Occupying the spectacular northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula, where it hugs the border with France, Catalonia is a unique Mediterranean destination shaped by more than 1,000 years of history. Proud of its own distinct culture and Catalan language, it’s also blessed with a benign climate and sharply contrasting landscapes that make it a magnet for lovers of active, adventurous holidays.
To the north, the Pyrenees provide the perfect playground for hiking, mountain biking, skiing and adventure sports, while less than two hours away, the long sandy beaches of its southern shores and the hidden coves in the north attract water-sports enthusiasts. With 19 natural parks and many more marine and natural reserves, sites of special interest and protected areas, Catalonia is a nature lover’s paradise, from the highest Pyrenean peak, across the mountain ranges of El Priorat or the volcanic lands of La Garrotxa, to the ‘costas’ and the southernmost Ebre Delta wetlands.
Catalonia is home to 9,000km of hiking trails and 6,400km of mountain bike trails, as well as thousands of kilometres of quiet cycle routes. All are immersed in exceptional scenery and fascinating history. But this is no rural backwater. Catalonia, the 2016 European Region of Gastronomy, is also the home of Barcelona, one of Europe’s most thrilling, cosmopolitan and stylish cities and a byword for art, culture and exciting cuisine.
Welcome to your new home of adventure!
