Holiday cottages Berguedà

A land of contrasts crossed by the Llobregat river. This is the comarca of Berguedà, the northernmost of the comarcas in the province of Barcelona. A region that allows us to experience a thousand and one different experiences: from kayaking through the Baells reservoir, discovering the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, climbing the Pedraforca , discovering Romanesque jewels or experiencing ancestral festivals such as the Patum de Berga . A unique environment where you can enjoy the mountains, nature and history.

Before that, however, a bit of history: We begin to have signs of human presence from, above all, the Neolithic, but it is not until the 3rd century BC that the first news of the Bergistan appear, an Iberian people probably related to the Ilergets, who lived in the valleys of the Cardoner and the upper Llobregat. Already in the Middle Ages, under the Saracen occupation, Berguedà became part of the County of Cerdanya and, later, of the short County of Berga. Already in the 18th century, after the War of the Spanish Succession, a period of quite significant economic and demographic growth began, with the development of the textile industry. The Berguedà, in fact, provides its own spinning machine: the berguedana.

If you are staying in a holiday cottages in Berguedà, you must visit the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park , the meeting point between the Pyrenees and the Pre-Pyrenees. One of the largest natural spaces in Catalonia - some forty thousand hectares - home to more than a thousand plant and animal species such as the chamois, the marmot, the black woodpecker and the pine nutcracker. What can we do in Cadí-Moixeró? First, discover Pedraforca, one of the most emblematic mountains in Catalonia and which every hiker marks as a peak to crown. If you are not well equipped or are not good climbers, we recommend reaching the Gresolet lookout, a set of balconies built into the Pedraforca foothills. Get your camera ready, because the views are spectacular. Most essential: The Llobregat springs, the Camí dels Empedrats and, if you go with children, you can't miss the Adou fountain and the Via Nicolau.

Romanesque art, which developed in Western Europe from the middle of the 10th to the 13th century, is the most widespread in much of Catalonia and, above all, in Berguedà. It is in this region that we find twelve pre-Romanesque and Romanesque churches, of which six are open to the public all year round such as the Monastery of Sant Llorenç or Sant Quirze de Pedret, where we can see the remains of the famous pre-Romanesque paintings and Romanesque of Pedret. Another cultural must-see are the Artigas Gardens, designed by Antoni Gaudí, which fuse nature and architecture.

If you're into critters, you can't miss the Fumanya site, Europe's most extensive Upper Cretaceous dinosaur footprint site. In the Interpretation Center you can see footprints, fossils, audiovisuals and various elements to experience how dinosaurs lived. In addition, several workshops for families are held there during the summer. Another must-see for families: the Cercs mines, where young and old can discover how people lived and worked in a real coal mine. A fantastic trip through the mining colony of Sant Corneli.

If you like walking and, at the same time, want to know the secrets that Berguedà hides, we recommend following some of the routes in the network of paths such as El Camí dels Bons Homes, El Camí Picasso, Cavalls del Vent or El Camí del Llobregat. A good way to discover the territory and get into its mountains. You can't miss the Fonts del Llobregat, where the Llobregat river originates, which crosses Catalonia from north to south. It is a short and easy route that goes from Castellar de n'Hug to the place where the water springs. Fully signposted and suitable for the whole family.

Berguedà can be enjoyed from land, water and air. If what you want is to practice water activities such as rowing, wakeboarding or swimming, you need to know the Baells reservoir, which collects water from the Cadí-Moixeró mountains. You can also go kayaking, canoeing or paddle surfing. Do you prefer climbing? Berguedà, especially Alt Berguedà, is a country of mountains and has more than 10 climbing areas such as Roc de l'Alou or Pedraforca . Are you more of a beginner? In Berguedà you will also find a lot of via ferratas. If what you like is speleology, you can discover Berguedà more underground through its caves such as Espluga Rodona, Forat del Calderer or Cova del Roset. Better by air? The experts agree that Berguedà is an exceptional area for practicing paragliding, both free and paramotor. If you travel with a bicycle, you will find several mountain bike routes such as the Pedraforca one, the great circular one of Ensija or the one that goes from Sant Corneli to Fígols.

Two of the great festivals of Berguedà: La Patum de Berga and La Fia-Faia. The first is the quintessential Berguedan festival, a celebration with more than six hundred years of history that derives from the ancient medieval street theater events. A party of fire, music and dance. The other great festival of Berguedà is the Fia-Faia, which is celebrated in Bagà and Sant Julià de Cerdanyola during the Christmas holidays.

Do you want to know the textile colonies? You can do it by walking or cycling along the Ruta de les Colònies del Llobregat, a 32-kilometer crossing that starts at Pont de Pedret and ends in Balsareny or by visiting the Museu de la Colònia Vidal, where you will discover the stories of the people who worked in the 14 textile colonies in the area and the Cal Mestre factory. A journey to the industrial revolution.

Berguedà's gastronomy is one of the region's attractions. One of Catalonia's most traditional cuisines, which includes dishes such as masked potatoes, cracked corn or black peas.