Routes by car in Spain. The best routes around Spain by car

It is rare to see cars with Belarusian license plates on Spanish roads. Still, the distance of almost 3 thousand km from Minsk to Barcelona is quite a lot even for the most notorious autotourists. A minimum of 3 days of travel with a reasonable alternation of rest in hotels and a change in the road landscape of European countries. But this does not mean at all that Belarusian motor tourists do not ply Spanish roads, sitting behind the wheel of cars.

Today, few people will be surprised by the possibility of so-called combined tourism, when, arriving in Spain by plane, Belarusians immediately, at the airport, rent a car, and then with Spanish license plates they “dissolve” in the flow of local cars. Often, with a successful and competent calculation of the logistics of such a trip, it turns out to be no more expensive than coming to the Mediterranean (and even more so the Atlantic) Spanish coast in your car from Belarus. But in any case, for both, knowledge of local peculiarities with regard to road traffic is not only desirable, but also necessary.

Where to refuel

You won't have any problems with refills. Fuel - within 1.2 euros per liter of diesel fuel and 1.25 per liter of 95 gasoline. On the highways prices are always slightly higher, 10-15 cents per liter. The cheapest fuel may be at supermarket gas stations, but you shouldn't always chase the cheapest. When approaching a gas station, notice how modern the gas pumps look. There have been cases when, after refueling at “cheap” gas stations, the fuel system on our car began to signal problems due to the low quality of gasoline. Alas, a similar problem exists in almost all European countries, with the possible exception of Switzerland.

Roads and manners

The condition of Spanish roads, both motorways and local ones, is pleasantly surprising: local road workers do their job conscientiously. And the weather, devoid of sudden temperature changes in winter, favors the fact that the road surface is not very susceptible to destruction.

Sections of roads in the area of ​​the mountain range separating the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe find themselves in a slightly different situation, but even there you are unlikely to encounter outright potholes on the roads. When they first appear, road workers skillfully patch them up; fortunately, modern technologies allow this to be done quickly and efficiently.

Motorways in Spain have tolls. On average, the price for traveling 100 km is already on par with neighboring France and is about 10 euros, although there are examples when you will have to pay a similar amount for traveling through just one large tunnel. Payment is made at special points along the road depending on the distance traveled. Belarusian bank cards work properly, but not in Maestro format. Keep in mind that to travel around Spain it is better to have a Visa or MasterCard. There are always people working at Spanish terminals, so you can pay in cash.

But if speed of travel is not a priority for you, then Spanish life is best experienced by traveling on free roads. In fact, on any highway, when the toll section begins, there is the possibility of exiting onto a road that runs almost parallel to the highway in the direction you need. However, if the maximum speed limit on the motorway - 120 km/h - allows you to achieve an average speed of 100 km/h in the country, then when driving on free roads it is rarely possible to drive around Spain at an average speed of over 65 km/h. After all, on ordinary roads the speed is limited to 90 and 100 km/h (free high-speed sections with a median), and in populated areas the maximum permissible speed is only 50 km/h.

The Spaniards, as they say, are hot people. And they react quite violently to obvious violations of traffic rules by drivers. Don't be surprised if you get honked at when trying to pass a car on the right side of a motorway or when crossing a solid line on regular roads. As the long-term practice of road travel in Europe shows (and Spain is no exception), here it is best not to break the rules at all.

Replacing traffic lights at intersections with roundabouts is quite common in Spain. According to statistics, this has significantly reduced the number of accidents, especially fatal ones, since if accidents occur on the circle, they occur at low speed, which significantly increases traffic safety in populated areas of Spain and beyond. Those on the circle always have priority.

If we talk about traditions and driving culture in Spain, then one interesting circumstance should be noted. When a road joins, a driver entering a main road from a secondary road is warned by a “give way” sign, which is installed on the acceleration lane, if there is one, or in front of the junction. But it is customary among the Spaniards that even in this case, “secondary” drivers enter, as they say, “one after another,” and do not let everyone who is on the main road at that time pass. Therefore, be careful, especially on motorways. Even if you have the advantage, it is better, if possible, to change lanes in time, without interfering with the person entering, or to prepare for the fact that a group of “guests” will try to enter one by one, using the “after one” rule.

