Landscapes of the day

Stage 1- Sant Feliu de Guíxols-Sant Feliu de Guixols

Gavarres Marítimes, Empordanet – Baix Ter, les Gavarres, Plana de la Selva and Ardenya-Cadiretes

• This stage is accompanied by large cliffs, some over 100 metres high, both in the section between Tamariu and Begur and especially between Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols. 

• Especially prominent here are the coves, the bays and the contrasting colours between the cliffs, the pine forests and the blue and green tones of the sea.

• There are coastal paths of great scenic interest near the route, such as the iconic path of S’Agaró and the stretches between Platja d’Aro and Sant Antoni de Calonge and between Tamariu and Platja de Pals.

•  Mass tourism has brought substantial change to the Costa Brava, especially in the historical town centres. Many new residential buildings and continuous urban development have proliferated here (especially between Platja d’Aro and Palamós). New summer resorts and many housing developments have sprouted up in coastal coves, especially in the vicinity of Begur, Palafrugell, Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Tossa de Mar. Some towns still retain their unique look, such as Sa Tuna, Calella de Palafrugell and Tamariu.  

• Much of the stage runs through cork oak, holm oak and pine forests that provide a scenic backdrop to the surrounding plains and towns. The exploitation of cork oak forests has been one of the main economic activities of Les Gavarres massif, Ardenya-Cadiretes and the Begur area. It has also left its mark on urban landscapes such as those of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Palafrugell and Cassà de la Selva.

• Three agroforestry landscapes of great interest stand out: the cereal crops between Vall d’Aro, the increasingly wine-producing Calonge plain and the infrastructure corridor between Palamós and Palafrugell; the cereal crops and the small villages and hamlets such as Vulpellac, Cruïlles and Sant Sadurní de l’Heura; and the gently rolling landscape of Plana de la Selva, with cereals, fodder and maize, patches of holm oak, cork oak and pine forests and plantations of plane trees and poplars along the banks of the waterways.

• Following the route, the most important landmarks are the church of Santa Maria del Mar in Palamós, the lighthouse of Sant Sebastià, Begur castle, the hilltop town of Pals, the tower of Cruïlles, Puig d’Arques (with the radar station of the Meteorological Service of Catalonia), the bell tower of Sant Feliu de Llagostera, Puig de Cadiretes, the castle of Tossa de Mar (ever-present in our collective mental imagery of the Costa Brava thanks to the film Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, starring Ava Gardner and James Mason), the church of Sant Elm (where Ferran Agulló described this coast as “brava”), farmhouses of great architectural value and the granite forms of the Ardenya-Cadiretes massif (like the Carcaixells d’en Dalmau, highly visible from Vall d’Aro). 

• The stage ends with the highly scenic stretch of road between Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols. This route is known for its twists and turns. Passing along the cliffs carved out of the sea, it boasts several viewpoints that allow you to gaze out at the sea and the coves.

  Viewpoints of the day     

    Lighthouse of Sant Sebastià

         Begur Castle 

         El Pedró de Pals

          Empordà Castle 

         Puig d’Arques

          Llagostera 

         Carcaixells d’en Dalmau

          Romanyà de la Selva 

         Sant Elm church (Sant Feliu de Guíxols)

Banyoles – Figueres

25/03/2025 - Stage 2 – 177,3 km

Estany de Banyoles, Terraprims, Empordanet – Baix Ter, Plana de l’Empordà, Cap de Creus, els Aspres, Garrotxa d’Empordà

• The beginning of the stage is notable for the appearance of Estany de Banyoles, which is of great natural value and has been a source of inspiration for writers such as Jacint Verdaguer, Josep Pla and Joan Perucho, as well as for painters such as Manel Pigem i Ros and Joan de Palau. 

• The route crosses Plana de l’Alt Empordà and Plana de Baix Empordà, framed by the most iconic scenic backdrops of the counties of Girona: the Montgrí massif, Montgrí Natural Park, the Medes Islands and Baix Ter; the Rodes mountain range and the entire complex that forms Cap de Creus Natural Park; the Albera mountain range; the Salines massif, the Canigó massif and the mountains and peaks of Alta Garrotxa.

