Press Pack 2014

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Catalonia, a quality destination 8

Tourist attractions 9

Tourist accommodation 11

Tourist brands 15 Costa Brava 16 Costa Barcelona 18 Barcelona 20 Costa Daurada 22 Terres de l’Ebre 24 Pirineus 26 Terres de Lleida 28 Val d’Aran 30 Paisatges Barcelona 32

Tourist Experiences 34 Accessible Tourism 35 Cultural Tourism 38 Sports Tourism 40 Fun in the Snow 42 Enogastronomic Tourism 44 Golf Tourism 46 Watersports 48 Nature, Adventure and Mountain 50 Business Tourism 52 Family Holidays 54 Health & Wellness 56 Sun & Beach 58 Senior Tourism 60 Rural Tourism 61

What’s new 2014 62

Useful addresses 78

Press Pack ‘14 3 Introduction

Catalonia is a Mediterranean destination with a millenary history, its own culture and language and a wealthy historical and natural heritage.

Population. 7.5 million

Surface area. 32.107 km2

Cities. The capital is Barcelona. Girona, Tarragona and Lleida are province seats. There are also county seats and many other towns with a remarkable heritage and monuments spread all over the territory.

Territory. Catalonia offers a great scenic variety:

- The Catalan Pyrenees with their 3000 metre peaks dominate the northern area of the country. Especially interesting is Val d’Aran, a valley draining into the Atlantic Ocean that has preserved its own culture, language (Aranese) and government bodies.

- 580 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline cover Costa Brava, Costa Barcelona, Barcelona, Costa Daurada and Terres de l’Ebre.

- The four Catalan province seats feature a great heritage. Handsome old quarters, buildings from Romanesque to Modernism and a wide range of museums are worth a visit.

- Besides the province seats, we find inland towns with a distinctive character and noteworthy heritage, like Berga, Figueres, Granollers, Igualada, Manresa, Mont- blanc, Olot, Reus, Ripoll, La Seu d’Urgell, Sabadell, Solsona, Terrassa, Tortosa, Vic, Vilafranca del Penedès and Vilanova i la Geltrú, among many others.

Climate. Climate. Generally speaking, Catalonia enjoys a temperate and mild Mediterranean climate, characterised by dry, warm summers and moderately cool winters.

Catalonia, a tourist destination. Catalonia offers many attractions for all sorts of visitors: culture, relax, nature, families, sports, business, etc. Its great capacities and excellent facilities place it among Europe’s prime tourist areas.

Catalonia welcomes more than 20 million tourists a year, more than half of whom come from abroad. At roughly 12% of GDP, tourism is one of Catalonia’s main sources of wealth, making it a strategic priority. (Source: Idescat, Frontur and Egatur)

4 Press Pack ‘14 Communications network

Roads. Catalonia has a good road network that enables travel to any main European city in less than twelve hours. Its large commercial airports, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Reus, as well as the main cities in the country are well connected by motorway.

Rail. The railway network offers good communications, both between Catalan towns and cities and abroad. There is a well-developed commuter train network in the Barcelona me- tropolitan area, with connections between the city and the tourist coastal areas in Maresme and Garraf joined together under the Costa Barcelona brand. Apart from state-run Renfe, there is also Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC) operating in Catalonia, with a network extending from Barcelona to cities such as Igualada, Manresa, Terrassa and Rubí. The renewed Montserrat and Núria rack railways are also run by this company.

High speed train. The high speed rail network is under constant expansion. Andalusia can be reached in six hours from Barcelona thanks to a bypass around Madrid. Spain’s capital is just two and a half hours away with stops en route in Tarragona and Lleida. The link with France via Girona and Figueres was completed in late 2013 without any more need to change trains in the latter station. Hence Catalonia is very well communicated with other cities in Europe, making it the true hub of a vast Mediterranean Euroregion.

Thanks to its scenic variety, Catalonia has become an appealing destination for many travellers. While the Pyrenees are an ideal place for skiing, winter tourism, hiking and active tourism, the Catalan coastline combines steep cliffs with hidden coves, long sandy beaches and a wide range of water sports. The five protected seaside areas in Catalonia -Cap de Creus Natural Park, Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park, Montgrí, Baix Ter i Illes Medes Natural Park, Delta del Llobregat Natural Reserve and Delta de l’Ebre Natural Park- ensure environmental conservation while offering a combination of sustainable tourism and leisure.

Press Pack ‘14 5 Airports. Catalonia has five commercial airports.

Barcelona. 32 million passengers used Catalonia’s main airport in 2013. Its T-1 terminal has meant a quantum leap in air passenger mobility. Passenger figures have not stopped growing since it started operating. Its capacity is 30 million passengers a year, extendable to 55 million. The old T-2 terminal is served by several low-cost airlines. Future plans for the airport include La City, a 150 hectare area with hotels, office buildings and all kind of facilities.

Girona-Costa Brava (Girona). Situated 100 kilometres from Barcelona and 15 from Girona, Girona-Costa Brava airport is strategically located for tourist (being the closest airport to Costa Brava), trade and economic purposes. It welcomes between 3 and 4 million passengers every year.

Reus-Costa Daurada (Reus). Located 110 kilometres from Barcelona and 13 from Tarragona, it is the closest airport to Costa Daurada and Terres de l’Ebre. It welcomes around a million passengers every year.

Lleida-Alguaire (Alguaire). Located 15 km from Lleida, it is the first airport planned, built and run by the Government of Catalonia. It allows promoting Catalonia as a top winter and mountain tourism destination. With a customs post, the airport can now handle flights from countries outside the Schengen area, such as Russia and the United Kingdom. Some regular flights are also operated, while the premises are further used for testing, numerous sports events and prototype development.

Pirineus-la Seu d’Urgell. The Government of Catalonia, the Government of An- dorra and the Spanish Ministry of Public Works have reached an agreement to develop the premises that are currently used for private flights only into a public infrastructure able to handle regular flights from summer 2014. The airport was reopened in June 2010 following adaptation works on the premises and the runway. It is planned to become the main Pyrenees airport and the gate to Andorra. The installation of a customs post shall enable operating flights from non-Schengen countries.

Ports

Barcelona. The largest cruising port in Europe, Barcelona welcomed nearly 2.6 million cruise passengers in 2013, a 7,9% annual increase. Thanks to its safety, service quality, the lure of the city and Catalonia and proximity to the airport, virtually all cruise ships sailing on the Western Mediterranean stop over in Barcelona. The port has nine terminals, seven of which are devoted solely to cruises. Given the high demand for berths, the port authority started modernising the existing terminals, building new ones and enlarging the port to the south. There are also regular ferry lines between the two terminals made for this purpose and Rome, Livorno, Sardinia, Genoa, Tangier, Tunis and Algiers. Regarding goods transportation, all docks between Ponent and Sud have railway access.

