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EnglishBeautiful places in northern Catalonia
- Cadaqués: this village in the north of the Costa Brava is about an hour from the French border: whitewashed houses, colourful doors and windows, and narrow streets paved with rastell, stones taken from the sea. The Casa Serinyana, known as Casa Blaua, is a fine example of modernista art.
- Cap de Creus: this headland sheltering the village was declared a natural park in 1998, and footpaths lead to the lighthouse. Salvador Dalí lived in Port Lligat, where his house is now a museum.
- Val d'Aran: surrounded by mountains of 2,000 to 3,000 metres, very green and rich in water, the valley crossed by the Garona becomes a ski area in winter. Salardú is the last Spanish outpost before France.
- La Garrotxa: a volcanic area of 700 km² in the province of Girona, with up to 40 cones. In the south, a natural park protects the lava flows; north of the Fluvià, Alta Garrotxa offers cliffs, narrow gorges and dense forests.
- Key point: the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, in Aragon along the French border, covers about 156 km² and includes several valleys, among them Añisclo and Ordesa, and the summit of Monte Perdido.
Near Catalonia's borders, where Spain meets France in the Pyrenees, there are many hidden gems. Here are some of the most fascinating and unspoilt places in and around Catalonia.
Cadaqués
One of the towns in the north of the Costa Brava, Cadaqués is about an hour from the French border. It is a picturesque village with tiny whitewashed houses and colourful doors and windows, opening onto the narrow streets of the old town. The streets are paved with rastell, made of stones taken straight from the sea. The village has crystal-clear water and is sheltered by the heights of Cap de Creus. This headland was declared a natural park in 1998. Footpaths through unspoilt countryside will take you to the lighthouse that overlooks the headland.
- Salvador Dalí spent part of his life in the village; his own house in Port Lligat is now a museum.
- The Casa Serinyana, also known as Casa Blaua (Blue House), is a wonderful example of modernista art.
Val d'Aran and its wonderful Catalan landscapes
If you dream of immersing yourself in nature, Val d'Aran is the place for you. Surrounded by mountains of 2,000 to 3,000 m and untouched land, the valley is the true essence of the Pyrenees. It is a very green valley, rich in water. The Garona river runs through the valley, which in winter becomes a popular ski area. Picture slate-roofed houses, snowy peaks, and horses and cows grazing. Salardú is the last Spanish outpost before France.
The Garrotxa region
La Garrotxa is a wild and fascinating region in the province of Girona. It is a 700 km² volcanic area with up to 40 volcanic cones. Rich wildlife lives in this magnificent natural world, with many waterfalls and unspoilt countryside. You can enjoy two different kinds of landscape depending on the area you visit.
- In the south, volcanoes and their lava flows cover the area; this zone is protected by the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.
- North of the Fluvià river, the landscape turns into steep cliffs and narrow gorges leading to Alta Garrotxa, with dense, extensive forests.
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
Located in Aragon, along the border between Spain and France, this national park covers about 156 km² and is a protected area of the Pyrenees. The park is an excellent example of Pyrenean nature and includes several remarkable valleys and peaks. If you love the mountains, do not miss it.
- Añisclo
- Escuaín
- Ordesa
- Pineta
- The summit of Monte Perdido
Now that you have a full list of wonderful places in Catalonia near the French border, grab your backpack and book a flight to Spain. Would you like to live in an area close to the French border and invest in an apartment or a house? Contact us. Source: barcelona-home
Thomas Rouer is the founder of Alveo Search and the CEO of the Alveo group. Based in Spain for almost ten years, he develops property services designed for the specific needs of foreign buyers.
His expertise covers every aspect of buying property in Spain: understanding the market, searching for and selecting properties, negotiation, financing, paperwork, tax and securing the purchase process.
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