Catalonia is located in the northeast of Spain, bordering in north to France. The climate is mild an along the coast you will find fantastic family friendly beaches with all kinds of sports activities. But one shouldn't forget anyhow that Inland Catalonia offers as well high mountain ranges, with the Pyrenees in the north ideal for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. This region offers many exciting trips, the inactive volcano of Garrotxa, the big city Barcelona and the medieval town Girona just to mention a few.

The landscape of Inland Catalonia

Catalonia is also a very satisfying region to tour, since two or three hours in any direction puts you in the midst of varying landscapes of great beauty, from rocky coastlines to long, flat beaches, from the mountains to the plain and from marshlands to forest. The gently rolling Alt Empordà plain is characterised by a patchwork of olive groves, vineyards, pine woods and fields of cereals across which are scattered ancient villages.

Large cities in Inland Catalonia

Inland Catalonia lie many fine cities with magnificent historic building. Just an hour inland from the coast, the medieval city of Girona provides a startling and likeable break from sand and sea. Go visit the big city Barcelona and feel the atmosphere in the shopping street “La Rambla”. Here you will find exciting shops, good restaurants, cafés, impressive architecture by Antoní Gaudi, a wonderful beach and promenade and a big port.

Tourist attractions in Inland Catalonia

The Girona region includes the Montseny hills and the extraordinary volcanic Garrotxa region, now established as the Parc Natural de la Zona Volcanica, whose rolling, fertile countryside is pitted with spent craters. Also in the province of Girona you have to head for Figueres which holds one of the most visited museums in Spain: the Teatre-Museu Dalí, created by Salvador Dalí, an enthralling glimpse of the artist's genius and Castellfollit de la Roca, the starting point for several good excursions which take you into the foothills of the nearby Pyrenees.

Not to miss in the inland province of Lleida the outstanding Monastery of Poblet and the appealing Cava Vineyards.

Sports activities in Inland Catalonia

The coast offers ideal facilities for all sorts of water sports but the mountains of Inland Catalonia offer some of the best trekking in the whole range. The Noguera Pallaresa valley, the Vall d'Aran and the superbly scenic Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes are all reasonably accessible, offering hikes for novices, as well as more specialist routes. The Pyrenees offer very good skiing in winter. 

Gastronomic characteristics of Inland Catalonia

Catalonia's excellent gastronomy is characterized by stews, seafood, rice dishes, and traditional desserts. There are wines of great international reputation and the well known cava.

The climate of Inland Catalonia

Catalonia is a land of many climates and microclimates. The Pyrenees and Pyrenean foothills have a typical high mountain climate, with winter temperatures below 0ºC, heavy snowfalls in winter and relatively cool summers. Inland Catalonia has a solidly continental climate with cold winters and hot summers influenced by the proximity of the mountains. There are wide temperature swings between night and day.