The comarca of Terra Alta: Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, Horta de Sant Joan, greenways, vineyards, olive trees, rivers and streams make up a flagship rural landscape.
Terra Alta in the south of Catalonia contains within its boundaries a variety of landscapes that, thanks to the low industrialization and low population concentration, have been preserved in an almost unchanged.
A long tradition in wine production, has the recognition of a designation of origin, due to this productive tradition arise modernist buildings Gandesa agricultural cooperatives and El Pinell de Brai, declared of cultural interest. The architectural wealth of villages such as Horta de Sant Joan, Arnes or bat, the nature park of Els Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, the spaces of the Battle of the Ebro and the greenway of Terra Alta, complete the tourist attraction of this region soon known.
Environmental tourism resources:
Natural Park of Ports: Els Ports mountains are all beyond the limits of land in the river deep into the provinces of Teruel (Aragon) and Castellón (Comunidad Valenciana). These mountains are notable for the richness of the fauna and flora that live and, indeed, are the refuge of many endangered plant and animal species. The area is characterized by vegetation of pine forests (black pine and red pine), oak. The terrain offers a multitude of canyons, ridges and peaks, where we can find the largest colony of goat Hispanic peninsula, along with other species such as badgers, civet cat, or bird of prey, and also a large population of otters and vultures.
Protected Park Forat de la Doncella, Bot: right in the middle of the mountain called La Plana and next to the hermitage of Sant Josep de Bot (Terra Alta), you can see a spectacular water spout comes amid large rocks called Forat of the Maiden. In this area the visitor can enjoy a recreation area with tables and a space to make fires.
Protected Park Sanctuary Fontcalda, Gandesa: Canaletes near the river, including oaks, pine forests and limestone cliffs Fontcalda arrives. This splendid natural space, green for its proximity to the river, is located in the municipality of Gandesa. His name is linked to the presence of a source of healing water that springs to 28 degrees, just to the left of the river Canaletes.
Cultural Resources:
Poblado Ibérico del Coll del Moro, Gandesa: the Iberian Coll del Moro Gandesa occupies an area of some square 3.300metros. It is located on top of a hill from where we can observe an important part of the region of Terra Alta. Stresses elliptical tower that was part of the defensive structure of the village. The center was founded in the sixth century B.C. and abandoned in the first century AD, coinciding with the consolidation of the Romans in these lands. Each year, one weekend in October, marks the Iberian Weekend, organized by the Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia together with the City of Gandesa. It is an extraordinary opportunity to visit the archeological site of Coll del Moro.
Sanctuary Fontcalda, Gandesa: within the space protected from the Fontcalda, we find the Sanctuary of Fontcalda that is already documented from the fourteenth century.
In the church square there are two buildings for accommodation, bar and restaurant. It has also enabled an entertainment area with stone tables, bathrooms and showers. One of the sections of the cliffs where the river runs Canaletes is entitled to the bathroom.
Hometown, Gandesa: right next to the church of Our Lady of Assumption of Gandesa find the building of the former Casa de la Vila, popularly known as the Vila Vella. It is a gothic-style building, partially absorbed by the expansion of the Church in the seventeenth century. But still retains a distinctive Gothic windows. The building has been restored and is now used as a venue for various social and cultural institutions of the municipality.
Gandesa Cooperative Winery: The winery Gandesa Cooperative is one of the most emblematic modernist buildings of the region. It was built in 1919 by César Martinell, an architect who also designed Bodega Cooperativa the neighboring village of El Pinell de Brai. The main body of the building has three naves rectangular and parallel. The cover uses the defining elements of the architecture of the wineries modernist brick and Catalan vault. In the winery shop wines are sold Terra Alta Designation of Origin and extra virgin olive oil from the region.
Center for the Study of the Battle of the Ebro (CEBE), Gandesa: This center was initiated by a group of scholars and collectors of Gandesa with the aim of recovering documentary material, and cultural war period between the months of July and November 1938, the date on which occurred the Battle of the Ebro tour the center can visit several theme rooms where military equipment is exposed-most found in the mountains of Pàndols Cavalls-plus and military documents.
The Center for the Study of the Battle of the Ebro is a sample that complements other parts of the region linked to the history of the Spanish Civil War in the Lands of the Ebro, in the context of the path of peace.