When driving on a motorway, if you, driving in the central lane, decide to overtake, and at this time there are cars on your left in a continuous stream, then you can fit into this overtaking stream without any problems. To do this, you just need to turn on the left turn correctly and at the right moment. Exactly when the car you are passing has almost caught up with you, and not before or after. Thus, you warn the next driver that you will change lanes right now. And, pressing the pedal to the floor in order to equalize the speed of your car with the overtaken traffic as quickly as possible, you can easily perform the desired maneuver.

Many of our compatriots, not trained in this rule, turn on the turn signal, so to speak, “between cars.” In this case, it is difficult for drivers overtaking you to determine exactly when you will overtake, and they prefer to pass you without giving way. This means that either you will drive for a long time with the turn signal on, without ever changing lanes to the left, or you will begin to change lanes without finding understanding from other road users. And this is fraught with unpleasant consequences.

Police and fines

Numerous radars, which are warned about in advance with special posters, are mercilessly photographed even for exceeding 5 km/h. If the car is a rental car, then money for the fine will be automatically debited from your bank card, and if you have Belarusian license plates, then don’t flatter yourself either. As far as I know, in Spain they have already reached the level of information storage in order to accumulate data on violators. And then, at the very first control of the traffic police, you may be “pleasantly” surprised that your car is listed among the “offenders,” which means that the inevitability of punishment will be obvious.

Fines - from 20 to 250 euros: depending on how much you exceeded the speed limit in a given controlled area, and on whether you are in the city or outside it.

The Spanish police themselves are quite friendly, unless you are a trespasser. If you are stopped, then, most likely, we are talking about an alcohol test or a raid is being carried out to search for a car that was included in the police orientation. Just so as not to get bored, the police in Spain are unlikely to stop a car, even if it has Belarusian license plates. There is no need to get out of the car. You calmly open the window and talk to the policeman. In what language, it’s up to you to decide for yourself. If you went on a trip only with knowledge of the Russian language, then explain yourself using international words: “passport, visa, document, insurance (insurance).” You may be asked to get out of the car to reveal the contents of the trunk. But this happens very rarely. In 20 years of my regular travels to Spain, this happened only once, and only then at the first toll checkpoint upon entry from France, where the police worked in a raid together with customs officers.

If you are stopped for a violation, then do not try to swear or argue. If the violation is obvious, then it is better to follow the requirements of the police officer. You can put a little pressure on pity, and perhaps they will simply let you go, given that you are a tourist and that the violation was unintentional. If you start “downloading your license,” you will run into even bigger troubles in the form of stopping the vehicle until the circumstances of the case are clarified. Do not offer a bribe, this is not accepted here and may again be perceived not in your favor.

Talking on the phone while driving is a serious offense. If you are not sorry to part with a 100 euro bill, then you can test for yourself the reaction of a police officer who sees you with a phone in your hands while driving.

In general, the police in Spain are very friendly, especially if you contact them when you are lost or do not know how to leave the area. They will explain to you for a long time to help, even if a small traffic jam forms after you.

Parking

An “unattended” car (for example, under a prohibitory sign near a hotel or in a paid parking zone without a “receipt” for payment in a special machine) very quickly attracts the police. Don't tempt fate. Once we left the car like that for 10 minutes, stopping on a curb near the hotel to carry things. Result: a lost hour of time searching for where the car was towed, a trip there by taxi, paperwork, payment of a fine and payment for “transportation services” in the amount of 200 euros.

If you park unpaid, you risk seeing a ticket attached under your windshield wiper blades. You can, of course, ignore it if you have Belarusian license plates and you are not going to return to Spain in this car next year. But I wouldn't recommend it to you.

In big cities it is difficult to find free parking, except near supermarkets. In resort towns the same thing is simpler. Look carefully at the markings: white is free, blue - you must pay at the machine located nearby. Usually the maximum time for payment is 2.5 - 3 hours. Then you will need to return to the car and pay again so as not to exceed the paid time limit.

If the marking is green, then it can be either only for local residents, or also for tourists, but at an increased rate.

Do not attempt to park your car under a "disabled persons only" sign unless you have special permission to do so. This is considered a serious violation both from a legal and moral and psychological point of view. Yellow markings indicate places where parking is prohibited. As a last resort, you can stop there without getting out of the car, waiting until your companion runs to the store. While driving, you will be ready to move away from this place at any time so as not to interfere with others. The approaching policeman, as a rule, is sympathetic to such a necessary stop, but when he appears, it is better to drive a circle around the block and return to that place a few minutes later.

