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The
Globetrotting
Project
Road trip (Spain/Andorra/France/Spain)
In April 2014 and after my trip to Marocco, I decide to go on a road trip for 10 days and combine 3 countries, Spain, Andorra and France. I was actually heading to Andorra, a new country to explore but on the way of planning I thought of combining more places and doing a 10 day road trip to 3 countries. No much of planning actually but kind of plan-along-the-way trip. I had always wanted to visit the Monsterrat mountains and Dali Museum in Figueres so why not include them in my trip as they were pretty much close.This is how my routes got organised. I was living in Seville at that time and I had to find a cheap way to get to Barcelona where I could start my adventure.As it was a last minute trip,Ryanair flight prices had skyrocketed and trains were expensive too, so I decided to try Blablacar.com for the first time.What is it?Carpoolling/Covoiturage or whatever you call it, it's actually sharing a road trip with others. So I started my 10hour car ride with our driver and 2 other chatty and interensting people.How much?Just 50euros....We set off very early on a Friday morning and reached Barcelona late afternoon.
There's only one bus leaving for Monserrat at 9am every morning from the bust station next to Sants Central station and the bus company is called Autocares Julia. Then the other choice is to go by train. So I had to go to Plaza Espana where I took my 7pm train to Manresa. I got off at Olesa de Montserrat, a small village just before the Monsterrat rocks, where my host was waiting.
Montserrat Monastery
Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey and the Benedictine monastery are situated on the Montserrat mountain 45km northwest of Barcelona.This holy place and the beauty of the mountains around attract thousands of pigrims every year. There are always long queues from people waiting to see the Black Madonna inside the Basilica (La Moreneta in Catalan), the statue of the Virgin holding Jesus and a small round globe on her right hand.Don't miss the famous boys' choir at the Basilica.(Information Kiosk). Take the Funicular of Sant Joan and go to the upper terminus of Montserrat Rack railway, the steepest one in Spain. At the top you can visit the Nature Centre where you will find information on the history of the mountain, its climate, flora and fauna.You can also have a view of the most incredible rocks and its names. More walking routes to explore start from there.
Sacred sites,walking trails and viewpoints of magnificent countryside....So much to discover while you are there!
Cremallera de Monsterrat
Coming from Barcelona by train, you first find the Aeri Montserrat station where you can get the cable car straight up to the monastery. Next stop after that is Monistrol de Montserrat station where you will see the little green rack railway train waiting for you.The ride of both cable car and rack train is included in the price of your ticket. The ride with the cable car sounds more exciting but the train ride is also beautiful with some breathtaking views of the mountain and the valley below you getting more and more distant as you get closer to your destination.
If you come by car, you can stop at Monistrol-Vila where you can park your car at the free parking area. There is also a rack railway exhibition at the old Monistrol-Vila station.
Montserrat
walking tours
So many routes for mountain walks with breathtaking views of some of the most spectacular rock formations and of the breathtaking Catalonian countryside.
Get informed at the Tourist Information Kiosk just outstide of the Cremallera de Monsterrat (Rack Railway) and plan your routes. One of the most beautiful routes and shorter routes is the one leading to the religious shrine of Santa Cova where the Virgin 'La Moreneta' was found.
It's very safe to go anywhere around even if you are alone.Make sure though you find your way back before it gets dark.
More information on routes here:
http://www.montserrat-tourist-guide.com/en/activities/walks-in-montserrat.html
Day 1: I set off for the top of the mountain and the Montserrat monastery. I was really excited of what I was about to explore up there! From Olesa de Montserrat is just 3 stops by train and you are there on the foot of the mountain. There two ways to get to the monastery, by cable car or by the rack railway(the one I chose to do both times). As soon as you reach the top, you find an information kiosk and there you get all the information about what to do. I first visited the Basilica and the museum,then had a snack to get some energy and chose one of the routes and started my hike. Montserrat is one of the best places in Europe for hiking!
Day 2: I desided to take the train and go all the way until the train's last stop and visit the historical town of Manresa. Not only is Manresa a town worth visiting ,but it's also the train route and the spectacular views on the way that you shouldn't miss. I spent all morning in Manresa visiting the cathedral, the Cova de Sant Ignaci where visitors find out about his life and his work and I wandered around the town. On the way back, I stopped at the Monistrol and took the rack railway up to the Monastery in order to discover more and choose another route for walking. From the beauty I've seen up there and the so many choices you have of walking routes, I would strongly advise travellers to spend at least two days in Montserrat. There two hotel/hostels in Montserrat, the Abat Cisneros which is bit pricey and the Cel.Les Marcet Hotel. Even if I had to pay a bit more, I wouldn't miss the chance to stay there overnight next time I visit Monsterrat.