Cooperative Winery El Pinell de Brai: a modernist style building and set one of the most representative exponents of this artistic movement in Terres de l'Ebre Built between 1918 and 1927 by architect Cesar Martinell, born in 1888 and Valls disciple of Gaudí. The set consists of three naves and two adjacent front located transversely at the rear of the building at different levels. The roof of the building is supported by a series of elliptical brick arches. The building has been declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest by the Generalitat of Catalonia.
Sant Joan d'Algars castle, Bats: surrounded by nature and on the right bank of the river Algars, you can see the remains of the ancient castle of San Juan. Situated on the outskirts of the town of Bats. At the foot of the castle is the small Gothic church of San Juan.
Bats. Historic Center: It is one of the most characteristic of the region, as it retains a number of covered porches and medieval buildings. The old bat was walled up s. XIV, and today you can still see some entrances.
Horta de Sant Joan. Historical center, the mountainous surroundings of the town and the medieval streets of the historic center give it an almost magical. The route through the town begins in the arcaded square of the Church, which brings together a spectacular architectural and can continue the walk along the winding streets of old town where buildings are very noble.
Cal Xico, the Fatarella: is an old manor house built in the mid-seventeenth century. The building was part of the wall that enclosed the town. Now is the headquarters of the Fundació Solà, private non-profit organization dedicated to the study, conservation, development and dissemination of cultural heritage with emphasis on building systems dry stone.
Faterella. Porches Route: walking the streets of the historic center of the Fatarella notice the uniqueness of the spars (or porches), ie stretches of road covered by beams and stone arches that connect several homes. Traverse the urban section following the itinerary of the hangers is a great way to meet people.
Traditional Festivals:
Sant Antoni festival, Gandesa: held on 17 January of each year, one of the main events of this festival is the collection of firewood by the different streets of Gandesa. The overseers, accompanied by the "pig" of San Antonio, the elder, and heir pubilleta make giant folds and Gandesa and two little donkeys that car bearing the image of San Antonio. This wood is auctioned in the square below, along with cocaine and Rodotà of San Antonio.
Wine Fair, Gandesa: the first weekend of November is celebrated Gandesa Wine Fair. Around Gandesa Cooperative stands are installed in different cooperatives in the region and private wine cellars where you can taste for free the different wines they produce. On Saturday, the union presents her with a snack to all participants and the stands were opened later.
Traditional careers Prat de Comte: on August 24, never needed the traditional courses. Are organized from very old and have become one of the indisputable symbols of the population. For its symbolic value in 2000 were recognized as a Traditional Festival of Regional Interest.
For example in the crucible of race participants are at the top of the street with a lighted oil lamp hanging from the zipper. If the furnace shuts down the corridor to be stopped and restarted. For this race participants dress in traditional clothing.
The Passion of Vilalba dels Arcs: When Easter arrives, Vilalba dels Arcs portrays the Passion of Jesus Christ through the streets of Old Town. Thus, most of the scenarios take advantage of the landscape and the town's medieval architecture. In addition, singular, some of the performances are nocturnal. In this way the lights of torches and the mystery of the night extending the magic of the staging.
Fair Clotxa of oil and Faterella: during the first half of December is fair and Clotxa Oil, an event that has a high participation. The events will include a new oil tasting and lunch with the traditional popular Clotxa, this is a typical food of the region formed by a peasant bread stuffed with tomatoes, sardines, sausage and served with a generous splash of oil. It also organizes an open day in Sant Isidre Agricultural Cooperative and an exhibition of traditional craft products of the Terres de l'Ebre
Active tourism
Canyoning: the gorges and streams are usually a part of the landscape of great beauty and strength unknown, usually complicated by their accessibility. Often, the practice of canyoning is the only way to find out. Most of the venues for this sport in the region are concentrated in the bulk of Els Ports. However, we must bear in mind that the rules of the Els Ports Natural Park limits the number of descents and canyoning in prohibited areas of special natural interest. In addition, an application must be submitted before the activity.
BTT: Natural Park of Els Ports and mountainous areas of the Earth have a good network of routes open to nature lovers and mountain biking. These are roads that pass by mountains, gorges, olive groves and tranquil villages and steeped in history.
Cycling: a pedal stroke, quietly listening and adapting to the mood of families and groups of friends can choose to go the route of the old railway line unhook Valley.
Hiking: hiking tradition in Catalonia strongly rooted in the Ebro region, probably due to the presence of the Massif of the ports. And is that as mountain excursions lost their productive or commercial nature, trekking and hiking became synonymous with walking for pleasure, discovery of land and direct contact with nature.