At the Ebro Delta Ecomuseum, the river, lagoon, riverside woodland and springs are presented alongside huts, gardens, rice fields and the irrigation system. There is also an aquarium. This combination offers two perspectives on the landscape: as a natural environment and as a place shaped by people. Catalonia can be explored through these varied perspectives, from nature parks to art, history and regional cuisine.

Landscapes and Architectural History

In Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, elevations range from 1,200 to 3,000 metres. Its landscape includes more than 200 lakes, as well as numerous rivers, gorges and wetlands. The variety therefore extends beyond individual types of water feature, giving nature lovers several specific aspects to focus on.

Cap de Creus Natural Park offers a different emphasis: it is Catalonia’s first maritime-terrestrial nature park and was established in 1998. The restored Romanesque monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, built between the 10th and 12th centuries, is located within the park. Here, a natural environment and architectural history come together within the same park; the monastery can also be appreciated in its own right for its Romanesque style and period of construction.

Art, Architecture and Roman History

The Dalí Theatre-Museum is housed in Figueres’s former municipal theatre. More than 1,500 works by Salvador Dalí are on display there: paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints, stereoscopic works, installations, holograms and photographs. The collection thus extends beyond paintings and drawings to include other artistic formats. Activities, temporary exhibitions and guided tours are also offered by the museum.

The UNESCO World Heritage site Works of Antoni Gaudí comprises seven buildings constructed by Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) in or near Barcelona. Unlike the Dalí Theatre-Museum, which is described through its collection, the focus here is on seven buildings. Poblet Monastery brings together further specific aspects of cultural heritage: it has a fortified royal residence and houses the pantheon of the Kings of Aragon and Catalonia.

For a Roman perspective, the Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco offers a wealth of named structures and sites: Roman walls, the imperial cult precinct, the square featuring a representation of the provincial forum, the circus, the colonial forum, the Roman theatre and the amphitheatre. Tarraco was the first and oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula, as well as an important administrative and commercial city in Roman Spain.

Sant Climent de Taüll has fully preserved its original features and is used for tourism and cultural purposes. As an open-air museum, Montserrat brings together artistic, historical and natural heritage in a geologically remarkable location. The pilgrimage tradition offers another distinct perspective: the Camí de les Canals i de l’Aigua, GR 5/96, is known as the Montserrat Pilgrim Route and has a long history.

Visitor facilities are available in Catalonia’s specially protected natural areas. They make visits easier and help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the values underpinning their protection. This is a useful guide for nature lovers, alongside the specific landscapes and cultural sites to discover in the region.

Wine Regions and Regional Cuisine

Catalan wine tourism offers a way to discover the world of wine, the history of wineries and the wine regions. Catalonia has eleven wine designations and one Cava designation. The region’s cuisine stems from its agricultural and livestock activities and is based on local produce. This brings different culinary perspectives together: wine tourism explores winery history and landscapes, while the cuisine is shaped by agricultural and livestock activities and local produce.

Discover more destinations: Tarragona, Girona, Barcelona, Lleida, City of Ceuta, Castile and León, Valencia, La Rioja

Go to the main travel overview: Spain.