For more information on Abat Cisneros Hotel: Central de Reserves de Montserrat: reserves@larsa-montserrat.com tel:0034 93 8777701 www.montserratvisita.cat www.abadiamontserrat.cat
Day 3: I took the bus from Manresa around midday and headed my way to Andorra. I always sit in front of the bus as I don't want to miss anything on the way. And this time, I was really overwhelmed by the beauty of the route......green valleys, mountains, quaint little villages, rivers and rivulets, cows and sheep grazing and alterations of heavy clouds and mist and sunny spells and light drizzle. But it was when I reached the boarders of Andorra that it started to pour down with rain. It was for the welcoming note! But I was excited, very much and even more excited despite the heavy downpour. I was in Andorra!
Days 4/5: Andorra is a very small country and yet so rich in variety of what to do while you are there. There are two main ski resorts the Vallnord and Grandvalira if you come here during the winter for skiing. It gets really busy before/during and after Christmas time and then it's a popular destination for sports and outdoor activities during late spring and summer. The best choice of discovering the whole of Andorra is hiring a car but even by bus one can explore quite a lot of places. Buses are frequent and run on time. A must-do and visit while in Andorra is the Caldea! It is situated just in the centre of Andorra la Vella and it's a thermal spa resort with indoor and outdoor swimming pools and jacuzzis. It's an amazing experience! Relaxing in the outdoor jacuzzi gazing the snowy mountains around is an unforgettable! I just wanted to spend a few hours there and I ended up staying until closing time 10:30! I just couldn't get out of the water! I also watched the closing time spectacle....simply fantastic! There's also the experience of Naturlandia, park for outdoor activities with a wild animal park. It really sounds fun but you really need more days to appreciate everything Andorra has to offer. My 3day stay was enough to get an idea of the country but it's worth stayin a bit longer to experience the beauty and diversity of this amazing country. If you decide to stay in Andorra la Vella,the capital, there is only one hostel/alberg to choose from and it's called Alberg la Comella but it's not at the centre of the city. I've read some really good reviews about it and maybe worth staying there. I decided to stay somewhere at the very centre and picked one of the many hotels around. There's a hotel in every corner so if it's not high season, you don't really need to book in advance.
Andorra
Principat d' Andorra,the Principality of Andorra is the sixth smallest country in Europe and well nestled right in the heart of the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France. The official language is Catalan but Spanish and English are commonly spoken.
Andorra gets extremely busy during wnter and closer to Christmas time where people floak from all over Europe for the ski resorts. Andorra is also a paradise for nature lovers and spring/ early summer is a great time of year to visit. Andorra is also popular for shopping as it's a tax free country.
Andorra la Vella, the capital of Andorra, is a wonderful city enclosed between two ranges of mountains and at an altitude of 1.023m. It's one of the safest capitals in Europe and still buzzing with life.
Andorra
Ski Resorts
This green nountainous country attracts many tourists all year round but especially during winter months for its famous ski resorts.There are two main ski resorts in Andorra,Granvalira and Vallnord.
Pas de la Casa is the biggest ski resort in Grandvalira,which offers a large ski area and a variety of shops/bars/restaurants.
Soldeu is set in the heart of Granvalira and it's a fantastic resort for couples and families offering a great range of slopes for all levels and a superb school for beginners.
Arinsal is a great family-friendly ski resort in the Vallnord area. It might get less busier than Granvalira ski resorts but it's well organized and offers a lot to visitors.
More information about the ski resorts for all ski lovers:http://www.skiandorra.ad/
Andorra
Sant Joan de Caselles
romanesque church
Sant Joan de Caselles is a beautiful church in Canillo and it's seen from the main road towards Pas de la Casa. It's one of the jewels of Andorran romanesque style church.
Other churches are:
Sant Esteve d'Andorra la Vella
situated in Placa de Princep Benlloch in the town of Andorra.
Santa Coloma(with its round bell tower which is unique in Andorra) situated in Santa Coloma village.
The Sanctuari de Meritxell is another must-do stop in Andorra. It's situated after the Encamp village and from the bus-stop(let the driver know where you want to get off) it's almost 500m uphill just after the L'Ermita Hotel.
Visiting hours:
9-1pm 3-6pm (Tuesdays closed)
Day 6/7: I had to leave behind Andorra and head to France where I had to explore some other great places. The only connection from Andorra to Toulouse in France is by bus. There are two bus lines per day and the price is 34euros. I took the 3pm bus and was in Toulouse two hours later. Toulouse is called the 'Pink City' only because of the colour of the buildings. I have to say I got a bit disappointed by the city as I expected it a bit more.....beautiful. (But that is very subjective anyway.)So I have decided not to write anything about it now but after I get to visit the city again one day to get a better 'feeling'. Next day after my arrival I headed to the picturesque town of Albi, the hometown of Toulouse Lautrec. I spent hours walking up and down the town taking hundreds of photos. It's an amazing place to visit!!