When parking your car, do not leave any items inside. Moreover, handbags, purses and telephones. Incidents of broken glass and stolen items are so common in big cities that it has already become a “cultural heritage” of the Spanish aborigines. True, the Spaniards themselves will rarely agree to such “robbery,” but the mass of emigrants and unemployed people engaged in this trade poses a big problem. It is best if you keep your things in a closed trunk, without opening it before leaving the car right in the parking lot. Let its contents be a secret for the possible “criminal eyes” of others watching you.

Communication and Internet

You can buy a phone card either from an official representative or in small shops where Moroccans skillfully offer Internet services and international phone calls. Domestic tariffs are quite reasonable, if only you make calls within Spain. You can also use mobile Internet.

As practice shows, virtually every large gas station or commercial center has free WiFi. As for calls within Spain, if you only have this sporadically, you can get by with a Belarusian phone in roaming.

But you should avoid calling from a Belarusian phone to Belarus, and especially to any other country in Europe, while in Spain. This is the most expensive thing that can really upset you when you return home.

You should also avoid calls within Europe from the Spanish SIM card you purchased, despite the fact that roaming has recently been abolished in EU countries. Yes, when you come from Spain to France, you can use a Spanish card to call within French territory or from there call back to Spain at so-called internal Spanish rates. But you should not call from a Spanish card to France while in Spain, or call from a Spanish card when leaving the country to another European country. You find yourself in the so-called international calling format. And after the cancellation of roaming, they are charged 2-3 times more expensive than before with roaming. To understand this, it is better to use the experience of others than to study it from your own financial losses.

This review will focus on our second trip to Spain this year. The first one took place in February, and we traveled around the island of Tenerife. Now, thanks to the availability of an open six-month Schengen visa, we decided to travel completely independently by car.

Route selection

We easily decided on the starting point of our journey. Barcelona is probably the most interesting city in Spain. There are always a lot of tourists there. Many of our friends have been here and shared their impressions with us. So Barcelona is a must-visit destination, and not just for a single day. But where to go next?

There are many famous and interesting cities in Spain. For example, Madrid, Valencia, Seville. But what attracts me in my travels is not so much cities as nature. Where is the most beautiful nature in Spain, and what is within reach by car from Barcelona? After clicking photos on Google Earth, I realized that I really wanted to visit the north of Spain - the coast of the Bay of Biscay. After all, the three components of beautiful nature are the sea, mountains and fewer people. These conditions existed there. So we also decided on the final destination of the route - it was the city of Bilbao, the capital of the Basque Country.

The province of Aragon with its capital, the city of Zaragoza, is located very well between Barcelona and Bilbao. These three points became the mainstay of our route. Well, when the time came to compile the route in more detail, we supplemented it with the cities of Lleida and Huesca. In addition, our return journey was quite close to the French border, and we passed several beautiful reservoirs.

If we plot the reference points of our route on the map, we will get the following diagram:

Hotel reservations

We booked hotels in three cities: Barcelona, ​​Zaragoza and Bilbao. To do this, we used the booking.com service and a Visa Classic card. In Barcelona we had the hotel Catalonia Park Güell, located near the Vallcarca metro station. In Zaragoza we had a modest but well located two-bedroom Hotel Hispania. In Bilbao we stayed in a four-star hotel with parking Silken Indautxu.

A little later, we will issue detailed reviews for each of these hotels and post them here.

Flight Moscow-Barcelona

For the flight, we booked tickets on the Vueling airline website. Two round-trip tickets for the May holidays cost us about 50 thousand rubles. I assume that in normal periods, the flight will cost you half as much. Please note that Vueling is a discount airline, so meals on board are paid, and the minimum ticket does not include the cost of baggage transportation.

We rent a car

We rented a car by pre-booking through the website of the Hertz company. Here, of course, some subtleties surfaced. After comparing the websites of several well-known car rental companies, such as AVIS and Europcar, I saw that Hertz had the lowest price for a B-class car for the specified dates. Only upon receiving the car did I find out that this price includes only minimal insurance, and if there is any damage to the car, including scratches, you will have to pay up to 900 euros for them. Full insurance costs twice as much. So, I advise you to immediately pay attention to this if you book a car online.

