As you travel around Catalonia, you will discover every kind of European vegetation and landscape. You may, for instance, be fond of high mountain scenery. Then you should take a trip to the Pyrenean valleys, surrounded by high summits with alpine meadows, fir forests and crystal-clear lakes. And if you come in winter, you can take advantage of sports and tourist facilities available in the ski resorts. Two spectacular National Parks are situated amid these lofty peaks: that of Aigüestortes and Lake Sant Maurici, and that of Cadí-Moixeró. 

But maybe you prefer more moderate altitudes? Then you could visit the Park of the Muntanya de Montserrat, with its fascinating geological formations and its erratic and improbably shaped rocks, or explore the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Park, near Olot, to see the tree clad hollows of extinct volcanoes and the multicolored clay-pits. Or alternatively you could visit the Montseny range, which has been declared a reserve of the biosphere by UNESCO on account of is rich plant life. In all these areas, forests of beech trees, pines, and deciduous and evergreen oaks alternate with lush farmland where a wide range of crops are grown without upsetting the delicate balance of the environment. 

Take a good look at our traditional farmhouses or "masies", each of which was once a thriving community in its own right, and notice how the farmers have adopted modern agricultural methods without losing their sense of tradition. You will see that the Catalan countryside's a perfect blend of nature and human skill. 

Catalonia’s more southerly mountains, such as the Garraf range, have a rugged look about them, with bare rocks and gray and reddish soil which create a very striking atmosphere. This is the home of the dwarf fan-palm, the only palm native to Europe. Another range -the Ports of Tortosa, overlooking the Ebro Delta- is an important reserve of the spanish ibex goat. 

If you can't resist the call of the sea, Catalonia offers a wide range of coastal scenery. As you travel along to the Costa Brava (the "Rugged Coast") you will be entranced by the rocks reaching out into the sea, the secluded coves and islands where the pine-tree roots struggle for a foothold right down to the water's edge. Further south, on the Costa del Maresme and Costa Daurada, long sun-drenched beaches and white fishermen's cottages welcome you to a typically Mediterranean environment, on the shores of a friendly sea that has been known to man since ancient times. Nor should you miss another type landscape: the vast wetlands of the Ebro delta. Here reedy marshes provide an ideal refuge for migrating birds and the area is one of the largest bird sanctuaries in Europe. 

Later on we suggest a few itineraries but we are sure that the beauty of the countryside will lead you to discover plenty more for yourself. A changer of scenery and environment are never more than a few hours away. On your way from the mountain peaks to the coast, you will travel through the hinterland, with its wealth of wheat fields, its vineyards and its olive groves, alongside newly planted orchards and lush market gardens. 

When you stay in Catalonia comes an end, we hope you will have been able to appreciate the full variety of our landscapes. This, perhaps, is the first step in getting to know us.