Palamós. Palamós has been consolidating its position as a stopover port for cruise ships year after year, making it second to Barcelona in Catalonia. 38 mostly luxury cruise ships with around 30,000 passengers berthed at Palamós in 2013.

6 Press Pack ‘14 Roses. Several institutions signed an agreement to include Roses on Costa Brava into Mediterranean cruise programmes, following which five ships berthed there in 2013. Both Roses and Palamós are marketed under the Costa Brava Cruise Ports brand. The goal of this plan is to promote cruise passenger traffic and develop the related tourist offer in both this municipality in Alt Empordà county and all of Costa Brava.

Tarragona. Tarragona is very well positioned regarding goods traffic, being one of Southern Europe’s main ports. It has the basic conditions to be a stopover for cruises, with good facilities, high-quality service and an attractive hinterland. A big investment plan is under way to increase both goods and passenger traffic. The first outcome has been a capacity increase of the Llevant wharf for sports and the rebuilding of the mouth.

Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sant Carles de la Ràpita will soon join the cruise port network operated by the Government of Catalonia. Both provide high service quality to shipping companies as well as the opportunity for cruise tourists to discover the Catalan coast from the Costa Brava to the Ebro Delta. In fact, Sant Carles de la Ràpita will welcome the first cruise ship on 9 July 2014: the Star Flyer, a luxury four-masted sailing ship that will berth five more times during the days after.

Catalunya Bus Turístic is an initiative that allows discovering all secrets of Catalonia, with trips from Barcelona to enjoy Montserrat and Gaudí’s Colònia Güell; Dalí’s art in Figueres and the city of Girona; some of the most renowned wineries to see how cava (sparkling wine) is produced and taste acknowledged wines; or enjoying a shopping day in La Roca Village. www.catalunyabusturistic.com

Press Pack ‘14 7 Catalonia, a quality destination

Following European rules on tourist quality, Catalonia has developed a set of tools and regulations aimed at ensuring its competitiveness as a destination where quality in its widest sense is a key value. These tools make the Tourist Quality System of Catalonia and are under the supervision of the quality and innovation commission of the Tourism Panel of Catalonia. The architecture of the Tourist Quality System of Catalonia is divided into three functional development areas: categorisation, specialisation and excellence.

A tourist category identifies the distinctive characteristics of each business, while tourist specialisation determines the service features aimed at a specific user group. Excellence enables ensuring that customer expectations are fulfilled according to the characteristics of the business providing the service.

Membership to the Catalan tourist quality system is on a voluntary basis. There are increasingly more professional businesses every year striving for improving quality so customers may benefit from a top-notch offer.

This excellence in service quality is proven by the increasing number of Catalan businesses holding renowned certificates every year such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, EMAS and the Environmental Quality Guarantee. The latter, created by the Government of Catalonia, shall encourage businesses to commercialise environmentally friendly products and services.

Gastronomic Hotel is a new label approved by the Catalan Directo- rate General of Tourism to distinguish those small accommodation businesses (i.e. less than 50 rooms) that wish to place a focus on their gastronomic offer based on traditional Catalan cuisine made with local produce. This label adds to the wheat ear and key schemes rating rural tourism houses as well as tourist apartments and housing units for tourist use respectively. The first 5 wheat ear rating was awarded to a rural accommodation business last year.

8 Press Pack ‘14 Tourist attractions UNESCO World Heritage in Catalonia

The following sites in Catalonia have been declared World Heritage by UNESCO:

- Palau de la Música Catalana. Barcelona. Modernism. Built by Lluís Domènech i Montaner between 1905 and 1908.

- Hospital de Sant Pau. Barcelona. Modernism. Built by Lluís Domènech i Monta- ner in 1902.

- Poblet Monastery. Vimbodí (Tarragona). Built in the 12th and 13th century, the largest Cistercian monastery in Europe.

- Roman Tarraco. Tarragona. In the second half of the 1st century BC, Tarraco was given the status of a colony according to Roman law and became the capital of Hispania Citerior. Important remains from those times are preserved in the city and the neighbouring towns of Altafulla, Constantí and Roda de Barà. Tarragona is part of the Spanish World Heritage Cities network.

- Mediterranean cave art in the Iberian Peninsula. There are 27 sites in Catalo- nia with listed paintings found in caves, grottoes and shelters.

- Romanesque churches in Vall de Boí. Some 150 kilometres from Lleida, in Alta Ribagorça county, eight churches and one chapel make one of the most significant sets of Catalan Romanesque art regarding both its architecture and paintings:

- Sant Climent de Taüll - Santa Maria de Taüll - Sant Joan de Boí - Santa Eulàlia d’Erill la Vall - Sant Feliu de Barruera - La Nativitat de Durro - Sant Quirc de Durro - Santa Maria de Cardet - Assumpció de Cóll

- The work of Antoni Gaudí: - Park Güell. Barcelona. First garden city experience. - Palau Güell. Barcelona. - La Pedrera (Casa Milà). Barcelona. - Casa Batlló. Barcelona.

Press Pack ‘14 9 - Colònia Güell Crypt. Santa Coloma de Cervelló (Barcelona). Unique structure built in stone and brick. - Casa Vicens. Barcelona. - Sagrada Família Crypt. Barcelona. Built between 1884 and 1889, Gaudí’s oldest religious work. - Nativity Façade at the Sagrada Família. Barcelona.

- La Patum. UNESCO declared the ancestral La Patum festival in Berga (Barcelo- na), celebrated on the festivity of Corpus Christi, a Masterpiece of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

- Castellers. A genuine piece of Catalan folk culture featuring up to ten-storey human towers, it was recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Huma- nity in 2010.

An application has been brought before the UNESCO to have Catalan cuisine declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014. The scenic variety of its territory, the wide range of products, its degree of protection and the fact that Europe’s oldest recipe book is written in Catalan, among many other considerations, back this recognition supported by institutions, professionals from the gastronomy business and a wide representation of society.

Natural parks and protected areas 30% of the Catalan territory enjoys some degree of special protection. Apart from one national park, there are 11 natural parks spread all over Catalonia, as well as marine and natural reserves, natural sites of national interest and a dozen natural protected areas managed by the Barcelona Provincial Council.