• Farms have become characteristic of the agricultural landscape, especially between Banyoles and Medinyà and throughout Plana d’Alt Empordà.

• The landscapes of this stage contain elements of great historical, aesthetic and symbolic value, such as the megalithic monuments of Cap de Creus and Els Aspres, the bunkers of the Franco period (especially in Garriguella) and many dry stone walls and other dry stone structures that make up the landscape of Cap de Creus, Els Aspres and Garriga d’Empordà, between Llers and Avinyonet de Puigventós. 

• The stage also runs through the wide fluvial plain shaped by the Ter River, with irrigated lands and poplar and plane tree plantations. Medinyà castle and the bell towers of Colomers, Jafre and Verges stand out here. 

• Open to the sea, the great agricultural Plana de l’Alt Empordà is drained by the Muga River and the Fluvià River, which support irrigated farming and supply the internationally renowned Empordà wetlands, declared a natural park in 1983 thanks to social movements. Unique and remarkable elements such as hedges, cypress windbreaks and networks of paths and canals can also be found here.

•  Along the route are many small, compact villages well integrated into the surrounding countryside. Most of the homes have courtyards enclosed by masonry walls plastered with mortar and only the bell tower stands out. These include Viladamat, Torroella de Fluvià, Vilacolum, Vilamacolum, Riumors, Fortià, Riumors, Avinyonet de Puigventós, Vilajuïga, Garriguella, Delfià, Mollet de Peralada, Sant Climent Sescebes, Masarac and Vilarnadal.   

• Also noteworthy in terms of landscape are the hilltop towns of Bellcaire d’Empordà and Far d’Empordà, Montgrí castle, El Pení, the church of Sant Onofre, the castle of Sant Salvador Saverdera, the majestic monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, the coastal town of El Port de la Selva, dominated by the colour white, Quermançó castle, Puig Neulós, the church of Santa Magdalena and Sant Ferran castle.   

• The Tramontane wind is a symbol of the identity of the Empordà area and is featured prominently in the work of both Josep Pla and Salvador Dalí.

Viewpoints of the day

          Hill of Sant Martirià 

       Hill of Segalar           

El Balcón de l’Escala           

Senillosa Observatory (Empordà Wetlands)         

Mountain pass of Perafita         

Castle of Sant Salvador         

Mas Ventós         

Mountain pass of Altrera       

  Castle of Sant Ferran         

 Santa Magdalena         

Castle of Mont-roig           

Serrat Sentinella- la Tortuga    

Landscapes of the day

Viladecans The Style Outlets – La Molina

26/03/2025 - Stage 3 – 218.6 km

   Delta del Llobregat, Vall Baixa del Llobregat, Xaragalls del Vallès, Plana del Vallès, Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac- el Cairat, Pla de Bages, Lluçanès, Replans del Berguedà, Capçaleres del Llobregat, Vall Cerdana

• This is the stage that best showcases the diversity and wealth of Catalonia’s landscapes: from the deltaic plain of the Llobregat to the high mountain landscape of the Eastern Pyrenees, passing through a great variety of urban, industrial, rural, forest and river landscapes.  

• The section from Viladecans to Castellbisbal, known as the southern gateway to Barcelona, is dominated by roads and railway lines, with a continuous backdrop of cities and industrial estates alongside fruit orchards and vegetable gardens that remain productive.

• There are low-density housing developments along several sections of the route, especially between Castellbisbal and Terrassa, north of Matadepera, and near the ski resorts. Many of these housing developments were established from the 1960s onwards, with low landscape quality.  

• The landscapes of Sant Llorenç del Munt and Pla de Bages boast many dry stone structures, including over 3,000 huts and cabins, most of which are of the reddish colour typical of the area. 

• The landscapes of Lluçanès, Replans del Berguedà and Capçaleres del Llobregat are notable for their harmony. These mountainous agroforestry landscapes create an extensive mosaic of croplands, pastures, forests, transhumance paths, farmhouses and rather modest-sized villages.

