Importance of Accessible Tourism in Catalonia Catalonia is a region rich in culture, history, and diverse landscapes committed to inclusion and accessibility. Accessible tourism is a crucial issue for this land, as it allows people with reduced mobility and functional diversity to fully enjoy all that the country has to offer. Furthermore, it promotes social and economic inclusion, opening new opportunities for the tourism sector and improving the quality of life for many people. What are accessible routes? Accessible routes are tourist itineraries adapted for people with functional diversity, ensuring physical, sensory, and cognitive accessibility. These routes are designed considering various needs, such as ramps for wheelchairs, appropriate signage, accessibility to sanitary services, and environmental preservation. Accessible Routes for Everyone in Catalonia From natural parks to coastal paths and mountain trails, through cultural routes, Catalonia offers a wide variety of routes for people with reduced mobility and other disabilities. There are options for all tastes and ability levels, evidence of the destination's ongoing commitment to inclusion and accessibility in tourism. Strolling along the Greenways The Greenways are former train lines converted into itineraries for walking, cycling, and other recreational activities. They are entirely accessible routes, with flat and paved sections, ideal for people with reduced mobility. Noteworthy routes include the Via Verda del Carrilet, which runs through landscapes and towns of the regions of Garrotxa, Selva, and Gironès: from Olot to Girona and from Girona to Sant Feliu de Guíxols. On the Costa Brava, you have 125 kilometers of greenways with sections passable with adapted bicycles, including handbikes for pedaling with hands, and even models suitable for people with cerebral palsy and comparable disabilities. And in the south, you cannot miss the Via Verda de la Terra Alta, in the Terres de l’Ebre, a twenty-three-kilometer route suitable for traveling by handbike. Additionally, the section from Bot station to the sanctuary of la Fontcalda (five kilometers) also has facilities for people with visual disabilities. Iron and Coal Accessible Routes and Coastal Paths The Iron and Coal route, following the path of an old steam train that connected the towns of Ripoll and Sant Joan de les Abadesses, is adapted for walking, cycling, or even wheelchair use, offering accessibility and natural beauty in one package. And if you like the sea, you can't miss the coastal paths of the Costa Brava. This coastal route offers spectacular views of the Catalan coast with many sections adapted for people with reduced mobility. Accessible Routes in Nature The Natural Park of the Ebro Delta is a paradise for bird watchers and nature lovers, featuring various adapted paths and accessible viewpoints, such as Poble Nou del Delta, where visitors can enjoy a unique barrier-free experience. In the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, you will find the Cortalet-Mas del Matà route and the Mas del Matà-Platja del Matà-Les Llaunes route (both two kilometers), which, due to their topographic characteristics, present fewer difficulties for visitors in wheelchairs or with reduced mobility. Additionally, along the route, you will find three accessible observatories via wooden walkways and wheelchair approach space. And from the sea to the mountain. How about a hiking route through the Vall de Boí? This Pyrenean valley is known for its impressive Romanesque ensembles and mountain landscapes. And some trails are adapted for people with functional diversity, allowing them to experience the beauty of the Pyrenees comfortably and safely. Network of Natural Parks of the Barcelona Provincial Council The Network of Natural Parks of the Barcelona Provincial Council carries out actions aimed at facilitating access to the natural environment for all people. Thus, the adapted itineraries of the Montseny Natural Park offer the possibility to discover forests, springs, and viewpoints with ease. You can't miss the Font del Frare itinerary (Santa Fe) or the Mariona farmhouse route. The botanical itinerary of La Pleta, in the Garraf Natural Park, is a circular route that allows learning about various species characteristic of the territory and has facilities for people with reduced mobility or visual disabilities. Other accessible routes: SL-C 63 La font de la Portella (Sant Llorenç -Obac), in the Sant Llorenç de Munt Natural Park (Vallès Occidental). Can Mateu Itinerary, in the Guilleries-Savassona Natural Area. Sensory itinerary along the Fondal path, in the Serra de Collserola Natural Park (Barcelona). Discovering Heritage without Barriers Enjoying the heritage and art that Catalonia offers is very easy through inclusive and accessible routes for everyone. Routes where you will feel comfortable, where everything is facilitated and that at the same time will allow you to delve into Catalan culture, traditions, nature, art, and history. For example, Barcelona offers several accessible urban routes, such as the Modernisme route, which allow visitors to discover its most emblematic monuments and most characteristic neighborhoods without architectural barriers. For lovers of medieval architecture, a good proposal is the Cistercian Route, which includes the monasteries of Poblet and Santes Creus. Both buildings are accessible, and Santes Creus also has guides in Braille and tactile models.