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, belonging to the Spanish national park network, is the area enjoying the highest protection. Almost 14,000 hectares are covered by the national park itself, plus a further 26,000 of peripheral area. Noteworthy are also Montseny Natural Park and Terres de l’Ebre, both declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

10 Press Pack ‘14 Tourist accommodation Hotel accommodation

The offer is subject to strict regulations enforced by the Government of Catalonia, which looks after hotel rating. According to these regulations, there are two groups of accommodation: hotels (H) and boarding houses or hostelries (P), plus another category within the hotel group, hotel-apartments (HA).

As regards classes, the range goes from Grand Luxe to 1 star in hotels, whereas boarding houses or hostelries have no specific rating. Some hotels are part of the world’s most renowned chains, such as The Leading Hotels of the World or Relais & Châteaux, and many have some sort of quality certificate.

Some specific brands have been developed recently, such as Petits Grans Hotels de Catalunya, which includes 40 hotels with up to fifteen rooms, usually located in heritage buildings and providing a very comfortable atmosphere. Noteworthy are also Gourmet Hotels, featuring family businesses characterised by fine food and their location in a prime natural environment, as well as Cases Fonda de Catalunya, a traditional accommodation and food option including 29 businesses firmly rooted in their local community.

Generally speaking, Catalan hotels are modern and comfortable. In Barcelona, a large number of hotels have been developed all over the city due to the increase of tourism experienced in recent years, especially along the coastline stretching from the Olympic Village to the Forum of Cultures area, where congress and convention facilities were built in 2004. The area around the Montjuïc-2 fairgrounds, very close to the airport, has also seen its top-range hotel offer increase considerably.

Catalonia has currently more than 2800 accommodation units with almost 300,000 beds. Some of them have become specialised in segments such as golf, health and wellness tourism, winter sports, water sports and active tourism. Services provided by Catalan hotels usually include an excellent food offer, which definitely contributes to Catalonia’s great gastronomic reputation.

Press Pack ‘14 11 Camp sites Catalonia has a network of roughly 350 camp sites, with an offer of 100,000 camping plots and a total accommodation capacity exceeding 270,000 places. They are classified into four categories: luxury (L), 1st class, 2nd class and 3rd class. Although they tend to concentrate on the coastal areas and the Pyrenees, they can be found all over the territory.

Thanks to the mild Mediterranean weather allowing for a longer summer season, Ca- talonia is an excellent destination for campers and caravaners. Moreover, members of renowned clubs like the Automobile Touring Club of the Netherlands (ANWB) with nearly 4 million associates or the German ADAC automobile club with 17 million member families honour Catalan camp sites year after year, rating them among the best in Europe for their high quality.

Catalan Camping and Holiday Town Federation www.campingscatalunya.com

Tourist apartments and housing units for tourist use Tourist apartments and housing units for tourist use take an important share in Catalonia’s accommodation offer. They are spread over almost all of the territory, yet concentrating rather on the coastal areas. There are apartments for all tastes: big or small, in cities, on the beach, in the mountains or for skiing.

Hereunder are some tourist apartment associations:

Costa Brava-Girona Tourist Apartment Association www.apartamentos-ata.com

Costa Daurada Tourist Apartment Association www.atcostadaurada.org

Barcelona Tourist Apartment Association www.apartur.com

12 Press Pack ‘14 Rural tourism accommodation The offer in rural tourism accommodation encompasses more than 2200 businesses providing over 17,000 beds. It includes different types, from village houses to isolated country houses. There are different associations by geographic areas, commercialising their member rural tourism homes. A voluntary rating system by wheat ears is in place.

Accommodation is classified as follows:

- “Cases de Pagès” or agro-tourism accommodation: accommodation units where the owner, a professional farmer, has agricultural, stockbreeding or forestry earnings and users can become familiar with the work of the agricultural business they are attached to.

- Rural accommodation: accommodation units where the owner has no obligation of earning an income from farming but must actually live in the same county or dwelling, depending on the mode.

There are four modes for each of these two groups: “masia” (house shared with owners), “masoveria” (independent house rented out as a whole), shared village house and independent village house. Each group is identified with a specific sign.

Catalan Confederation of Rural Tourism www.ecoturismecatalunya.com

Rural Tourism and Agro-Tourism Confederation of Catalonia www.turalcat.com

The Directorate General of Tourism at the Catalan Department of En- terprise and Labour edits an e-guide, available on www.establiments- turistics.gencat.cat, for each different sort of tourist accommodation (hotels, camp sites, apartments and rural tourism), a guarantee for users as businesses listed are subject to Catalan legislation.

Press Pack ‘14 13 14 Press Pack ‘14 Tourist Brands

Catalonia is made up of nine tourist brands gathered under and promoted by tourism boards.

France

Mediterranean Sea

Catalonia

Press Pack ‘14 15 Costa Brava Costa Brava, Catalonia’s prime sun and beach destination, features a 220 kilometre coastline, where long beaches and coves surrounded by vegetation hide between steep cliffs. It stretches from Blanes to Portbou and encompasses La Selva, Baix Empordà, Gironès, Pla de l’Estany and Alt Empordà counties.

Costa Brava’s diversity and extension make its tourist offer highly varied, so besides sun and beach it offers a wide range of options in different areas, from active to cultural tourism, including water sports, gastronomy, golf, health and wellness, conventions and business. Its varied accommodation facilities, services and infrastructure allow tourism to thrive all year round at Costa Brava, catering for needs and expectations of any sort of visitors and providing them a unique experience. Big resorts like Roses, Empuriabrava, L’Estartit, Pla- tja d’Aro and Lloret de Mar are characterised by high specialisation in tourism.

Water sports are especially popular in the area, partly thanks to the good water quality and facilities provided at almost two-hundred beaches and coves as well as the different harbours. Many of these beaches and facilities fly the Blue Flag, an environmental management certificate for protecting natural resources. Some Costa Brava beaches feature the Q for Quality award and the EMAS and ISO 14000 certificates. This stretch of the Catalan coast has 17 leisure and two commercial ports, Palamós and Roses, which have become the sea gate to Costa Brava and a stopover for cruises.

The hinterland is well preserved, with distinctive medieval towns like Mollet de Peralada, Peralada, Castelló d’Empúries, Monells, Peratallada, Pals and Castell d’Aro.

Local gastronomy takes a prominent place within Catalonia’s internationally reputed cuisine. Sixteen restaurants make a total 20 Michelin stars, spearheaded by El Celler de Can Roca in Girona by the Roca brothers, declared the world’s best restaurant by Restaurant Magazine in 2013. Noteworthy are also Miramar in Llançà by Paco Pérez and Les Cols in Olot by Fina Puigdevall, both with two Michelin stars. The wines and sparkling wines from the Empordà Denomination of Origin are a driver of local wine tourism while highlighting the quality of local produce.

