Walking into Lleida’s Pyrenees, spending the night in a Starlight reserve, seeking dinosaur footprints, listening to the bellowing of the stag, witnessing vultures and eagles flying - a breathtaking experience both for children and adults. After all, Lleida is the perfect destination for a trip with your family, your partner, or your friends.

ROSA MATAS — Patronat de Turisme Lleida

 

Home to animals like the chamois, the western capercaillie, the groundhog, or the legendary bearded vulture, the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park – the only one in Catalonia – is famous for its biodiversity. Located in Lleida’s Pyrenees, it spreads over the regions of Alta Ribagorça, El Pallars Sobirà, la Val d’Aran, and el Pallars Jussà. Not only that, it also has more than 200 lakes and peaks such as the emblematic Encantat mountain peaks.

The park can be accessed from various towns such as Espot – located in the Pallars Sobirà region and giving access to the park’s Sant Maurici area – or Boí. This is turn gives access to the Aigüestortes sector and is located in the Alta Ribagorça region, famous for its UNESCO World Heritage Site the Romanesque complex, which consists of eight churches and one hermitage.

Furthermore, there are many other natural parks in Lleida’s Pyrenees, like the Alt Pirineu (which, covering 70,000 hectares, is the largest one in Catalonia), and the Cadí-Moixeró, Catalonia’s protected area with the largest amount of flora and wildlife species of European interest. Not only that, the Aigüestortes I Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is also a certified Starlight reserve and tourist destination, an award given due to exceptional night-sky contemplation quality.

Astronomy enthusiasts may also visit Montsec Mountains. Located between La Noguera and El Pallars Jussà regions, it too has a Starlight reserve and tourist destination certification supported by UNESCO. Moreover, Àger’s Universe Observation Centre and Astronomic Observatory receive more visitors year after year.

On the south of the Pyrenees, there’s the Conca de Tremp-Montsec Global Geopark, recognised by UNESCO for its geological, paleontological, natural, cultural, and historical heritage sites scattered across 19 municipalities, from Pallars Jussà, to La Noguera, to Pallars Sobirà, to Alt Urgell. Isona i Conca Dellà (Pallars Jussà) and Coll de Nargó (Alt Urgell) were also home to the last European dinosaurs. Discovering footprints, fossils, eggs, and nests, and visiting the Dinosfera exhibition at the Conca Dellà Museum are some of the activities we recommend.

 

 

VARIED FAUNA

In the autumn, mating calls from the male stags can be heard at twilight and dawn. This is the bellowing of the stag, an unparalleled natural spectacle. The Boumort National Hunting Reserve, the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, and the Alt Pirineu and Cadí-Moixeró Natural Parks are the perfect settings to listen to this natural concert, which occurs from mid-September to mid-October.

Those who want to see the animals up close can do so at Odén’s Pyrenees Zoo, which is located in the Solsonès region, it also offers a birds of prey show. Not only that, there’s also Pallars Sobirà: an area famous for rafting and other adventure sports as well as for its brown bear routes.

There is also the village of Isil – widely known for its Fallas, an ancient tradition to welcome the summer – with signposted bear routes and a brown bear exhibition centre. On the other hand, there’s the village of Bossòt (Vall d’Aran), with its Aran wildlife Park which is open until mid-November.

 

NOSTALGIA FOR THE LAKES TRAIN

Until November 2nd, a railway trip can take you back to the 20th Century. Located between Lleida and La Pobla de Segur, the Tren de Los Lagos (the Train of the Lakes) crosses 41 tunnels and 31 bridges, passing by Sant Llorenç Lake, the Camarasa Reservoir, and the Cellers and Sant Antoni Lake. From it, you will have a perfect view of this breathtaking landscape.

Moreover, guided tours to La Pobla de Segur’s Raiers Museum, Casa Mauri Modernist Complex, Licores Portet, Capdella Hydroelectric Museum, and the Salàs de Pallars’ Museum (which includes 1950s grocery shops, a barbershop, a pharmacy, a bar, a tobacco shop, and a haberdashery/perfume shop) are also offered.

 

FAMILY FRIENDLY TOURIST DESTINATION

Lleida is a well-established family-friendly holiday destination. The Vall de Boí and the Valls d’Àneu were the first regions awarded the family friendly tourism seal by Catalonia’s Tourism Agency, which is given to those municipalities offering facilities and services for families with children. Pallars Sobirà and Bajo Pallars also received this distinction in 2019.

The Valls d’Àneu were given this award because of the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici and Alt Pirineu parks, the Espot sky resort, and the wide range of children’s activities on offer: from family friendly routes, to horse riding, canoeing, trekking, to the Esbaila’t: a children theatre festival.

Located in the Alta Ribagorça region, the Vall de Boí received this certificate due to its natural and cultural heritage – including the Romanesque temple complex (a World Heritage Site), the Fallas fest (an Intangible World Heritage Site in Spain, Andorra, and France), the Boí Taüll Sky Resort, and Caldes de Boí Spa.

The final tourist destination to receive this distinction is Pirineos-Noguera Pallaresa, which expands over Llavorsí, Rialp, Sort, Soriguera, and Baix Pallars on both sides of the Noguera Pallaresa River: a total of 65 villages extending across the Baiasa, Romadriu, Àssuua, Siarb, and Ancs valleys.

At the end of Autumn, preparations begin for the opening of Lleida’s 11 Pyrenees sky resorts: six for Alpine skiing (Baqueira Beret, Boí Taüll, Espot Esquí, Port Ainé, Port del Comte, and Tavascan) and seven for Nordic skiing (Aransa, Lles de Cerdanya, San Joan de l’Erm, Tuixent-La Vansa, and Virós-Vallferrera), with Tavascan and Baqueira Beret offering both disciplines.