There's a train connection connecting Toulouse to Albi and from there buses can take you to other little towns around. Kind of difficult though to combine more since you definately need a whole day for Albi and bus connections are not the best. Hiring a car is the best option or alternatively having more days to spare in order to appreciate the beauty of this part of France.
My next day's trip was in Carcassone because of its famous castle which is an UNESCO wolrd heritage site! I absolutely loved it and wished I could spend more time there! I remember at the train station I was looking back while taking the last couple of shots and I didn't want to get on the train!
Day 8: I set off early in the morning because I had to catch the train to Narbonne where I had planned to stay overnight. I had no accomodation arrangements but I knew exactly where I was going to spend the night. I had found a nice hostel at the very centre and was pretty sure rooms were available.....and I was right! Everytime I travel without serious planning or play it by chance for accomodation it's in places (towns or countries) that are small and safe or I speak the language, which I consider very important to communicate in case of emergency. It's fun and exhilarating to reach a town, step out of the train or bus station and have no plans for anything. Then you get more 'loose' and 'open' to what is to come. Talk to people asking for directions, get lost in places you would never go to following your guide book and become another 'local' wandering the streets of your destination. I met amazing people on the way and I felt blessed for that! I had absolutely no plans in Narbonne but I was so busy the next day exploring the town with my new friends. I even went to the opening of a art gallery where I met a Spanish painter and had a lovely afternoon drinking French champaign!
France
Carcasson Castle
Carcasson is undisputedly one of the most important places to explore in France as it is an UNESO world heritage site. It's impressive castle stands imperious on a hill with its 53 towers and ramparts all around it. Walking from the modern town of Carcasson,over the old bridge,up the hill to the citadel, one finds the entrance of the castle. The small town inside the castle with its paved narrow streets, shops and cosy restaurants will thrill the visitor. Entrance is free but you have to pay for the guided tours(available in English/French and Spanish). If you like tasting the local cuisine, try the typical south France dish which is called cassoulet. It's a bit heavy to eat for dinner but if you like it and want to take some home, there's a little shop selling cans of cassoulet and other local products(located inside a porch) in one of the main streets).
Open daily except: 1stJan, 1stMay, 1st and 11thNov, 25thDec.
France
Narbonne
Narbonne is one of the historic towns in the south of France.It is quite amazing that a town the size of narbonne has such a massive cathedral.The cathedral dates back to and the rule of Emperor Constantine.Visit the Archibishop's Palace and the archeological museum. It contains artefacts from right back to the Neolithic period (it is amazing how small the skulls were compared to the present day). There are various arrow heads and broaches from the Bronze age and, as you would expect, a large collection of Roman remains, including a huge ship's anchor. Standing in Narbonne today it is hard to imagine it as an important port town. A visit to the indoor market near the river is a must. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables or eat fresh fish(there's a stand selling stuffed fish cooked on the spot) and have a glass of local wine in one of the cafes around. At night take a stroll along the riverside and have a glass of local wine in one of the riverside bars. Narbonne is a quite town and without much of a nightlife.
France Albi
Albi is a small historical town in the Midi-Pyrenees area situated 65km northeast of Toulouse.This amazing little town with beatiful narrow streets and important monuments.The imposing St.Celicial's caterdal is a mediaval monument and the landmark of Albi. Next to the cathedral stands the similarly massive and fortified Bishop's palace, part of which now houses the magnificent Toulouse Lautrec museum,another good reason to visit Albi.Northwest of Albi lies Cordes sur Ciel, an incredible small town, perched on a hill above two valleys: Cordes was built up in the XIVth and XVth centuries, and to this day has conserved a remarkable collection of mediaeval town houses and streets - one of the best in France. Saturday is market day. Just west of Albi, Gaillac is the centre of a well known vineyard area - AOC Gaillac. As well as vineyards that can be visited, and wine tasting (check local tourist offices for details), the area aslo has some interesting fortified villages, notably Puycelsi and Castelnau de Montmiral.
Days 9/10: From Narbonne I had a ride with Blablacar to Girona with a company of two nice bubbly French girls. In Girona I had to look for accomodation as I hadn't booked in advance(once again). There's a nice hostel at the very centre but it was fully booked when I arrived(for the second time I come in Girona actually) so I looked elsewhere and found one very quickly. This hostel mush be really popular since it's always fully booked. It's called Equity Point Hostel if you wanna check it out.