On a visit to Costa Brava, visitors must not miss the Triangle Dalinià (Dalí Triangle) composed of the Dalí Museum-Theatre in Figueres, the Salvador Dalí Museum-House in Portlligat near Cadaqués and the Gala Dalí Castle Museum in Púbol.

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16 Press Pack ‘14 The coastline features four natural parks including Cap de Creus, Catalonia’s first protected land and sea area. Montseny Natural Park in the precoastal range on the limit between the Girona and Barcelona provinces has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Furthermore, gardens like Cap Roig in Calella de Palafrugell, Santa Clo- tilde in Lloret de Mar and Marimurtra in Blanes form stunning balconies overlooking the Mediterranean.

Adventure-minded active visitors will find in the watch paths a good way of discovering the stunningly varied Costa Brava scenery. This wide trail network recovered for hiking purposes leads along the Girona coast with its coves, forests and coastal villages, crossing some of its most significant places and offering breath-taking views of the Mediterranean.

The city of Girona, 100 kilometres from Barcelona and 50 from the French border, features some of the most significant heritage sites in the country. Within the highly interesting old town, the Jewish quarter (el Call) is the most beautiful example of Catalonia’s Hebrew past, making it part of the Spanish Jewish Quarter Network – Ways of Sepha- rad, to which nearby Besalú is also associated.

Costa Brava features all sorts of accommodation, from the classic hotel offer featuring prominently small and charming family-run businesses, holiday hotels and accommodation on the seafront to rural accommodation, tourist apartments and camp sites. Modern infrastructure, top quality service and excellent gastronomy come together with a wide range of tourist products: water sports, hiking, cycling, golf, health & wellness, culture, conventions, sun & beach, all of which make a destination to enjoy all year round.

For golf lovers, Costa Brava is the ideal place to do this sport. Ten courses spread over a unique area make this destination one of Europe’s best, as admitted by the renowned British magazine Today’s Golfer, which placed Costa Brava as Europe’s third best golf destination in 2013, whereas PGA Golf Catalunya in Caldes de Malavella was ranked as Spain’s best golf course.

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www.costabrava.org

Press Pack ‘14 17 Costa Barcelona This tourist brand includes Vallès Occidental and Oriental counties north of Barcelona, the latter including the Montseny massif, a natural park and Biosphere Reserve; Alt Penedès, Baix Llobregat and Garraf located south of the capital of Catalonia as well as Maresme stretching along the coast north of it. The Costa Barcelona brand shall take advantage of the international reputation of Catalonia’s capital while keeping the uniqueness of each area.

This region has a clear commitment towards quality as all counties within Costa Barcelona participate in the System for Tourist Quality at Destinations (SICTED) and hold the “Com- mitment for Tourist Quality” label aimed at improving tourist experience and satisfaction.

As a tourist brand, Costa Barcelona features a great leisure offer. More than two and a half million visitors come to the area every year, with almost 10 million overnight stays. At around 82,500 beds, the accommodation offer is only surpassed by Costa Brava and Costa Daurada.

There are many attractions in the region extending over more than a 100 kilometres of coast in Maresme, Baix Llobregat and Garraf counties. Several towns in the area are well worth a visit, such as Sitges, Mataró and Sant Joan Despí with their remarkable Modernist buildings as well as Vilafranca del Penedès and Terrassa further inland. Hot baths are numerous in Maresme, Vallès Oriental and Vallès Occidental with towns like Caldes d’Estrac, Caldes de Montbui and La Garriga, known for the quality of their thermal waters already enjoyed by the bourgeoisie in the 18th and 19th centuries. Arenys de Mar features an important fishing port, Sant Pol de Mar still preserves its nice old town and places in Alt Maresme such as Calella, Pineda de Mar, Santa Susanna and Malgrat de Mar provide a big offer in activities adding to their clear orientation towards tourism.

The towns of Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrú in Garraf county are perched on the sea. The former features Es Baluard in the old quarter as its main cultural attraction, with former palaces now hosting museums. This is completed with fine beaches and a big offer in leisure and restaurants. Vilanova i la Geltrú in its turn has always been looking to

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18 Press Pack ‘14 the sea, with a large fishing and leisure port, besides maintaining some deeply rooted traditions. Inland, Vilafranca del Penedès and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia are the wine and cava (sparkling wine) capital respectively, featuring a great offer in wine tourism by which visitors get to know the products together with their related culture and heritage. Colònia Güell in Baix Llobregat county is the site of a big former industrial “colònia” (factory with adjacent worker dwellings) and its church, a masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí listed as World Heritage. Close to Barcelona, Sant Cugat in Vallès Oriental, sede is a modern town featuring also some of Catalonia’s most interesting Romanesque heritage. In Vallès Oriental, the Circuit de Barcelona - Catalunya racetrack gathers large groups of motor sports fans. It not only hosts the Formula 1 and Motorcycling Grand Prix but is also open all year round with a large variety in activities for all audiences.

Costa Barcelona combines the wealth of an internationally renowned tourist area featuring prominently its culture, gastronomy and folk traditions in combination with beautiful Mediterranean beaches and the green of its four natural parks. The balance between sea, plain and hills shapes a gentle landscape and an excellent climate that make the area a land wealthy in produce, as show the gastronomic events held all year round, together with a fine cuisine based on fish and seafood. These climate conditions have also allowed developing winegrowing, with three of Catalonia’s twelve Denominations of Origin found in the area: Penedès, Catalonia’s largest, Alella, one of the smallest, and internationally reputed Cava.

Events like the Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sitges carnivals, Corpus Christi in La Garriga, the main festivals in Vilafranca del Penedès, Granollers and Mataró, the International Jazz Festival in Terrassa and the Sabadell Opera are fine examples of the area’s cultural wealth, while its gastronomic diversity is shown in tourist initiatives—e.g. Vijazz, Cavatast, the Vintage Festival in Alella, the Xató Route (a typical winter dish), Calamarenys and the Prat breed chicken and Penedès rooster fairs—created to promote local products such as Ganxet beans from Maresme, Vallès Occidental and Vallès Oriental, peas and strawberries from Maresme and cherries from Sant Climent de Llobregat and Arenys de Munt.

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www.barcelonaesmuchomas.com

Press Pack ‘14 19 Barcelona Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia and one of Europe’s largest cities. Its cultural and leisure attractions have made it one of Catalonia’s most visited places in recent years. The international role played by the city makes it a main hub in the Mediterranean and southern European economy.