Otherwise, we were satisfied with the rental car. We were given a practically new Peugeot 208, in perfect condition. It was equipped with some small and not very powerful engine, but it steered well on mountain roads and consumed an average of only 5.2 l/100 km of 95 gasoline. I really liked the car.

Sights of Barcelona

	A fortress on top of the hill of the same name in Barcelona, ​​from where you can see the city from a bird's eye view.
	The Spanish village is an open-air museum. It contains examples of characteristic architecture from all regions of Spain.
	The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona is the place in the city where the oldest buildings have been preserved.
Sagrada Familia Cathedral
	Sagrada Familia, or Church of the Holy Family, is one of the main symbols of Barcelona, ​​and perhaps the most famous long-term construction in the world.
	Park Güell is perhaps the most famous and visited park in Barcelona. Antonio Gaudi participated in its creation, and the architect’s house-museum is also located there.
	The story is about how we from Barcelona by train, and then by cable car, got to the unique mountain of Montserrat, on which the monastery of the same name is located.

Sights of Zaragoza

	The Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar is one of the largest and most beautiful churches in all of Spain, and certainly the main architectural landmark of Zaragoza.
Aljaferia Palace
	The palace-fortress of Aljaferia was built by the Moorish people in the 11th century. Then it served the Catholic kings, and in our time it is used for meetings of the Parliament of Aragon.
EXPO 2008 exhibition area
	The EXPO 2008 World Fair site is touted as one of Zaragoza's iconic attractions. Pavilions and other objects are designed in an interesting and modern architectural style. However, desolation reigns here in the connector.

Northern coast of Spain, Bay of Biscay

The beauty of the Bay of Biscay - Cape Bilano, lighthouse and island
	A story about a walking tourist route in the area of ​​the municipality of Gorlis - about 25 km from Bilbao. Here you can see the lighthouse located on the cape, the island, and the ruins of an 18th century fortress.
Gaztelugatxe Island, reached by a man-made bridge
	A story about the amazing island of Gaztelugatxe, located off the coast of the Bay of Biscay. It is connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge, and at the top of the island there is a secluded chapel, which can be reached by a winding staircase of 237 steps.
Fishing town of Lekeitio
	The town of Lekeitio is one of the interesting places in the Basque Country. There is a harbor where many private boats and boats, as well as fishing trawlers, moor. In addition, there is a beautiful lighthouse on the cape.
	The city of Bilbao is the capital of the autonomous community of the Basque Country.

Results

Summing up our independent trip around Spain by car, I want to say that anyone who has a driver’s license and the desire to be free to move and see the beauty of this wonderful country can repeat a similar experience.

All routes described in this section are aimed primarily at independent travelers and include recommendations on various organizational issues. However, before moving on to planning trips to Spain, it is worth paying attention to a number of other important issues.

Where to start your trip to Spain

To begin with, it makes sense to decide how to get to Spain, and only then develop travel routes around Spanish cities and villages. The most obvious option is to use the services of one of the many airlines operating flights to Spain (by the way, you can search for air tickets at competitive prices). However, there are other options that may well be preferable for some. Details are provided in the following materials:

If you do not have much experience in organizing independent travel, you should first read the article “

Distance 109 km. Travel time is about 1 hour 20 minutes one way without stops. The route will include a toll highway C-32 (12.55 euros).

Port Aventura is a large theme park, one of the most visited in Europe. It is divided into 6 regions - Mediterranean, Polynesia, China, Mexico, Wild West and Sesame Street. Here you will find both extreme attractions (for example, a free fall from a height of 100 meters) and for the little ones, as well as a variety of shows and performances. In each region there are restaurants serving cuisines from the respective countries.

Also part of the resort are the Caribe Aquatic Park and the Ferrari Land Park. At the box office you can buy combined tickets for several parks at once. However, we advise you to take your time and spend the whole day in Port Aventura. In the evening, be sure to stay for the beautiful fireworks display in honor of the closing of the park.

The cost of an adult ticket is 47 euros, a child ticket (4-10 years old) is 40 euros. Current prices can be checked on the website.

2. Montserrat Monastery (Monasterio de Montserrat)

Distance 61 km. Travel time is about 1 hour one way without stops.

Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery located high in the mountains and attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Its territory offers panoramic views of the mountain valleys.
By car you can drive up to the monastery itself; there is free parking near its walls. An alternative option for climbing the mountain is the cable car (Aeri de Montserra), the trip will take about 5 minutes. In this case, the car will need to be left in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain (also free). A return ticket costs 10.30 euros. Cable car opening hours vary depending on the season, details can be found on this website.
The monastery is available for visits daily from 07:00 to 20:30 (from December to June - from 07:00 to 19:30).

3. “Dali Triangle” - Figueres, Pubol, Cadaqués

Distance 197 km. Travel time is about 3 hours one way without stops. There will be a toll highway AP-7 on the route (about 10 euros).

The famous “Dali Triangle” includes three cities inextricably linked with the life and work of the famous surrealist Salvador Dali.

The first stop on your way will be a small town Pubol. Here is the castle that Dali gave to his wife Gala. Currently, it has been turned into a museum, and the interior remains the same as in the old days. The entrance ticket costs 8 euros. Discounts apply for students and pensioners. Opening hours vary depending on the season, please check this page for current information.

Next stop on your journey is Figueres. It was in this city that Dali was born, and the main attraction here is his theater-museum. The museum's exhibition represents the largest collection of paintings by the artist. The artist himself is buried here, in the crypt.

The entrance ticket costs 14 euros, there is a system of discounts. Opening hours vary depending on the season, please check this page for current information.

The final point of the route will be Cadaques. The city is known primarily for the stay of Salvador Dali. Once here, you will understand why the great artist loved and was inspired by this place - the town is amazingly beautiful. Almost all the houses in the city are snow-white.

The most visited attraction is the Salvador Dali Museum. The entrance ticket costs 11 euros. We recommend booking a tour - people here are passionate about what they do and the stories they tell are really interesting. The museum's opening hours vary depending on the season. Current information can be found on this website.

4. Andorra

Distance 199 km. Travel time - approx. 2 hours 30 minutes one way without stops. The roads are free.

A great idea for a day trip is a visit to the small mountain principality of Andorra, located on the border of Spain and France.
The capital, Andorra la Vella, is a fairly compact city that is easy to get around on foot. The main attractions, conveniently, are concentrated in the Old Quarter.
If you have had time to walk along the narrow medieval streets of the capital and look at the ancient mansions, we recommend going to the largest mountain thermal center in Europe - Caldea. Entrance tickets start from 30 euros; detailed information about tariffs can be found on this website.

The entire state is a duty-free zone, so it is profitable to shop here.
You will find detailed information on how to spend time in Adorra on this page.

5. Carcassonne

Distance 303 km. Travel time - approx. 3 hours one way without stops. The route will include toll highways AP-7 and A-9 (total cost 40.60 euros).

The small French city of Carcassonne is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

First of all, Carcassonne is famous for its ancient fortress, which is unique not only because it is perfectly preserved, but also because of its size (it is more like an entire fortified city). You can spend a whole day exploring it.

The best views of Carcassonne itself are from the west (for example, from the old bridge over the Aude River or the A61 highway). Keep in mind that all parking directly next to the fortress walls is paid.

Entrance to the territory is free. You can take an audio guide (cost 4.50 euros). You can also book a tour of the fortress (3.50 euros - 1 hour, 4 euros - 1.5 hours).

Opening hours vary depending on the season: from October 1 to March 31 - daily from 09:30 to 17:00, from April 1 to September 30 - daily from 10:00 to 18:30.

The second UNESCO World Heritage Site within the city is the Canal du Midi, linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. Currently, mainly tourist ships move along it, so if you wish, you can take a ride along it.

6. Girona

Distance 102 km. Travel time - approx. 1 hour 30 minutes one way without stops. The route will have a toll highway AP-7 (8.90 euros).

Girona is a city of contrasts, where modern urban culture juxtaposes a well-preserved historical center with medieval architecture. The ancient Jewish quarter is also located here. Girona is relatively small and great for walking.

7. Zaragoza

Distance 302 km. Travel time - approx. 3h 30 min one way without stops. The route will include a toll highway A-2 (14.45 euros).

Zaragoza is a city whose appearance was influenced by Roman, Arab, Christian, and Jewish cultures. The main attractions are concentrated in the Old Town.