• Other prominent features of the landscape include the church of Sant Ramon, a landmark in Baix Llobregat, Papiol castle, the complex of La Mola and Sant Llorenç del Munt (a well-known climbing site), Montcau, appreciated from the Comarques Centrals, the Bages vineyards, the salt  mountain of Sallent, the old church of Artés, the bell tower of Sant Feliu Sasserra, the sanctuary of the Mare de Déu de Lurdes and Tosa d’Alp, which is highly visible from Vall Cerdana.

• The final kilometres of the stage, before reaching the ski resorts of La Molina and La Masella, cross mountain pastures with increasingly infrequent snowfall due to the impact of climate change. You can also enjoy good sweeping views of Cerdanya, where the Cerdana enclosure and the Cerdà farmhouse stand out. The enclosure is a livestock structure over one thousand years old that follows the Segre River. It is formed by hay meadows and extensive cereal croplands delimited by stone banks and tree-lined fences.

Viewpoints of the day     

    the church of Sant Ramon         

Santa Creu d’Olorda       

   Puig Madrona         

La creu dels Tres Batlles     

     Els quatre vents 

         Turó de Roques Blanques   

      La Barata       

  La Mola         

Montcau         

 Sant Lleïr         

 The old chuch of Artés       

  the sanctuary of the Mare de Deu de Lurdes       

   the sanctuary of the Mare de Déu de la Quar         

Mirador de les Heures   

       Sant Jaume de Frontanyà       

   Mountain pass of Toses   

      Tosa d’Alp       

 Roca d’Alp    

Landscapes of the day

Sant Vicenç de Castellet – Montserrat Mil·lenari

27/03/2025 -  Stage 4 – 188.7 km  

Pla de Bages, Rubió-Castelltallat-Pinós, Costers de la Segarra, Vall del Llobregós, Alt Sió, Conca d’Òdena, Montserrat.

• This stage begins by following the courses of the Llobregat River and the Cardener River, which cross Pla de Bages, a wine-growing landscape that flourishes alongside urban centres, industrial estates, urban development and dry-land crops in the flatter areas and white pine forests in the steeper areas.   

• The silhouettes of 11th- and 12th-century towers and castles can be seen along a good part of the route in this stage, especially between Anoia and Segarra. They were built when this was the borderland between Christian and Muslim civilisations. Notable in this respect are the castles of Boixadors, Castellfollit de Riubregós, Castellmeià, Montcortès, Malgrat and Timor. 

• Wheat and barley dominate most of the route, either by occupying the flat bottom of Vall de Llobregós, on gentle slopes of olive and almond trees in Alt Sió or by forming terraces such as in Costers de la Segarra. The small villages, farms, forests and dry stone buildings bestow these dry-land agricultural landscapes with great character.  

• Near Igualada, the route also passes through Conca d’Òdena Agricultural Park, made up of 16 municipalities, and Montserrat Rural Park, with 18. Both parks attempt to conserve and promote the ecological, aesthetic, historical, symbolic, social and productive values ​​of their fields and forests, making them more resilient to climate change and lowering the high risk of fires in the area. 

• Prominent features of the landscape include the Vilomara bridge, the basilica of Santa Maria de la Seu de Manresa, the summit of Collbaix, the Fals towers, the bell tower of Calaf, the churches of Santa Maria de Cervera, Rubinat and Rubió, the well-known Coll de la Panadella, Òdena castle and the old factory of Burés. The winding stretch of the stage between Còpia de Palomes to Igualada also stands out for its interesting sweeping views.

• The iconic monastery of Montserrat marks the end of this stage. The shape and profile of the mountain are unmistakable and highly visible all along the route. The grey conglomerates with its many “needles” are imposing against the landscape, have provided and continue to provide a source of inspiration for artists and are praised by climbing enthusiasts. Montserrat has great symbolic value due its religious importance, its role as landmark in Christian culture and as a pilgrimage destination for people from all over Europe and its cultural symbolism, forming part of the Catalans’ collective imagery.  