Potentialities of cultural tourism are rich and varied in Barcelona. The National Art Mu- seum of Catalonia (MNAC) and the Picasso Museum spearhead the offer in museums, completed by the Museum of Catalan Modernism and the heritage bequeathed by Gau- dí, including recently renewed Palau Güell, and Modernist architecture with nine World Heritage buildings. New tourist attractions include visits to Torre Bellesguard, built by Antoni Gaudí between 1900 and 1909, and the Modernist site of Hospital de Sant Pau by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1850-1923).

Noteworthy are also shopping and services; markets like Boqueria on the popular Rambla street and Santa Caterina nearby the cathedral; the Barri Gòtic, bearing witness to the city’s medieval past, including the Born Cultural Centre in the former wholesale market, now become a historical landmark; and the different charming quarters with their traditional festivals.

Barcelona is also fully equipped to host congresses and conventions. Professional tourism is consolidated, with major events taking place such as the Mobile World Con- gress, the world’s largest mobile phone trade fair that will stay in Barcelona until 2018, or EIBTM, the planet’s biggest show in the convention branch, which will continue to be held in the city until 2016. Cruise tourism has equally increased considerably in recent years following improvement works in the port, which has become the biggest cruise port in Europe.

The city’s gastronomic potential has made it one of Barcelona’s new tourist appeals. Being Catalonia’s best known face to the world, Barcelona stands for the gastronomic tradition and wealth of a country that has been historically a crossroads soaking up the

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20 Press Pack ‘14 cultural heritage of manifold civilisations. Barcelona combines the cultural footprint of over 2000 years of history and the anthropological heritage thus created with its new thriving chefs who have contributed, amongst others, to make Barcelona the first Gour- mand city outside France in 2002.

Other programmed routes allow discovering Gothic Barcelona, Modernist Barcelona, Pablo Picasso’s Barcelona and gastronomic Barcelona with a route through the old quarter following the footsteps of history and some of the best places to enjoy the city’s gastronomy. Visitors can also take the Barcelona Bus Turístic that covers the most significant sights in the city. In summer, there are 4.5 km of beaches equipped with showers, sports facilities, lifeguard and refreshment stalls.

Turisme de Barcelona features an online platform to market products and services. This initiative aimed at easing visits to the capital of Catalonia allows every tourist to create their own travel package, buying products and booking accommodation at one same site. All the necessary information is available on www.barcelonaturisme.cat in the BCNSHOP section. Barcelona Bus Turístic, Barcelona Walking Tours and Barcelona Card are among the products that can be acquired through the internet. Turisme de Barcelona runs a network of 20 tourist information offices spread all over the city, where visitors can obtain information and advice in 12 languages.

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www.barcelonaturisme.cat

Press Pack ‘14 21 Costa Daurada

Costa Daurada encompasses Tarragonès, Alt Camp, Conca de Barberà, Baix Camp, Priorat and Baix Penedès counties. It is characterised by a highly varied, top-range tourist offer with a rich and diverse cultural heritage, clear specialisation in families and a specific focus on wine tourism and gastronomy.

The coast is one of its main attractions. Along nearly a hundred kilometres, it features from small secluded coves between cliffs to large beaches with fine sand and shallow waters, ideal for family holidays. The offer is completed by cultural centres and leisure facilities like the Pau Casals museum and auditorium and PortAventura theme park, the main leisure centre on Costa Daurada.

Inland, the Montsant—now a natural parkt— Prades and Mussara ranges provide a laid-back rural landscape, where vineyards predominate together with other typical Mediterranean crops like olives, cereals, almonds and hazelnuts. Five Denominations of Origin prove the quality of local wines, one of whicht—Priorat Qualified DO—enjoys a great international reputation.

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22 Press Pack ‘14 Present-day Tarragona used to be Roman Tarraco, the capital of the province of His- pania Citerior in times of the Roman Empire. It hosts one of the world’s largest Roman sites, declared World Heritage by UNESCO, which places it second worldwide after Rome itself. Very close nearby is Reus, Antoni Gaudí’s birthplace, with its great Mo- dernist architectural heritage. Local Gaudí Centre is an interpretive centre providing explanations on the basics of Antoni Gaudí’s architecture.

Another attraction in the area is the Cistercian Route including Po- blet—a World Heritage site—, Santes Creus and Santa Maria de Vall- bona monasteries, the latter in Terres de Lleida. A hiking trail marked as GR-175 links them all along 104 km. Modernist wine cellars are a further attraction of Costa Daurada, where visitors can taste and purchase products made there.

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www.costadaurada.info

Press Pack ‘14 23 Terres de l’Ebre Terres de l’Ebre encompasses the four counties on the river Ebro on its nearly 130 kilometre stretch through Catalonia: Baix Ebre, Montsià, Terra Alta and Ribera d’Ebre. The landscape and gastronomy in these counties feature a great diversity. Cupped oyster and local mussel culture in the calm and warm waters of the Ebro Delta is completed with fish and seafood from the Mediterranean and the distinctive inland cuisine. Ci- trus fruits, especially clementines with Protected Geographical Indication, quality wines made in Terra Alta with a Denomination of Origin of their own, rice from the Delta, one of the area’s most important crops, and honey, a quality product rounding up any sort of desserts, have all become distinctive gastronomic and tourist icons of Terres de l’Ebre.

The Ebro is the area’s main artery, playing a key role in its history and economy. Along the coast from L’Ametlla de Mar to Les Cases d’Alcanar lies the fascinating world of the Ebro Delta, a wetland taking 320 square kilometres, a part of which is a natural park. Inland can be found Els Ports Natural Park, a paradise for wild goats with peaks towe- ring up to almost 1500 metres, whereas other natural areas like the Montsià, Pàndols, Cavalls and Cardó mountain ranges provide a good opportunity to get in touch with nature. Birdwatching can be done in Terres de l’Ebre anytime during the year.

Terres de l’Ebre has a rich and varied tourist offer, with monuments and cultural heritage found in many towns such as Tortosa with its interesting Jewish quarter, Horta de Sant Joan that fascinated young Picasso, Miravet’s old town perched on top of a rock overlooking the Ebro, Tivissa with Castellet de Banyoles, one of Catalonia’s most relevant Iberian sites, La Fatarella with its unique arcaded streets in the town centre and Ulldecona with some fine cave paintings classed as World Heritage by UNESCO. Given the strong impact caused by the Ebro battle in the Spanish Civil War, the Ebro

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24 Press Pack ‘14 Battle Studies Centre in Gandesa and several interpretive centres in different towns have been created. Another option for cultural tourism is the Terres de l’Ebre Green Route leading along a hundred kilometres from Tortosa to Arnes, though plans are being undertaken to extend it to the Ebro Delta. The route can be done by bike, on foot or on horseback.

