cinc-maneres-de-recorrer-les-terres-de-lleida26-3-138

Day 1: The most cultural Lleida

The imposing silhouette of the Seu Vella crowns the profile of the city of Lleida . This is the old cathedral of the city, one of the most important buildings of medieval European architecture. Here, at one of the highest points in Lleida, the Terra Ferma route begins, after visiting La Seu Vella, on the way to the King's Castle, popularly known as La Suda. The name 'suda' referred to the Andalusian fortress built during the 9th century on the site that the castle occupies today. It is also the name with which medieval sources designate the noble quarter that extended over the hill. The discovery of the most cultural side of the capital of the province is completed with a visit to the Museu de Lleida , which reviews the history of the region: from paleolithic to the 20th century in just over an hour's drive.

A good way to end the day is practising your swing at Raimat Golf Club or doing a wine tasting at Raimat wineries. Did you know that all their wines have the Integrated Production certificate? This recognition guarantees that their products are of quality and that they have been made using methods that respect human health and the environment.

Day 2: The heart and soul of the Terres de Lleida

The gold rush is still alive in Balaguer . There you can learn the panning technique and look for gold nuggets in the Interpretation Centre Give the pan a shake and maybe you'll take home a golden souvenir!

Oil is the soul of Terres de Lleida. To learn about the traditional production methods, we suggest the oil mill in Algeri . If the oil is the soul, the wine is the heart. At the winery La Gravera they set themselves a major challenge: to turn an old gravel deposit into fertile vineyards. And they succeeded! They produce excellent biodynamic wines.

You can spend the afternoon walking while following the course of the subcanal d'Urgell or you can learn about Catalonia's Neanderthal past at the Bull Rock . In this cave, cave paintings from 50,000 years ago are preserved almost intact.

Day 3: Do you know the saltiest town in the Terres de Lleida?

The departure on the third day of the tour will be a walk through the swamp of Sant Llorenç de Montgai . This reservoir, built in 1930, has given rise to an important ecosystem, declared a Natural Wildlife Reserve. There you will observe different species of birds and a riparian forest that surrounds the marsh. About 20 minutes by car from the swamp is the cova dels Vilars , a rock site of the bronze age. If you visit it, don't forget to ask one of the guides who Josep M. Borràs i Viu was, a neighbor of Os de Balaguer . His figure is key to understanding the history of the cave.

Do you know where the name Vilanova de la Sal comes from…? That's right! It has important salt flats , which began to be exploited in prehistoric times and operated until the 1980s. Now, for a couple of years, this historical heritage of the 11th century has been recovered and opened to the public. Do you know what salt flowers are? Well, in Vilanova they are waiting for you and you will also learn how salt is made by hand.

To close the third day, visit the paradise that is in the Serra del Montsec . On one of the hills is the Montsec Astronomical Park, where they organise a fun workshop on space rockets . It's a perfect activity to do with the little ones, because you'll build your own rocket and take it off in 10, 9, 8, 7... Let's fly!

Day 4: Emulating Indiana Jones in the gorge of Mont-rebei

The gorge of Mont-rebei is from a movie. It is a place where a scene from Indiana Jones could perfectly have been filmed due to the aura of wild nature that it gives off. Today we present to you the best way to tour it without missing any nuance of majesty: cross it by kayak . Through the enormous vertical walls of Mont-rebei, which can reach up to 500 meters in height, the Noguera Ribagorçana river makes its way. In some of the sections of the river course, the gorge reaches a minimum width of 20 metres. You will feel tiny paddling through its waters.

If you want to continue the day with water activities , at the Terradets reservoir you have several proposals. From a dizzying water ski tour to a relaxed ride on an oxoon, a small ecological motor boat. To complete this sports day, you can take a bicycle route through the rocky Montsec mountain range or fly over the entire region in a balloon . From a bird's eye view, the Mont-rebei gorge is also impressive!

Day 5: Water is the protagonist at Pallars Jussà

The fifth today will be more rested than yesterday. Fancy a train ride? From Tremp the Tren dels Llacs departs to the Pobla de Sure . This railway line winds between the mountain ranges of the Pallars Jussà region, following the course of the Noguera Pallaresa river and crossing several bridges and tunnels. 20 minutes of travel for you to sit back and enjoy! Since you're in La Pobla de Segur, don't forget to visit the Espai Raier . In this space, the origins of the fluvial transport of wood in the region, carried out by the raiers, are collected. These unique freshwater sailors sailed down the river aboard wooden logs that were later used to build ships, cities or any other infrastructure. Their role was key to the development of the region. A tasting of DO Costers del Segre wines, at Talarn , is an excellent way to end the morning .

The afternoon will continue with water sports . For this, the best option is the Sant Antoni reservoir , the largest surface of fresh water in Catalonia. Practising ski surfing in its flat waters like a canvas is a breeze! On the fifth day of the tour, you will say goodbye with a workshop on making ratafia, a very typical liqueur from Catalonia. Day 6: Why is a flag flying at Montsonís Castle?

