when the current Santisim chapel was the main altar.

The whole building is itself the main one in Plaça Major when all the visitors are captivated at first sight.

Wonderful !

Day 524 - 21/03/2015 : Driving to Prades

T-700 road begins in Conca de Barberà shire but after the steeped climbing bordering Barranc del Tillar, we will reach Baix Camp shire where Prades is located.

Driving to Prades is a calm descent when we might admire the vast nature inside a peaceful environment. We may say that we aren't well off but we live in a fantastic country which give us the best as he can.

Catalonia in autumn, broadly speaking, is probably one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Being plenty of forest you may find a different place each day, the current one improving the previous one.

Keep in touch with us, the beauty has not finished yet !

Day 523 - 20/03/2015 : Muntanyes de Prades, pure nature

We are driving inside a vast nature and enjoying the special atmosphere that T-700 road might give out to us during autumn season.

Prades is the highest point of the Baix Camp to 1,201 meters, the place called Tossal of Baltasana. The ascent is not difficult and can be reached through forests of pine and Pyrenean oak. Prades Mountains are the only place in Catalonia, where we find this beautiful and interesting variety of oak.

We splashed out with this tour into the Prades Range and we will presumably repeat soon !

Day 522 - 19/03/2015 : Prades, autumn scenary

While the day before was falling snow, we started a new climb to Prades range to admire autumn color, and we weren't disappointed at all.

By and large, autumn colors in Catalonia can be seen from October, however in the last years is difficult to find autumn scenarios before middle November, climate change is modifying the nature unfortunately.

Anyway, we were able to find some amazing picture, look at this ! Before starting the steeped T-700 road the bridge above Barranc del Tilar provide us a first scene when autumn colors were a remarkable shot.

Enjoy the view !

Day 521 - 18/03/2015 : Conca de Barberà countryside

The vineyards in Conca de Barberà are planted in the valleys of the rivers Francolí and Anguera and are surrounded and protected by mountain ranges: the Serra de Montclar, Codony mountain and Serra de Comalats in the north, the Serra de Miramar and Cogulló in the east, the Serra de Prades in the south, and the Serra del Tallat and Serra de Vilobí in the west.

The land is mainly flat or slightly undulating at heights of between 350 and 600 m above sea level.

Most of the vines are on dark lime bearing soils, quite loose and poor in organic matter. Towards the foothills of the Sierra de Prades slate can be found in the rock.

Interesting, isn't it?

Day 520 - 17/03/2015 : Conca de Barberà vineyards

Conca de Barberà is a Catalonian DO (Denominació d'Origen) for wines located in central Catalonia in the north of the province of Tarragona in the valleys of the rivers Francolí and Anguera, and is known for its white wines.

It is highly probable that wine production was introduced by the ancient Romans but by the time of the Moorish dominion of the Iberian peninsula it had all but disappeared from the Conca de Barberà area.
As in many other wine producing regions, wine production took off again thanks to the influence of the monasteries founded in the Middle Ages, in this case the Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet, near Montblanc which was then the third largest city of Catalonia. In the 12th century both the Knights Templar and the monks from Poblet worked the vineyards. The wine was produced in the basement of the monastery and can be visited today.

Enjoy the colors, enjoy the wine !

Day 519 - 16/03/2015 : Conca de Barberà colors

Visiting Catalonia in autumn is a not ending sequence of sensation, colors and surprises. Look at this fantastic car stopped in a rural road in Conca de Barberà shire.

The owner was taking pictures on the countryside, which was extremely amazing with the vineyard leaves changing its color. All the Poble Monastery surrounding is plenty of vineyards, therefore the views outside the building area remarkable.

Anyway, rainfall is common during autumn, it's advisable to check the weather before coming in this season, but no way are you to put excuses, however the weather, you will enjoy !

Day 518 - 15/03/2015 : Poblet countryside

Not only does Poblet has a magnificent building, but also it has a fantastic surrounding. Coming from Montblanc using T-700 road we can obtain breathtaking views of the vineyards with the Monastery on the underground.

Autumn is a great time to visit the monastery as the surrounding countryside is alive with brightly colored and fidgeting autumn leaves, as we found in our trip.

Book your excursion, recharge your cameras and get out of Barcelona !!

Day 517 - 14/03/2015 : Montblanc, Santa Maria church

Definitely, we are bound to confirm that Santa Maria church is the most relevant sight in Montblanc and will presumably is the second one from Conca de Barberà after the impressive Monestir de Poblet.

Santa Maria is a Gothic style church coming from XIV Century. It's known as the Mountain Church, probably because it's located in a little hill governing all the city in the place where it was located an old Romanesque church.

Because Black Eyelashes decease in Europe during XV Century the building wasn't able to be finished, even it took a great relevance during the following years.

The visit is a must, you may from 11AM to 1PM in the morning and from 4 PM to 6 PM in the afternoon.

Enjoy !