The Ebro Delta provides a landscape changing according to the season. It was formed by sediments brought by the river over millions of years. A part of it is covered by a natural park, one of the most significant and unique natural areas in the whole Mediterranean. Different outdoor activities can be done here, including birdwatching, river navigation, cycling and enjoying numerous unspoilt beaches. This combination of environmental protection and agricultural use has earned the Ebro Delta international recognition.

Most of Terres de l’Ebre has been awarded the Biosphere Reserve status in 2013, thus acknowledging the value of the whole ecosystem of which the Ebro is the spine, a lively and partly navigable river playing a role of utmost importance.

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www.terresdelebre.travel

Press Pack ‘14 25 Pirineus The Pirineus brand includes the tourist offer of the Lleida, Girona and Barcelona Pyrenees plus Val d’Aran. It encompasses Alt Empordà, Alta Ribagorça, Alt Urgell, Berguedà, Cer- danya, Garrotxa, Pallars Jussà, Pallars Sobirà, Ripollès, Solsonès and Val d’Aran counties, the latter of which forms a brand of its own due to its distinctiveness.

The Catalan Pyrenees offer visitors a splendid range of attractions: great scenery including Catalonia’s highest peak, Pica d’Estats (3143 metres), on the limit between Pallars Sobirà county and the French department of Ariège, beautiful valleys such as Campro- don, Núria, Vall de Boí, Vallferrera and Cardós, villages with a wealth of Romanesque art heritage, numerous mountain sports including alpine and cross-country skiing, climbing, hunting and fishing, adventure sports and active tourism like rafting and kayaking as well as countless hiking routes.

Mountain bikers will find almost a hundred signposted routes and several mountain biking centres scattered across the region. The local offer is completed with a tasteful mountain cuisine based on local produce, golf and health & wellness tourism, with good service facilities allowing full enjoyment of the scenery both in winter and in summer.

It is in the Lleida Pyrenees where Catalonia’s only national park, Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, is located. Yet there are more protected areas in the Catalan Pyrenees, like Alt Pirineu Natural Park, the largest in Catalonia with almost 70,000 hectares; Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park featuring the biggest volcanic area in the Iberian Peninsula with around forty volcanic cones, providing a distinctive natural setting that is unique in Europe; and Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park with famous Pedraforca. All in all, protected areas in the Pyrenees amount to 331,661 hectares, half of Catalonia’s total.

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26 Press Pack ‘14 From a cultural perspective, La Seu d’Urgell cathedral, Santa Maria monastery in Ripoll and churches like Sant Quirze de Pedret and Sant Jaume de Frontanyà in Berguedà county are some of the finest examples of Catalan Romanes que art worth visiting in Pirineus. Yet the most outstanding are the Romanesque churches in Vall de Boí, the architecture and mural paintings of which earned them recognition by UNESCO as World Heritage.

The accommodation offer in Pirineus concentrates on ski resorts, towns and villages, mostly in the shape of small family businesses. They are completed with camp sites, rural tourism accommodation, tourist homes and hostels.

Winter tourism is particularly important in the area, with ten alpine and six Nordic ski resorts. La Molina was the first ski resort in Spain and a pioneering winter sports site. A great economic driver of the mountain counties, winter tourism has been the forerunner of the alternative offer provided by ski resorts, with year-round proposals suitable for all audiences.

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www.visitpirineus.com

Press Pack ‘14 27 Terres de Lleida This brand encompasses Noguera, Pla d’Urgell, Segarra, Urgell, Segrià and Garrigues counties, where a great variety in sports and active tourism, a unique culture, local gastronomy and top-range rural tourism can be enjoyed all year round, all of which surrounded by a generous agricultural setting that yields a wide range of products, especially sweet fruit and olive oil, both of which feature their denomination of origin and quality labels.

Lleida, the capital of Segrià county and the province bearing the city’s name, is located in a unique natural setting overlooked by the impressive silhouette of the Seu Vella. It is the largest city and the economic hub of inland Catalonia, with an economy based on the agrofood industry and services of all kinds. The city’s cultural life has experienced a significant boost thanks to new facilities and offers such as the Knights Templars Interpretive Centre in Gardeny, the Castell del Rei nearby the Seu Vella, the Diocesan and County Museum and La Lleida Secreta route tracing the old urban layout of the city through its archaeological remains.

The opening of Lleida-Alguaire airport together with the high-speed railway link and recently opened La Llotja Congress Centre place the Lleida area, its capital and by extension the Pyrenees as destinations with large potentialities regarding tourism and conventions.

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28 Press Pack ‘14 Other attractions in the area are the Montsec Astronomy Park; Santa Maria de Vallbona monastery, which forms the Cistercian Route together with Poblet and Santes Creus in Costa Daurada; the Sió Castles Route, a tourist circuit encompassing about twenty castles in Segarra, Urgell and Noguera counties, with its new interpretive centre in Concabella; recovered Ivars-Vila-sana lake in Pla d’Urgell county, Catalonia’s largest inner lake and an ideal place for nature lovers, especially birdwatchers; the Wine and Olive Oil routes; the Vaulted Hut Route, a guided circuit along different dry stone constructions in Les Garrigues county; and Camí de Sant Jaume (St James’ Way in Catalonia), one of the latest big tourist initiatives that covers most of Terres de Lleida.

The Montsec range between Noguera and Pallars Jussà counties boasts one of Catalonia’s skies with the lowest light pollution. For this reason, the Montsec Astronomy Park was created some years ago, a project combining astronomic research with dissemination programmes for a larger public. After several studies, Montsec was given the Starlight Tourist Destination status under the auspices of UNESCO in early 2013.

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www.lleidatur.cat

Press Pack ‘14 29 Val d’Aran Located in the Western Pyrenees, Val d’Aran has a singular history, its own language (Ara- nese, a variety of Occitan/Provençal), specific political bodies (Conselh Generau) and an own president (síndic). For this reason, the Government of Catalonia transferred a part of its powers to the Conselh Generau, some of which related to tourism.

Val d’Aran features a significant, mostly Romanesque architectural and artistic heritage. It also has ideal places to do the most different types of sports at any time of the year—like Baqueria Beret, the largest ski resort in Catalonia and one of the most relevant in Europe—and state-of-the-art sports facilities such as the Palai de Gèu (Ice Palace) in Viel- ha, the county seat. Furthermore, its unique gastronomy is noteworthy, with typically high mountain produce and excellent caviar. Health tourism also plays a relevant role. Further, a local museum network allows tracing former ways of life, while ancestral feasts and dances are held in the different villages of this outstanding area in the Catalan Pyrenees.