I stayed two days/nights in Girona. As I had visited Girona before I only focused on what I wanted to see again and spend some relaxing moments at the city centre. What I really wanted to visit this time was Figureres. I took the train early next moring and I spent the entire day in Figueres. Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dali, has a lot to offer to the visitor. It's three important museums,the Dali museum ,the Toy's Museum wiht its 3.500 toy collection and the archeological museum. After spending hours at the Dali museum and I walked up the hill where the castle is. There were lots of people walking up and down and I reckoned there was something going on up there. I was lucky to find it full of people as there was a medieval festival with food and crafts stalls and an arena for dual fighting with men on horses dressed as medieval warriors. It was really exciting and T spent hours wandering around eating local delicacies and enjoying the event.There are many medieval festivals going on in different Spanish towns where there are Medieval castles and fortresses so the traveller may be a lucky one to be present in one of them. Late evening I took the last train back to Girona for a good night's sleep.
The day after I went to Sant Feliu de Guixols as I wanted to relax by the beach but I was not very lucky this time as it was a gloomy, windy day and not appropriate for a day by the sea. There not much to see in Sant Feliu apart from the beach and a relaxed walk by the promenade and a visit to the monastery so I went back to Girona early evening for relaxed drink at Plaça de la Independència. It was my last night and I was heading back home the next morning.
Sant Feliu de Guixols
The town of Sant Feliu de Guixols is located about an hour away from the buzzing city of Barcelona and half an hour from Girona. You can walk through the old town and relax by the sea.
One of the monuments worth visiting is the Benidictine monastery built in the middle of the 10th century.It's romanesque in style with several architectural features, including two towers and the famous porta Ferrera.
The town beach is quite big and gets really busy during the summer months.
During the off-season months the town is very quite.
Figueres
Castell de Sant Ferran
Figueres is an interesting town to explore. There are many places of interest apart from the Dali Museum.The impressive building with the unique architecture and the exhibits inside which represent the versatile talent of Dali. Another museum you should miss,is the Toys' museum and the Emporda Museum with Greek and Roman findings.
After your visit to the museums, go up the hill and find San Ferran castle built in 1750 as a fortress against enemies' invasions.
Girona
The beautiful encient city of Girona is a jewel of Catalonia. It's historical upper town and the buzzing shopping centre,the lively 'plazas' squares where you can relax eating tapas and drinking 'cerveza' which means bear in Spanish. Cross the beautiful red foot bridge over the river Onyar and get to see the picturesque houses overlooking the river. The cathedral has a Romanesque tower and cloister, a Gothic nave and a Baroque facade is definately worth a visit. Girona is a beautiful destination to visit all year round.
The Girona airport is about 8km from Girona. It's a small aiport where Ryanair is the company with the most frequent flights.
My last day: I had to wake up quite early and catch the 7am train from Girona to Barcelona and then another one to Sevilla.
Girnona-BCN Sants train station 16euros
BCN-Sants to Sevilla AVE train 81euros
(prices with AVE trains can vary in price depending the days and times- better book online for ticket offers)
My trip had come to an end but I was full of lovely memories and experiences lived that I will never forget!
Hope you got inspired and have enough information to plan your own trip to Monserrat, Andorra and Southeast of France.
See you again at my next adventure!
Museums
Montserrat Museum
The main museum of Montserrat is a large art museum,housing six different permanent collections.
There are real treasures to discover, like paintings of Picasso, Caravaggio, Dali and El Greco that are nestled in among less well-known artists. There are over 1300 pieces housed in the museum covering a broad historical period with the earliest exhibit, an Egyptian sarophagus, from the 13th century BC.
Entrance fee: 6.50 euros and 3euros for the two temporary exhibitions.
Toulouse Lautrec
Museum in Albi
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1864-1901, was the great post-impressionist iconographer of Parisian life in the late nineteenth century. He was a native of Albi, and the museum hosts the largest collection of his work.
Find out interest facts about his life and his fuctional handicap he suffered from.
He spent almost all his life living in Parisian bordels painting the women and girls while 'on duty'.
Entrance fee: 8euros
Figueres
Dali Museum
Salvador Dali is one of the most celebrated artists of all time. His surrealist style and eccentricity is depicted in his works of art. He was not only a painter but a sculpture,a designer and a graphic artist. The museum is a work of art itself and invites you to discover the versatile talent of its creator.
Some of his masterpieces are not exhibited at the museum in Figures but housed in other museums around the world.
Entrance fee: 12euros(Dali's jewel exhibition included)
http://www.salvador-dali.org
http://www.dalipaintings.net
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