Here you will see the largest Spanish Baroque church, the Moorish Aljaferia Palace, the Cathedral of San Salvador, a beautiful stone bridge over the Ebro River, a modern exhibition center building, as well as various objects reminiscent of the Roman period.

8. Valencia

Distance 349 km. Travel time - approx. 3 hours 30 minutes non-stop one way. The route will have a toll highway AP-7 (38.20 euros).

Valencia has everything to be considered a European capital - a historical center, medieval walls and towers of the old city, architectural masterpieces of world significance ("City of Arts and Sciences"), an excellent public transport system. However, the city is home to only 800 thousand people, so it does not reach the status of a metropolis. In addition, for now Valencia manages to avoid tourist routes: during the summer holiday season, the main flow of tourists flocks to Alicante.

As a result, travelers receive the following advantages - free tables in restaurants, lack of traffic jams (if you are used to traveling in a rented car),
low prices for food and museum tickets (on Sunday, entry to most museums in Valencia is free).

9. Travel route by car from Barcelona: medieval cities and lava plateaus

Distance - 181 km.
Travel time- 3 hours non-stop one way. With full stops - 10 hours.

This unusual driving route runs through the volcanic region of Garrotxa. Charming small medieval towns with hanging bridges, fortress walls and narrow streets, extinct volcanoes and frozen lava flows await you. In addition, in each of the towns you can taste local liqueurs, wines and cheeses. So your trip will also be gastronomic!

10. Travel route by car from Barcelona: Cistercian monasteries and wineries of Priorat

Distance - 271 km.
Travel time- 4 hours 50 minutes one way without stops. With full stops - 10-12 hours.

For history and wine lovers, we have prepared a detailed route for a road trip through the mountainous part of Catalonia. Cistercian monasteries, a Templar castle, wineries of the famous Priorat wine region, picturesque mountain valleys, beautiful serpentines, as well as delicious food and unforgettable experiences await you.

And we also have

On the Mediterranean coast there are many large and small, famous and not so famous, luxurious and modest resort towns. Among all this diversity, Barcelona stands out. Bright, controversial, proud and, of course, unusually atmospheric. This is a city of geniuses, unrecognized and recognized talents, and, of course, art fans. A city that can rightfully be called the resort capital of the Mediterranean. However, even with all this diversity and splendor, sometimes you want to travel around Spain by car, starting the route from Barcelona and discovering more and more new corners of Catalonia and beyond every day.

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Barcelona - Lloret de Mar - Girona - Vila Sacra

Having decided to go on an independent auto tour from Barcelona, ​​many tourists first of all go towards Lloret de Mar. Moreover, in one day you can visit several interesting cities at once. Having covered literally 70 kilometers, travelers find themselves in a completely different reality. Despite the popularity of the resort, a calm, peaceful atmosphere reigns here. In addition, there are quite a lot of attractions in Lloret de Mar - the San Juan Castle, located on the coast and which has become the hallmark of the entire Costa Brava, the romantic chapel of St. Cristina, the patroness of the city, the gardens of St. Clotilde and others. For those who decide to spend the night in Lloret de Mar, the town opens up from a completely different side. When the sun sets, it seems to come to life and the streets, which seemed quiet and calm during the day, turn into one big party. You can roam between bars until dawn. The main thing is not to overdo it with cocktails, especially if you plan to travel further in the morning.

The next destination for many travelers is Girona, the distance to which is only 35 kilometers. It is often called the immortal city (the city fortress over the years of its existence managed to withstand 25 sieges, and this is really a lot!), Spanish Florence and even the city of Salvador Dali (although the museum dedicated to him is not here, but in Firegas). Girona is not as famous and popular as its neighbor Barcelona, ​​but no less beautiful. The best way to start exploring Girona is with a walk through the Old Town. Small colorful houses of the 17th century with multi-colored facades, located on the embankment of the Onyar River, invariably fascinate and remind of the affairs of bygone days (someone compares them with Florence - and indeed there is some similarity), and Plaza Catalunya, which looks like a wide bridge and connecting the two banks, looks very unusual and even mysterious. And, of course, you can’t pass by the medieval Cathedral, the construction of which began back in the 14th century.