Viewpoints of the day 

         Castle of Castellet 

         Park of l’Agulla 

         Collbaix

          Castle of Fals 

         Church of Sant Sebastià de Calaf

          Castle of Calonge de Segarra

          Sanctuary of Santa Maria de l’Aguda 

        Talteüll 

         Montfalcó Murallat 

         Rubinat 

         Còpia de Palomes 

         Puig d’Aguilera

          Turó de les Guixeres 

         Sant Vicenç de Castellbell 

         Sant Jeroni 

      Sant Joan 

       Monastery of Montserrat  

Landscapes of the day

Paüls - Amposta 28/03/2025

-  Stage 5 – 172 km

los Ports, Barrufemes, Serres de Pàndols-Cavalls, Altiplà de la Terra Alta,  Cubeta de Móra, Burgans, Litoral del Baix Ebre, Paisatge fluvial de l’Ebre, Delta de l’Ebre.

• This stage begins and ends with Els Ports massif in the background, declared a natural park in 2001. It is one of the main scenic backdrops of Terres de l’Ebre with Mont Caro as its most prominent peak.   

• The route is also remarkable for the diversity of its agricultural landscapes. The dry-land crops near Pinell de Brai and Gandesa, generally consisting of almond trees, vineyards  olive trees interspersed with forests, stand in contrast to the irrigated fruit trees around Móra d’Ebre and Ginestar, where the structure of the sénies (traditional irrigation systems) predominates, with vineyards, cereals, legumes, vegetable gardens and fruit trees in the vicinity of te Ebro River.   

• After passing through Móra d’Ebre and Ginestar, the stage enters Plana del Burgar, with a past closely linked to livestock farming, from which some livestock paths are still preserved. The olive tree predominates, with many very large specimens. The plain is surrounded by the Cardó mountain range and the Tivissa-Vandellòs mountains, which give rise to a very harmonious visual ensemble. Near Perelló, many wind turbines can be seen.

•  The Ebro River, its terraces, some with citrus crops, the mouths of streams and ravines and the many fluvial plains form high-value landscapes.   

• The most outstanding landmarks are the hilltop town of Paüls with Els Ports massif in the background, the Catalan Art Nouveau (modernista) winery of Cèsar Martinell, Serra de Pàndols-Cavalls, the old town of Corbera d’Ebre, bombed during the Spanish Civil War, Miravet castle, the Cardó-El Boix mountains, with the peak of Cabrafeixet as a prominent morphological element, the Montsià mountain range, Delta de l’Ebre and the sea on the horizon.  

• Delta de l’Ebre is the landscape that ends this stage. It is the largest wetland in Catalonia and was declared a natural park in 1983. Its sedimentary morphology, the river and its contact with the sea, its lagoons of great natural value, the monoculture of rice, the traditional architecture of the delta huts and the network of irrigation canals and ditches make it a unique and distinctive agricultural landscape with rich visual contrasts throughout the year, which is constantly threatened by climate change.

The viewpoints of the day 

        Viewpoint of Assut de Xerta 

        Church of Sant Marc

Mola d’Irto

          Iberian settlement of Coll del Moro 

         Old town of Corbera d’Ebre 

         Camposines Memorial 

         Iberian settlement of Castellet de Banyoles

          Miravet castle

          Cabrafeixet peak 

         Church of Sant Cristòfol del Perelló 

         Carrova tower 

       La Suda castle in Tortosa

          Amposta suspension bridge  

Landscapes of the day

Berga – Queralt 29/03/2025

-  Stage 6 – 159 km

Replans del Berguedà and Capçaleres del Llobregat

• The first part of the stage runs through the agroforestry landscape of the Berguedà plateaus, formed by gentle hills covered with pine forests and scrubland combined with dry-land crops and pastures. The population is scattered, with small villages and large farmhouses, many of mediaeval origin.   

• The Llobregat River follows good part of the route and crosses towns such as Pobla de Lillet, Guardiola de Berguedà, Cercs and Puig-reig. 

• Running alongside the river, the C-16 (L’Eix de Llobregat) is the main arterial road in the area and there are several industrial areas between Berga and Manresa.  

• Following the Llobregat, we see a complex of industrial (mostly textile producing)  colonies between Berga and Puig-reig, such as Cal Rosal, L’Ametlla de Casserres, Cal Bassacs, Viladomiu Vell, Viladomiu Nou, El Guixaró, Cal Prat and Cal Cases. Most follow the same structure and often include Catalan Art Nouveau (modernista) heritage: the factory, owner’s house, school, church, storehouse, workers’ houses, square, orchards, sluice and canal. 