Day 516 - 13/03/2015 : Muntanyes de Prades, looking to Tossal Baltassana

The highest hill in Muntanyes de Prades is called Tossal Baltassana. From T-7000 road it can be seen just before the crossroad with T-7015 leading to Vilanova de Padres.

Not too many autumn colors we were able to see from that view but the shapes of the mountains, the river and the deep valley created a fantastic atmosphere.

The hill has 1202m above sea level and it's known to be a typical excursion for those spending some days in Conca de Barbera.

Would you like to climb it? In this cases, think about starting from Monestir de Poblet.

Day 515 - 12/03/2015 : Muntanyes de Prades, plenty of snow

Driving to Prades the color mixing was really amazing. Green, brown, yellow stick out against the white one covering all the ground and the tree's leaves.

There was a slim chance to see a snowfall being yet in autumn, however but we were lucky my friend and the only way to face with this magical landmark is moving away the country.

What are you waiting to take your car and explore such a wonderful land? Don't waste your time and enjoy !

Day 514 - 11/03/2015 : Muntanyes de Prades, froggy

The more we climbed on TV-7003 road, the more frog we saw !!! Probably it wasn't the best day to come along the mountains but it was a fantastic idea driving to Prades between the autumn colors and the white snow.

TV-7003 is advisable for those who like mountainous landmarks. It's a panoramic road with plenty of nature to admire, and quite enough to stop the car everywhere and take pictures.

Hardly ever we had seen autumn and winter at the same time, that journey came about and it will keep up in our memory forever and ever !

Day 513 - 10/03/2015 : Muntanyes de Prades, between two seasons

Prades Mountains, also known as Muntanyes de Prades, is a large calcareous mountain massif straddling the comarcas of Alt Camp, Baix Camp, Conca de Barberà, Garrigues and Priorat.

These mountains have characteristic large and rounded rocky outcrops. They are mostly heavily forested with oak and pine trees, and the non-native chestnut tree has adapted to the local forests.

Being a great forest provoke an impressive color explosion in autumn which we were able to admire along with the first winter snowfall.

It was really amazing !!!

Day 512 - 09/03/2015 : Castell de Riudabella

Located at an altitude of 600 metres over a geologic fault in the heart of the Conca de Barberà wine region, the Riudabella, with its thousand-year history, enjoys outstanding environmental conditions for grape-growing thanks to its Continental Mediterranean climate and the local soil, slatey with a little clay.

Boasting a long wine-making tradition, Riudabella Castle houses a large, select cellar with several rooms, where its own high quality whites and reds are produced and visits and tastings directed by leading oenologists are organized. Tastings of typical local products also take place.

Moreover, a stay at Riudabella Castle provides the chance to visit other nearby wine producing regions: Priorat, Penedès and Costers del Segre.

What about a cellar route on the Central Catalonia?

Day 511 - 08/03/2015 : Conca de Barberà countryside

Being in autumn season, Conca de Barberà countryside and specifically its vineyards had a beautiful yellow color during our visit.

For centuries, the people of the Conca have been dependent on the cultivation of the land as their principal source of alimentation and economic income. In particular, the geological bowl which gives the Conca its name provided ideal conditions for the cultivation of vineyards and the production of wine.

 

A plague of grape fly at the end of the nineteenth century had devastating effects: the county was plunged into poverty, a recession which lasted for years and which led to  massive depopulation as families moved to the cities to seek work. As a result, various community-based groups were set up, offering mutual support to their members. These became the first ‘agricultural co operatives’, and soon –on the same principles of shared buildings-- the first wine co ops were established.

 

Would you like to taste some delicious Catalan wine? Definitely, Conca is a good choice !

Day 510 - 07/03/2015 : Outside Poblet

Broadly speaking, the ground outside the Monastery seems not to have end !!!A large corridor leads up from the ticket and tour office to the Monastery main entrance and the closest we are to the door the most impressed we got.

The doors were used to close the various parts of the monastery. To close and, of course, to open, to communicate and to communicate with, to go in and out. 

It is an expression of a well-structured society, the Medieval one, where each man , like each object, has his own place, but also an expression of a society which promotes to the fullest the bonds of solidarity in order to survive.

Enjoy !

Day 540 - 06/03/2015 : Poblet's cloister

How should we define a Cloister? It's bound to be a square space surrounded by arcades where the rooms of the communal life open on to. 

Poblet cloister was started in the late 12th century and continued through the 13th century. Of a markedly Gothic style, its decoration consists basically in floral motifs and baskets and it retains great unity and a particular seductiveness for its simplicity and harmony. 

The light, the noise of the water running down the fountain in the shrine, the chirping of the birds nestling in the graceful four cypresses and the rhyming sound of the bells ringing, make of it the perfect place to encounter oneself in the innermost intimacy and, on the other hand, for the union with the Creator.

Priceless peace and harmony!

