The Vertical Landscape

Landscape environmental preservationandprotectionofthisarea. By purchasingthisguideyouarecontributingtothe education and we preserve natural and cultural heritage. cultural and natural preserve we and education we offer oportunities to people in need, we promote talent, creation and and creation talent, promote we need, in people to oportunities offer we Mont-rebei, helps people to build a better and fairer future. Therefore, Therefore, future. fairer and better a build to people helps Mont-rebei, Fundació Catalunya-la Pedrera, manager of Espai Natura Congost de de Congost Natura Espai of manager Pedrera, Catalunya-la Fundació Our commitment to society: to commitment Our The Vertical Vertical The Space managed by: managed Space With the colaboration of: colaboration the With Xarxa Espais Natura Espais Xarxa www.congostdemontrebei.cat [email protected] La Masieta s/n, Sant Esteve de la Sarga la de Esteve Sant s/n, Masieta La Services: 8.30–17.00 h 8.30–17.00 mid-December to mid-September From 7.30–20.00 h 7.30–20.00 mid-September to mid-March From 8.30–17.00 h 8.30–17.00 mid-March to February From Opening hours Opening Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and long weekends. From mid-July to mid-September, every day. every mid-September, to mid-July From weekends. long and holidays public Sundays, Saturdays, La Masieta, Masieta, La information center in the gorge. Open from February to mid-December, all Fridays, Fridays, all mid-December, to February from Open gorge. the in center information Facilities C 13 - LLEIDA - 13 C N 230 - LLEIDA - 230 N N42º05’47,61’’ E00º41’49,40’’ N42º05’47,61’’ GPS coordinates: GPS BALAGUER ALFARRÀS DE LA SARGA LA DE ST. ESTEVE ST. N-230 DE NOGUERA DE GUÀRDIA LV-9124 ALSAMORA Mont-rebei C-13 Congost de Congost BARBASTRO N 123 - - 123 N BENAVARRI TREMP C-1311 MONTANYANA PONT DE PONT N-230 DE SEGUR DE C 13 - POBLA POBLA - 13 C How to get there? get to How DE SUERT I VIELHA I SUERT DE Mont-rebei gorge Mont-rebei N 230 - EL PONT PONT EL - 230 N Mont-Rebei Situated between Aragon and Catalonia, the Mont-rebei 1. Bearded vulture gorge gorge divides the Montsec range, the first major formation Gypaetus barbatus Large and slim-framed. It feeds of the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees, from North to South. The Year purchased: 1999 mainly on bones, which it swal- Area: 598,71 ha Fundació Reserve protects almost 600 hectares on the lows whole or breaks by dropping them from great heights. Location: Sant Esteve de la Catalan side: the gorge itself as well as the riverbanks (home Sarga (Pallars Jussà) of the river otter), the cliffs (habitat to large birds of prey), and 2. Golden eagle GPS coordinates: N42º05’47,61’’ E00º41’49,40’’ part of the oak-covered, shaded side of the Montsec d’Ares. 1. Aquila chrysaetos A large eagle that lives in craggy, mountainous regions. It is both a Flora and fauna hunter and a carrion bird. It can attain speeds of up to 240 km/h The walls and crags of the narrow gorge make up some of the most unique habitats in in flight. As it cuts across the Montsec range, the Noguera Ribagorçana the area, hosting unusual plant life such as the Pyrenean violet and the “corona de rey” saxifrage, and offering nesting sites for raptors such as the bearded vulture, the golden 3. Egyptian Vulture river forms an immense series of vertical walls known as eagle and the common vulture. In addition to the cliff faces and the river, where otters can Neophron percnopterus sometimes be seen, there are other ecological niches that vary according to the orienta- the Mont-rebei gorge, which opens on the South into an The smallest European vulture; tion of the mountainside. Dense oak groves are found on the shaded slopes, while the feeds on leftovers and small amphitheater of stunning cliff faces. sunny slopes are dominated by Mediterranean vegetation such as Holm oak, stands of carrion. It is a migratory bird and boxwood, and scrublands. The dry, windswept Montsec crest is covered with dry mead- spends the winter in Africa. ows and scrublands. Rounding out the extensive biodiversity of the region are its caverns and pit caves, home to bats and other subterranean fauna. 4. Palmate Newt Euproctus asper It lives in the cold, oxygen-rich waters of mountain streams, where it creeps along the stream- bed in search of food. 5. European otter Lutra lutra A carnivorous mammal that feeds on fish, frogs, and other aquatic animals. A superb swimmer that can remain submerged for up to six minutes without coming up 2. for air. 6. King of Saxifrages Saxifraga longifolia 3. A plant endemic to the Pyrenees and the Pre-Pyrenees, living in rock fissures on calcareous substrates. It flowers between May and August. 