• Cliffs and rocky ridges stand out along the route, such as the Queralt mountain range, with the sanctuary as a landmark, La Quar, also with the Santa Maria sanctuary at the highest point, the Picancel mountain range, the Mata-rodona mountain range, the Garganta cliffs and especially the iconic Pedraforca peak, a top landmark in Berguedà and the surrounding counties. 

• The landscapes of the mining industry, mainly coal mining, are prominent in the most mountainous part of the stage. They are concentrated in Cercs, Fígols, Vallcebre, Saldes and La Pobla de Lillet and the colonies, buildings, mechanical installations, conveyor belts, scrapyards and wagons are the remaining evidence, which are mainly tourist attractions today. The cement train has also been restored for this purpose, in La Pobla de Lillet.

• Other outstanding scenic elements include the bell tower of Santa Eulàlia de Gironella, the church of Santa Maria de la Guàrdia, located on a high hill, the bell tower of Santa Maria de Borredà, the Artigas gardens of La Pobla de Lillet, the Romanesque mountain architecture seen in the church of Sant Jaume de Frontanyà, the monastery of Santa Maria de Lillet and the monastery of Sant Llorenç, the water of the Baells reservoir, the monastery of Sant Salvador de la Vedella, the chimney of the old thermal power plant of Cercs, the rows of plane trees around the entrance to Berga and the castle of Sant Ferran, also in Berga.

The viewpoints of the day -        

  Cal Prat

          Santa Maria de la Guàrdia

          Sanctuary of Mare de Déu de la Quar 

        Viewpoint les Heures

          Sant Jaume de Frontanyà

          Sancturay of Mare de Déu de Falgars (viewpoint Joan Casanova) 

        Guardiola de Berguedà 

        Viewpoint of Pedraforca 

         Cap Deig 

         La Figuerassa 

         Sanctuary of Mare de Déu de Queralt    

Landscapes of the day

Barcelona - Barcelona

30/03/2025 -  Stage 7 – 136.2 km

Pla de Barcelona, Delta del Llobregat, Vall Baixa del Llobregat and Muntanyes d’Ordal

• After leaving the city of Barcelona, this stage runs through Delta del Llobregat, the second-largest river delta in Catalonia, which is partially recognised as a natural park. There are several internationally important wetlands here, such as El Remolar and La Ricarda, part of Llobregat Agricultural Park. The area is dominated by artichokes and includes a significant network of canals, the towns of Sant Boi de Llobregat, Gavà, Castelldefels and El Prat de Llobregat, the C-31 and C-32 roads, railway lines, industrial estates and the airport, which occupies more than 10 square kilometres.   

• Settlements have grown on the slopes of Vall Baixa del Llobregat, between Sant Boi de Llobregat and Sant Andreu de la Barca, and have occupied a significant part of the alluvial plain amidst industrial estates and road and railway infrastructure. The bottom of this plain has a significant amount of fruit orchards, irrigated by two lateral canals (the Infanta and the Dreta del Llobregat). 

• The route also crosses the Muntanyes d’Ordal, between Sant Vicenç dels Horts and Sant Andreu de la Barca, passing through Corbera de Llobregat, a landscape that combines intense urban development with isolated houses, pine forests and streams, such as those in Rafamans, Corbera and Les Rovires.

• The final stretch of the stage runs along Montjuïc mountain, which provides an iconic silhouette of the city of Barcelona. The mountain’s multiple purposes throughout history (1929 International Exhibition, motorcycle circuit, Olympic Games, etc.) have left a mark on its landscape. Outstanding features include the Venetian towers, the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), the Montjuïc fountains, the gardens, the pavilions and exhibition palaces, the buildings of the Olympic ring, Montjuïc castle and the Montjuïc communications tower. 

• Scenic features throughout this stage include the church of Sant Ramon, Fels castle, the Güell colony, with Gaudí’s crypt, declared a World Heritage Site, Papiol castle, Collserola tower and Tibidabo.

Viewpoints of the day 

        Cal Tet viewpoint 

        Castle of Castelldefels 

         Sant Ramon 

        Puig Madrona

          La Creu de l’Aragall 

         Montjuïc castle

          National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)