Vila Sacra is located literally 20 kilometers from Girona. Why is it worth visiting this small cozy village? At least to breathe the air of the Spanish province, find out what the national cuisine is (not aimed at tourists, but truly local!) and spend the night in a cozy hotel, so that in the morning you can go on to discover beautiful Spain with renewed vigor.

Vila Sacra - Empuriabrava - Besalu - Castelfiolite de la Roca

Inquisitive tourists are unlikely to want to stay in Vila Sacra for a long time - a couple of hour evening walk is enough to get around the entire village. Therefore, in the morning, after having a snack at the hotel, you can get ready to hit the road to the shores of bohemian Empuriabrava. This resort city is often called the Spanish Venice. It is all “cut up” with canals, their total length exceeds 35 kilometers - this is a world record. As in Venice, luxury villas have access to the water - local residents often travel on yachts and boats. However, you can also travel by land to any point in Empuriabrava. In general, this is a very atmospheric town, a walk through which will certainly give you a lot of positive emotions and vivid impressions.

Among the attractions of the resort, the beaches are the first to be noted. Wide, sandy, almost endless... Essentially there are two of them - one well-maintained and the other wild. Despite the popularity of Empuriabrava, there is enough space for everyone even at the height of the tourist season. But lovers of architectural masterpieces will most likely be disappointed by this town. It is not old, and there are no attractions as such here. But in medieval Besalu, the first mention of which dates back to the 10th century, there are plenty of them. It would be more correct to say that the whole city is one continuous attraction. It is small in area, only 5 square kilometers, and you can get around all the nooks and crannies in 2-3 hours. City landmarks are the El Castel castle and the bridge over the El Fluvia river. However, not only they, but also every house, every alley remind of its former greatness.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the color of bygone days, you can move on. Just 15 kilometers from Besalu is the village of Castellfollit de la Roca, very famous far beyond the borders of Spain. It is surprising primarily because it is located right in the rock. And it was built no less than in the distant Middle Ages. Hence there is very unusual architecture and many buildings worthy of attention. Among them, the Church of San Salvador and the museum located next to it stand out. From the observation deck you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area. Overall, Castellfollit de la Roca is not just colorful – it seems lost in time. Walking along its narrow streets, you begin to believe that a brave knight in armor or a lady in a chic fluffy dress will appear around the corner. Fortunately, there are very few tourists here and the stories of the guides do not disturb this mysterious atmosphere. But, no matter how beautiful the village in the mountains is, it is unlikely to interest inquisitive travelers for more than 2-3 hours. Therefore, in the evening you can return to Vila Sacra in order to continue your journey in the morning and see a completely different Spain - in the Pyrenees Mountains.

Vila Sacra - Seira, Pyrenees

From Vila Sacra to Seira is not that close - about 350 kilometers. However, the roads in Spain are good and the journey can easily be covered in 4-4.5 hours. Why, if you decide to visit the Pyrenees, should you stay here? First of all, because Seira is a very cozy, colorful village where you can get acquainted with national traditions and feel the special spirit of the Spanish province. Secondly, housing here is not expensive - for the price of a room in a three-star hotel in Barcelona you can rent a two-story apartment with mountain views. From the point of view of attractions, Seira is of no interest. They simply aren't here. But the immediate surroundings deserve attention. The first place to go is the Estany De Cavallers lake dam. It is considered the most equipped and convenient for inspection. The building is truly amazing in its scale. In addition, the dam itself offers breathtaking views.

You can admire nature almost alone - getting to Estany De Cavallers is not so easy; this can only be done with your own transport. That is why there are not too many tourists here. In the area of ​​the dam there are simple places for relaxation (wooden tables and benches), but if you want to relax and have a picnic, you should stock up on food in advance - there are no shops or other retail outlets here. Not far from the lake is the Aiguestortes National Park. It is notable primarily for the fact that there are several routes for short trekking throughout the territory - the simplest one, designed for unprepared tourists, can be covered in 2-3 hours. Along the road there are fast mountain rivers, slopes rushing towards the clouds, and almost abandoned bridges. Occasionally, somewhere in the distance you can see lonely houses. The landscapes are complemented by lonely walking cows with bells - almost alpine romance. Although the Pyrenees landscapes are not at all similar to the Alps. They are beautiful, mesmerizing and breathtaking in their own way.

