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St. Mary’s Church in Queralt

St. Mary’s Church in Queralt
Have you ever heard about the “balcony of Catalonia”? This place is located on top of a mountain ridge at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level, next to the famous St. Mary’s Church in Queralt in the vicinity of the town of Berga in the Pyrenean foothills of Catalonia. An incredibly gorgeous views of the valleys and mountains of the northern province of Barcelona open up from the observation platforms; you can see virtually everything within a radius of fifty kilometers, including the most famous mountain range of Catalonia – Montserrat. Do not forget the binoculars!
To read more details and to see photos in our blog  – please follow the link.
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Artigas Gardens

Сады Артигас Artigas Gardens Jardins Jardines
True fans of the great Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi know that his legacy, his works, are not located only in Barcelona, they can be found in other parts of Spain. One of the little-known monuments to the work of the eminent master of form are the Gardens of Artigas (Jardins Artigas), located 130 km from Barcelona in the small town of La Pobla de Lillet in the foothills of the Pyrenees.
In 1905, Gaudi came to the city at the invitation of a local cement magnate to build a chalet in the forestfor workers , working hard in a coal mines for this magnate’s factory (where would you find such a boss these days?). Working on a project to build a chalet in the woods, Gaudi lived in the house of another local oligarchs, the Artigas family, the owners of a textile factory that was very profitable in those days. As a token of appreciation for the hospitality of the owners, or maybe just out of habit to create everywhere and always, Gaudi presented the Artigas with a project for arranging gardens on the bank of the Llobregat river flowing along the master’s house and their factory.
We invite you for a short virtual walk in the Artigas Gardens.

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Tavertet

Tavertet

Tavertet is a medieval village, lost far away in the Catalan hinterland, located right “on the edge of a cliff, beyond which is eternity” (M. Pushkina) and famous for its fantastic landscapes that open from numerous viewing points around the village, including a view of the well-known water reservoir Pantà de Sau (source of fresh water supply in Barcelona) with the famous spire of the 11th century bell tower protruding from the water in the village of Sant Romà that was flooded during the construction of the reservoir.
According to the city’s website, there is no better and more beautiful place in the world than Tavertet, and in Catalonia there is no place with cleaner air. That is why tourists willingly go here to enjoy the fresh air and breathtaking landscapes. We also could not resist.
You can read a short story about our journey to Tavertret and get acquainted with the photographic cards that we managed to shoot during the trip following the link.
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Cap Roig Gardens

Сады Cap Roig

In the suburbs of the small town of Calella de Palafrugell, on a rocky cliff overlooking fantastic views of the Costa Brava and the bay of Calella, there are the world famous Cap Roig Gardens.
The gardens were created in the 30s of the 20th century by the former colonel of the Russian tsarist troops Nikolai Voevodsky, as well as his English wife Dorothy Webster.

Today we have a great opportunity to enjoy a gorgeous botanical garden with magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea. The gardens cover 17 hectares of coastline, and more than 1,000 plants from all over the world are collected here. Sculptures of renowned Spanish and international talents are exhibited in the gardens. On the territory of the botanical garden there is also a castle that belonged to the Voevodsky couple.

Today, the gardens of Cap Roig, among other sites (such as the CosmoCaixa museum in Barcelona), are among the “social sites” (obra social) of the famous Catalan bank La Caixa.

Well, in summer, do not forget to visit the equally famous summer music festival of the same name, Cap Roig Festival, where world stars come to perform – Elton John, Sting, Rod Stewart, Mark Knopfler, Lady Gaga, as well as local Spanish celebrities.

We invite you to take a virtual tour of this magnificent place.

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Ancient fortress in Roses

Ancient fortress in Roses

Among other prominent attractions of the city of Roses, located on the shores of the same name bay in the northern part of the Costa Brava, there is an ancient city fortress Ciutadella de Roses, which dates back centuries. Here lived, traded and fought the ancient Greeks and Romans long before the advent of our era.
A detailed story about ancient fortress in Roses with photos can be viewed at the link.
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Flower Festival in Girona 2018

Flower Festival in Girona 2018

In the first half of May, an annual flower festival takes place in Girona; in Catalan, it’s called Temps de Flors Girona 2018. This year this bright festival has spilled like floral rain through the streets and landmark buildings of Girona for the 63rd time!
A little story with photos that we managed to make in a short period of time, having left the office on a working day, can be viewed following the link.
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Castell de Montgrí Fortress

The small town of Torroella de Montgrí is located about 5 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast between the settlements of L’Estartit and L’Escala. The city is famous for its two ancient towers – the only surviving fragments of the once formidable medieval walls that surrounded the city – the square tower Portal de Santa Caterina and the notorious round tower Torre de Brujas (translated into English – the Tower of the Witches).
But today we will not walk around the city, but go on a pedestrian walk and climb up a mountain to north of Toroella, where the mysterious fortification is located – the Castell de Montgrí fortress.

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Cadaqués

Cadaqués

Cadaqués is a snow-blue city on the shores of the azure coast of the Costa Brava. His name is inextricably linked with the brilliant master of the brush and canvas, the famous madcap and a talented mystifier with an intricate mustache, Salvador Dali.
Well, to be impartial and not to look back at the high names, then Cadaqués (accent on the last syllable) is just a very beautiful mediterranean town, downright tempting to indulge in a lazy rest in one of the many coastal restaurants on the banks of the blessed Costa Brava shores…
A photo report about our visit to this wonderful place can be found following the link.

 

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Turtle Valley, France (La Vallée des Tortues)

Turtle Valley, France (La Vallée des Tortues)

If your kids are tired of the sea and ask for new experiences, offer them a trip to the Turtle Valley, which is located in France, just 25 kilometers from the place where the autoroute AP-7 crosses the spanish/french border. Here, in a picturesque place at the foot of the mountains, there is a small park in which several species of turtles (including a hefty Galapagos turtles) live comfortably, as well as other animals. Children have where to run, jump and even touch turtles; there is also a place to rest for parents in the shade of the trees.
To read the detailed instructions on how to get there, as well as to see the photos taken during our visit, please follow the link – Turtle Valley.
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Monastery of Sant Pere de Casserres

Northeast of the city of Vic, on an elongated rock washed by the waters of the river Ter on three sides, proudly rises the ancient Benedictine monastery Monestir de Sant Pere de Casserres, miraculously preserved to this day. Excellent place for a Sunday walk – in addition to the monastery itself, you can enjoy magnificent picturesque views of the river, slowly carrying its waters between the high rocky shores, as well as admire the Panta de Sau reservoir and view the spire of the 11th century church sticking out of the water in a village Sant Romà, flooded during the construction of the reservoir.

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