7. Pyrenean violet Ramonda myconi It grows in the cracks between 4. shaded rocks in the Pyrenees 5. and mountanous regions of the eastern half of Catalonia. It A gorge unlike any other Cliff-dwelling birds blooms from May to July, taking Ajuntament de on various violet hues, and then Sant Esteve de la Sarga As it passes through the Mont-rebei gorge, the Noguera The cliff faces are dotted with the nests of birds of prey shrivels before sprouting again Ribagorçana river runs through the depths of a canyon such as the Peregrine falcon, the common vulture, the with the autumn rains. that reaches heights of 500 metres, with a span that nar- Egyptian vulture, the golden eagle and the Eurasian rows at points to less than 20 metres. It is the country’s eagle-owl, along with noisy yellow- and red-beaked 8. Downy Oak last great gorge that remains in a nearly pristine state but jackdaws. The most threatened of our raptors, the Quercus pubescens that is also easily accessible to visitors. It is crossed only bearded vulture, nests along the cliff faces of the Mont- A deciduous tree that can grow up to 25 metres high and in by a bridle path that has been cut into the rock, allowing rebei. Here one can fully appreciate the majesty of its Catalonia is found in highland flight, as its golden body and black wings cut a splendid Llobet Illustrations: Toni 8. forests. As the Latin name sug- visitors to enjoy the spectacular scenery. 6. 7. figure against the sky and its shadow falls on the lime- gests, its new shoots and the un- derside of its leaves are downy. stone walls as it seemingly skims the rocks in flight. Map of the area +600 m +2.300 m Main road Local road Asphalted road Forest track Side track Precarious track Restricted passage Cavern / pit cave Church / chapel Ruins of church / chapel Ruins Path Narrow path GR Fundació Area Natural areas protected La Masieta (Information Centre) Car park Reserve access Village Church Peak Historical monument Panoramic view Mountain hut Tower Monumental tree Picnic area Forest Bridge Gorge Archaeological Site Montfalcó walkways Recommended routes Not to be missed Gorge Trail The otter lookout 1 Alsamora Trail 2 Path excavated on the cliff 1h 45’ +125 m i –90 m 3,5 km Easy A panoramic view of the entire reserve can be had 3h 15’ +310 m i –220 m 4,8 km Medium (one-way) from the natural lookout point at the bend of the (one-way) Until the second Montfalcó walkway) Noguera Ribagorçana river, leading to Alsamora just A linear route offering access to an interesting 2h 45’ +250 m i -100 m 5 km Medium before arriving at Masieta, where the river’s rapids (one-way) and little-known section of the forested area on can be seen before entering the defile itself, with the the shaded side of Montsec d’Ares, cut through A linear route making it possible to cover the entire length of Mare de Déu del Congost chapel and the Xiriveta with deep gullies, and offering panoramic views the spectacular Mont-rebei gorge following the left bank of the castle. towards the Pyrenees. Noguera Ribagorçana. Note: hikers should be in good physical After leaving the path excavated on the cliff, it is possible to condition. There are some steep climbs. continue following the path until La Pertusa or taking the right detour to the Montfalcó walkways, passing through the Congost del Seguer bridge. Altimiris Trail Note: the narrow part of the trail cut from the rock must be The Altimiris settlement 3 taken very slowly and carefully. Persons who suffer from Situated atop one of the buttresses that dominate the 2h 10’ +510 m -70 m 3,4 km Medium vertigo are advised to avoid this route. (one-way) North face of the Mont-rebei gorge is this pre-Roman- A linear route that leads along a wooded crest esque site from a little-known era of Spanish history, to the ruins of the Altimiris settlement, a window 4 Obaga Gran Trail between the fifth and ninth centuries, linking late antiquity into the transition period between antiquity and with the High Middle Ages. The site consists of a settle- 2h 30’ +570 m -70 m 4,7 km Medium the High Middle Ages. This route also offers (one-way) ment and chapel that evoke Peru’s Machu Picchu. The magnificent panoramic views of the Mont-rebei Fundació works closely with the University of Barcelona A linear route leading into the shaded slopes of the Montsec, bro- reserve. to study this and other archeological sites within the ken up by multiple gorges and gullies. The oak groves of Obaga La Masieta Note: There are some steep climbs.

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