Whereas snow dominates the landscape during winter, spring and summer are the sea- sons to enjoy nature with a wide offer in active tourism. Mountain bikers have at their disposal a mountain biking centre with 25 tracks having different levels of difficulty and specific offers like Dèfi Occitan covering some of Occitania’s most important mountain passes. Hikers are provided with different products specifically designed for mountain trekkers. The offer includes the Termal Trek, a combination of hiking and wellness along the best thermal area in Pirineus (Boí, Tredòs, Arties, Vielha and Les); the Setau Sagèth (Seventh Seal) track signposted as GR-221 that tours the valley in five stages; the Camin Reiau (Royal Way) with 150 km suited for everybody to be done in different stages

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30 Press Pack ‘14 along the old paths that used to link the different villages in Val d’Aran; and Pass’Aran, a cross-border track designed to be done in five stages.

Autumn shows Val d’Aran at its best as the forest features plenty of colours in its deci- duous trees and different gastronomic events present the best of local food. All this is completed with a wide top-range accommodation offer. A total 13,300 beds, 3000 of which in 4 and 5-star hotels, make Val d’Aran a prime year-round destination.

Val d’Aran has been featuring a new tourist attraction since 2013: Aran Park in Bos- sòst, where local fauna and flora can be watched. Looking at and enjoying animal and plant species in semi-freedom is a great occasion to see big mammals from close.

Wildlife watching follows the same concept. Big animal species living in high mountain areas only can be viewed all year round. They include capercaillie, brown bear, ground- hog, deer and many bird species that can be watched in their natural habitat.

The creation of the Val d’Aran Convention Bureau is a new opportunity to consolidate the area as a congress tourist destination, taking advantage of existing tourist and sports facilities and services.

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www.visitvaldaran.com

Press Pack ‘14 31 Paisatges Barcelona

The land in inner Catalonia, with its rich natural heritage located very close to the city of Barcelona, covers Anoia, Bages and Osona counties. It is dominated by the large plains of the Central Depression surrounded by mountains, with towns like Vic, Manlleu, Manresa, Cardona and Igualada, bearing a great history and monuments as well as a long market tradition. There are also magnificent monasteries, the most outstanding being Montserrat alongside others like L’Estany, Lluçà, Sant Benet de Bages and Sant Pere de Casserres.

Likewise, there are attractive mountain areas like Montseny, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, as well as Guilleries and Collsacabra around Sau reservoir, a magnificent place for water sports. Montserrat monastery and mountain is much more than just a protected natural area; the natural park combines unique geological formations with numerous hiking trails and climbing routes. There is also Castell de Montesquiu Park with Montesquiu castle, where the surrounding gardens and forest fed by the water of the river Ter can be enjoyed.

Industrial tourism is dominated by three rivers—Ter, Llobregat and Cardener, a tribu- tary to the latter—and has become an increasingly strong tourist product. The former textile “colònies” (factory sites with adjacent worker dwellings), now attractive museums, remind of a not too remote past in which industrial progress and workers’ struggles had their fair share in Catalan history.

Cardona in Bages county features its castle, now a “Parador de Turismo” (state-run hotel), one of Catalonia’s most relevant fortresses regarding both history and architecture. Next to it, Sant Vicenç collegiate church is one of the finest early Romanesque buildings to be found in Catalonia. Yet another of Cardona’s assets lies underground: its salt mine. Discovered by

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32 Press Pack ‘14 the Romans, it has now become a tourist attraction after its industrial use came to an end.

Vic, the capital of Osona county, features some important heritage expanding around arcaded Plaça Major or Plaça del Mercadal. Remains of the old walls, a Roman temple and medieval, baroque and Modernist buildings can be found in the town centre, yet its most notable landmarks are the cathedral with mural paintings by Josep Maria Sert inside and the Episcopal Museum boasting one of Europe’s best medieval art collections.

Igualada, the capital of Anoia county, has a long history related with the leather industry. One of its main attractions is the Leather Museum featuring also the Anoia County Museum; it is located in two sites, Cal Bover factory and Cal Granotes, a former tannery. The town centre is a lively shopping area. Capellades with its old paper mill makes a nice side trip.

Top gastronomy and especially dry sausages play a distinctive role in the whole region, together with Pla de Bages DO wines, some of which use recovered endemic grape sorts.

The Sant Benet heritage site in Sant Fruitós de Bages nearby Manresa combines different singular projects: the Romanesque monastery, an architectural and cultural gem featuring an innovative museological scheme; the Fundació Alícia under the leadership of chef Ferran Adrià and cardiologist Valentí Fuster, devoted to popularising good food and health; and four-star Món hotel with meeting rooms for congresses.

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www.barcelonaesmuchomas.com

Press Pack ‘14 33 Tourist Experiences

The The CATALAN TOURIST BOARD (CTB) is the official body of the Government of Catalonia in charge of promoting and supporting marketing of Catalonia’s tourist resources, both in the rest of Spain and abroad. Its purpose is to consolidate the image of the country as a diverse top-range tourist destination.

The CTB promotes the different tourist experiences and products by categories:

- Holidays to enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle on the Catalan coast - Escapes around Catalonia to get away from it all - Routes to discover a small country with a great culture - Stays to enjoy nature, adventure, mountains and rural environment - Opportunities to hold different meetings - Trips to cultivate specific interests

Marketing support programmes

The Catalan Tourist Board has created several support programmes to commercialise the different segments of the Catalan tourist offer: product clubs, the Family Holiday Destina- tion (FHD) and Sports Tourism Destination (STD) labels, the Catalunya Convention Bureau and the Catalonia Senior Tourism and Accessible Tourism – Tourism for Everybody programmes. Moreover, the new Wine Tourism Catalonia programme will be started this year.

The goal of these programmes is to define the promotion strategies and plans adapted to market needs together with the companies and organisations taking part in each programme. The Catalan Tourist Board provides programme members with the knowledge, facilities and services needed for joint specific promotion.

The different programmes have some general and specific requirements related to each activity and goals, e.g. a specific marketable offer according to the specifics of each product.

There are currently four product clubs: the Active and Nature Tourism Club, the Cultural Tourism Club, the Golf Tourism Club and the Gastronomy Holidays Club.

More information on the marketing support programmes by the Catalan Tourist Board and the different tourist products is available on www.act.cat.