In Pallars Jussà nowadays it is easy to see deer, wild boar, foxes... but more than 65 million years ago, titanosaurs lived on these lands. It was a type of dinosaur between 9 and 12 meters tall that weighed 13 tons. On the sixth day, the route through the Terres de Lleida starts following the trail of the titanic reptiles that populated this region of Catalonia at the Museu de la Conca Dellà . In addition to paleontological information, in the museum you will also find archaeological remains of the Roman towns that inhabited Isona .

What do you think about moving forward in time from the time of roman empire to the middle ages? To do this, the Montsonís Castle awaits you at night, looking at its finest! You will find it easily because it is located in the highest part of the town of Montsonís and will be completely lit up for the occasion. As you approach it, notice one detail: a banner flies from one of its towers. This flag is not decorative, it means that the castle is still inhabited. Do you want to know who lives in a castle in the 21st century?

Day 7: Torró in Agramunt

If you've never tried it, you can't miss out on this visit. The Agramunt torró , or nougat, is a delight for the palate. The Museu del Torró i la Xocolata gathers all the details of this centuries-old tradition in the municipality of Agramunt. At the end of the visit, taste some of the handmade nougat. You better leave room in your backpack, because when you taste them you'll want to bring some home for the family.

Day seven starts off well, with a bit of ornithology! At the Estany d'Ivars i Vila-sana there are more than 240 species of vertebrates cataloged. With the help of a guide, you will tour it to get to know its abundant fauna and flora. After lunch, a good option to work off the food is a horse ride around Tornabous . Doing this activity in the spring is especially pleasant, because this is a region dedicated to the cultivation of fruit trees and during this season they bloom and permeate the air with a silky fruity aroma.

At the end of the ride, we recommend you go to the Palace of Anglesola and taste the artisan goat cheese . If you're a cheese purist, you're better off opting for raw milk ones. On the other hand, if you prefer a milder taste, choose any of those made with pasteurised milk. Although the best option is to taste both varieties, because they are really exquisite.

Day 8: Urgell on two wheels

If you love to swim against the current, pay attention because this will interest you! Do you know the Ignatian Way ? This route runs in the opposite direction to the Camino de Santiago. It is the pilgrimage route that follows in the footsteps of Ignatius of Loyola from his birthplace in a palace in Azpeitia, in the Basque Country, to the cave of Sant Ignatius de Manresa, in Catalonia. For the eighth day, we suggest you cycle a section of this route, the one that connects Bellpuig and Verdú . Its difficulty is moderate and the route is well signposted. Get on your bike and ride!

Let's go! From Verdú we suggest you go to the Secanes de Belianes-Preixana . A bike ride through this protected natural space is a very suitable alternative if you are travelling with small children. The whole area of the Secans is flat, so pedaling there is very simple. You will not realise that you will have already covered the 12 kilometers of the route.

Day 9: Spend the night at the monastery of Vallbona de les Monges

When you arrive at Guimerà you wouldn't be surprised if people were traveling on horseback or if you found a minstrel giving his show in the square. You would take it completely naturally because the town seems to have been anchored in the medieval period. The streets form a labyrinth with stone walls that lead to the church of Santa Maria or the castle. A visit to the old town of Guimerà is the ideal way to start the ninth day of the route.

After going back through the Middle Ages you can travel to the more contemporary past in Vallbona de les Monges . The presence of the Civil War is still present, both in the collective imagination and in the landscape. In the vicinity of this town the republican army built a section of the defensive line L-2 to defend -se of the attacks of Franco's troops. The line is still preserved and the Cisterian Route promotes guided visits to this military vestige. You will find trenches, riflemen's lookouts, covered trenches, machine gun lookouts and observatories, all enveloped in a striking atmosphere by the memory of the battle.

In Vallbona de les Monges you also have the monastery . It is the most important female Cistercian convent in Catalonia, with more than 850 years of history. And if you fancy a peaceful rest, the monastery inn has rooms to spend the night in.

Day 10: The historical memory of Les Garrigues Yesterday you already made an approach to the memory of the Spanish Civil War in Vallbona de les Monges, today we suggest you delve a little deeper into the subject. In the village of Alfés they have an airfield, built in 1929, which became the main base of the republican aviation on the Aragon front. There is a guided tour that takes you through the most emblematic areas of the facility : the water and fuel tanks, two air defense shelters with their trench systems, machine gun nests, the hangar, the main runway and the minefields.

Next to the cellar Vinya els Vilars opens its doors for you to taste its DO Costers del Segre wines. All these wines are aged between 6 and 24 months in French oak barrels. You have everything from the deep flavour of Vilars to the velvety aroma of Gerard 2010.

The final cherry on top of this tour of Terra Ferma will be the geocaching route by bike following the fourth ditch of the Canal d'Urgell, between the Borges Blanques and Juneda . Try to locate all the hidden clues along the route. But remember that the important thing here is not what you will find, but the path you have to travel. Enjoy it!