Day 539 - 05/03/2015 : Poblet's garden

We had a rainy day when we visited Poblet but it wasn't an excuse to enjoy the Monastery beauty's. One of the main areas is the garden outside the Cloister.

There’s nothing vulgar, or common, or strange. It is all peace and order. From any outside point of view, the monastery always looks the same.

After entering from the main door we are seeing the magnificent Cloister which bring us to the Garden, a peaceful and ordered land where the monks might have a rest.

We are going to continue our tour, you can't get out !!!

Day 538 - 04/03/2015 : Inside Poblet

Poble Monastery is a Cistercian abbey located in Conca de Barberà shire, just in the vicinity of Muntanyes de Prades.

Essentially, is the largest abbey in Catalonia being dated on 12th-century. The austere, majestic monastery, which has a fortified royal residence and contains the pantheon of the Kings of Catalonia and Aragon, is an impressive sight.

It has served as one of the largest and most complete of the Cistercian abbeys, as a massive military complex, and as a royal palace, residence and pantheon. It is a unique artistic achievement and one of the most perfect expressions of Cistercian style in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries. The abbey contains masterpieces from every period such as the great alabaster retablo by Damian Forment (1529).

Nothing more to say, is a must !

Day 537 - 03/03/2015 : Capafonts

During our tour inside Muntanyes de Prades we came up with a little town which provoked us to stop the car in the middle of TV-7041 road.

Being an agrarian town, only a handful of people lives here, specifically 124. Located at 721m above sea level, it belongs to Baix Camp shire on the North-East side of Tarragona fields.

Although the town is quite tiny it's advisable to visit and walk on the narrow and steeped streets, caused by being grow in a hill. However there are some relevant monuments and places to visit, as the church or essentially the countryside.

Enjoy your visit !

Day 536 - 02/03/2015 : Montblanc

Coming from Lleida province let's move to the South during some days, let's go to visit Tarragona, mountains, medieval villages and fertile grounds will accompany us.

Our first stop is Montblanc, the capital of Conca de Barberà's shire. Having been protected by Prades Mountains, this medieval town is proud to have a extremely old history, evidence of cave dwellings have been found dating back to Palaeolithic times.

But not further as the history is, we were able to have a pleasant walk inside the old medieval town in a cold night from November being impressed to be in a magical place.

 Amazing !

Day 535 - 01/03/2015 : Montsonis Castle, fear ot he dark.

Montsonís castle is situated inside the Montsonis village , inside Noguera's shire, 2 km from Artesa de Segre and 24 km from Balaguer, the capital village.

The castle and the splendid dry stone houses that surround it conserve all the magnificence and elegance of the past times and takes us back to past centuries. The castle is a superb fortress raised on the top of Montsonís, small and quiet village, surrounded by fertile lands and magnificent landscape views.

The following architectural parts are relevant: the arrogant homage tower, the delicate Gothic styled window in the main wall, and the vast seigniorial outhouses : the antecedents' room, the dining room, the chamber of the lords, ... and its very true well kept secrets : the room without door, the prison, the wine cellar, the secret passage... .

A fantastic guided tour can be attended during weekends, even at night when you could feel the cold night in your bones.

Fear of the dark !

Day 534 - 28/02/2015 : Pont de Sant Miquel over Segre's river in Balaguer

Another relevant monument in Balaguer is the main Gothic bridge, the "Pont de Sant Miquel", over the Segre river. This bridge was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in the battle of "Cap de Pont" (bridgehead battle in 1938) and rebuilt after the war.

Dated at the end of 14th Century, the bridge protected the town from the north and the east creating a defensive structure also with Gerb doorway.

Nowadays it's linking old and new town being the nature area from the city on both shores. Reflections on the Segre's river are common and the most impressive view can be seen from the hill where Santa Maria Church is located.

Why don't you check by yourself?

Day 533 - 27/02/2015 : Balaguer

Balaguer is the capital of Noguera shire's, in the province of Lleida. It is located on the shore of Segre river, a tributary to the Ebre. The municipality includes an exclave to the east.

Balaguer was conquered from the Moors by Ermengol VI of Urgell in 1106; he made it his new capital, and it remained so for subsequent counts of Urgell.

The most relevant Gothic building is the Santa Maria Church (in the picture's background), in the heights above the city, in line with a quite finely conserved wall dating to the 15th century AD. The historic town is on the right bank of the Segre.

For more information about the town please follow the Official municipal web site

Enjoy !!!

Day 532 - 26/02/2015 : St.Llorenç de Montgai

The environment around St Llorenç de Montgai drives out to visit the village to admire the mountains, reservoir and the incoming autumn colors.

Being so close to Balaguer is a must if you're visiting this area because there are plenty of walk routes and water activities on the reservoir.

The mountains surrounding the village are not too high and provoke a desire to climb them.

The town has one of the train station from the known and tourist track Lleida - Pobla de Segur, above all during summer season, note this, it's one of the best sights in Lleida province, don't forget it !