While enjoying the beauty, do not forget about returning home - from Aiguestortes to Seira is not so far, only 80 kilometers, but the road is quite difficult - a narrow serpentine. Therefore, it is better to overcome it before sunset.

Seira - Benasque

Just 22 kilometers from Seira there is a place that is known to every lover of active winter recreation - the Benasque ski resort. In winter, at the height of the season, there is literally “nowhere for the apple to fall.” But in the summer, in a small town with a population of 2000 people, as if lost among the Pyrenees peaks, it is calm and quiet. In the surrounding area there are several trekking routes of varying difficulty - designed for both amateurs and professionals who know a lot about hiking. The beauty of the surrounding landscapes amazes even seasoned travelers - glaciers, lakes, waterfalls... not a single photograph conveys all this grandeur and splendor. Benasque is not only a modern ski resort. The city has quite an interesting history, so it is not surprising that there are many architectural attractions on its streets. Among them are the palace of the counts of Ribagorza, the houses of Casa Juste, Casa Faure and Casa Martial del Rio. As you can see, this place has always attracted representatives of the Spanish nobility. In addition, the 13th century Romanesque church of Santa Maria Maggiore deserves attention.

The Seira-Benasque road is not very long, only 22 kilometers, but if you deviate just a few meters from the main route, you can find yourself in truly fabulous places. One of them is the dam near the Presa de Benasque lake. It itself is closed to the public, but there is an observation deck nearby that offers a beautiful panoramic view of the dam itself, a tunnel through the rock (they are quite common in the Pyrenees) and the lake. Another place that would be a crime to drive past is Lake Escarpinosa and the Posets-Maladeta Park located in its vicinity. Many call it the most beautiful thing in the Pyrenees. In any case, lovers of nature and beautiful landscapes will not remain indifferent.

You can end this day by staying at one of the hotels in Benasque (in summer, prices for accommodation in the city are very attractive, since the resort is empty) or by returning to Seira - it will be more convenient to continue your journey from there.

Seira - Montserrat - Castelldefels

Of course, these are not all the interesting places in the Pyrenees Mountains, but if you are limited in time, this “must see” route can be considered completed. On the way to Barcelona there is an object that you simply cannot pass by. This is the spiritual center of Catalonia, the holy of holies for local residents and Catholics around the world - the Monastery of Montserrat. It is famous primarily for the fact that it is here that the statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat is located. The history of the monastery began more than 1000 years ago. Since then and to this day it has been considered active, although now there are not too many monks, no more than 20 people. There is a small museum at the monastery where you can learn about the affairs of bygone days. In terms of architecture, the Montserrat monastery is interesting primarily because it was almost completely rebuilt in the 19th century with the participation of the famous and controversial architect Antonio Gaudi. He embodied his ideas related to human unity and endless harmony here really very successfully.

Montserrat Monastery is located in a very picturesque location. There are several trekking routes in its vicinity; for the convenience of tourists, there are signs everywhere, so you won’t be able to get lost at all. In addition, they take place in the most picturesque places and are designed for tourists with different levels of physical fitness - even those who are experienced in sports can cope with conquering the simplest ones.
How much time should you plan to visit Montserrat Monastery? For some, a few hours are enough, while others are ready to stay here forever. For those who decide to stay and spend the night, there is a hotel next to the monastery. True, the prices here are not low, tourist prices.

Having completed your acquaintance with the monastery and having breathed enough of the air of the monastery, you can return to the coast. Back to Barcelona? Of course, this is possible, but there are still many wonderful places in Catalonia where you can end up for the last time. For example, the miniature and very cozy town of Castelldefels. It is known, first of all, for its endlessly long beach - an excellent place to put the finishing touches and say goodbye to beautiful Spain. In addition, there are a huge number of restaurants with a wide variety of cuisines - from national Catalan to Japanese. Seafood dishes are considered a local highlight. If you are lucky enough to get to Kastfeldefels in July or October, then you can become a participant in a pirate feast or a chestnut festival; the fame of these events “spreads” throughout Catalonia.

Of course, this is not the only “Spanish” route that you can take by car from Barcelona. Catalonia and its neighboring regions are rich in attractions, natural parks and all kinds of interesting places. Spain is diverse, colorful and always hospitable. It opens up differently for every traveler, but every tourist certainly leaves a piece of his soul here.