34 Press Pack ‘14 Accessible Tourism

Tourism is a leisure activity reaching out to all areas of life. There is for instance cultural, nature, sports, health or gastronomic tourism. The Catalan Tourist Board considers that the concept of accessible tourism has to be based on the principle that tourism is a fundamental social right for all human beings. For the disabled and persons with reduced mobility as well as the rest, anything under the leisure and tourism label is crucial for quality of life. Therefore the Catalan tourist industry is increasingly aware of the need to remove architectural and communication barriers and adapt most places so the disabled and persons with reduced mobility can enjoy the cultural and natural heritage.

Catalonia has been able to position itself as one of Europe’s most accessible tourist destinations. This is proven by its 26 identified accessible proposals and destinations, which show that accessible tourism has actually come true in Catalonia.

These 26 tourist destinations chosen for their high degree of accessibility provide a whole set of services and facilities adapted to the needs of disabled tourists or persons with reduced mobility: accommodation, restaurants, museums, side activities, beaches, etc. The areas and proposals identified are:

- Vall de Boí - Garraf-Sitges

- Val d’Aran - Costa Daurada

- Pallars Sobirà - Penedès-Accessible Wine Tourism

- La Seu d’Urgell - Dalí Route

- La Molina-La Cerdanya - Cistercian Route

- La Garrotxa - Route of the Monasteries along St. James’ Way in Catalonia - Costa Brava-Alt Empordà - Industrial Tourism - Costa Brava-Baix Empordà - St. James’ Way for Everybody - Lleida - Terra Alta and Sebes Natural Reserve - Vic-Osona - Tarragona-World Heritage - Maresme - Montseny and Sant Llorenç del Munt - Barcelona Natural Parks - Delta de l’Ebre

Press Pack ‘14 35 Lloret de Mar and El Montsec-Starlight join the list this year.

According to its promotion plan, the Catalan Tourist Board has a specific website, www. turismeperatothom.com/en, providing information on the offer in accessible tourism in Catalonia not only in the selected 26 accessible tourist destinations, but also regarding facilities, resources and services elsewhere also catering for persons with disabilities and/or reduced mobility. The website is available in Catalan, Spanish, English, Italian, German and French and contains videos with audio description, subtitles and in sign language.

Proposals for all tastes

Over 150 km of accessible Green Ways and paths. The accessible Green Way stretch in Terra Alta is one of the few Green Ways in all Spain adapted to visually impaired people.

Examples of best practices regarding accessibility can be found in Camins de Vent and Vol de Coloms, companies specialising in balloon flights, the only in Spain having a gondola adapted to persons with reduced mobility.

Some scuba diving centres, riding schools and kayaking businesses have adapted their offer to become accessible. L’Escala sailing school has become a reference in adapted sailing, and La Molina ski resort is pioneering in adapted skiing as it opened its facilities to the disabled several years ago.

Especially remarkable is action taken by many museums and monuments in Catalonia to improve accessibility to persons with sensorial disabilities (deaf, hearing impaired, blind and visually impaired). Plans in Braille and high relief, audio descriptions and tactile scale models

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36 Press Pack ‘14 have positioned La Pedrera among Catalonia’s and Spain’s most accessible museums for the blind and visually impaired. With the inclusion of sign guide devices in three sign languages (Catalan, Spanish and international), the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) has become the only in all Spain providing this service to the deaf in three sign languages.

There are also numerous beaches along Catalonia’s coast with facilities for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility.

The commitment and effort to implement a true tourism for everybody has led the Catalan Tourist Board to join the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) and take part in the Accessible Tourism group within the Network of European Regions for a Sustainable and Competitive Tourism (NECSTouR).

Among other specific acknowledgements, the Catalan Tourist Board has received the Premio Solidarios ONCE Cataluña for its Accessi- ble Tourism promotion programme and the Intermedia-Globe Silver award at the WorldMediaFestival in Hamburg for the video of the song played for tourist promotion of Catalonia, “T’espero” (“I’m waiting for you”), which has been subtitled and interpreted into sign language.

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www.turismeperatothom.com/es www.camidesantjaumeperatothom.cat

Press Pack ‘14 37 Cultural Tourism

Catalonia boasts a unique artistic and monumental heritage in Europe, making it a preferred cultural tourism destination. As a result of this historical and cultural legacy, UNESCO has declared a total eleven World Heritage sites, two Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity and two Biosphere Reserves in Catalonia (cf. Tourist Attractions).

The Catalan Tourist Board aims at promoting Catalan culture and heritage as a quality resource, focusing on those elements providing identity and uniqueness. Catalonia’s cultural offer is diverse and allows visitors following the trace of different architectural styles (Romanesque, Gothic, Modernist, etc.), well-known writers, great architects such as Gaudí and Domènech i Montaner and artistic geniuses such as Dalí, Picasso, Miró and Tàpies. This is added by routes that have become consolidated as tourist attractions, like Camí de Sant Jaume (the Catalan stretch of St. James’ Way), Camí dels Bons Homes (Good Men’s Way), Catalunya Jueva (Jewish Catalonia), Ruta dels Íbers (Iberian Route), Ruta del Císter (Cistercian Route) or the various routes associated to cultural, industrial and religious heritage.

There is further an endless offer in cosmopolitan Barcelona and other cities such as Tarragona, Girona and Lleida, ideal places for urban tourism combining the cultural interest with a wide range of leisure options. In this respect, the offer in musical tourism is large, with unique venues like the Girona Auditorium as well as the Gran Teatre del

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38 Press Pack ‘14 Liceu, the Auditori and the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona.

Several towns also organise summer music festivals in heritage sites and areas of special artistic interest, such as the Castell de Peralada International Festival, the International Music Festival in Torroella de Montgrí, the habanera singing in Calella de Palafrugell and the International Music Festival in Cantonigròs. In this respect, great cellist Pau Casals is also noteworthy. His birthplace El Vendrell (Costa Daurada) features the Vil·la Casals museum house and the Pau Casals Auditorium with a fine music programme.

Craftwork also plays an important role as a reflection of Catalonia’s cultural heritage, dating back to the Middle Ages in some places.

Catalonia has more than 400 museums and arts centres devoted to all periods and styles, completed by a vast exhibition programme. Three of its finest examples are the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), housing one of the world’s largest collections of Romanesque art, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) and the Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia (MNACTEC), located in the Modernist Vapor Aymerich, Amat i Jover building in Terrassa, with branches scattered throughout Catalonia.

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www.catalunya.com

Press Pack ‘14 39 Sports Tourism

Catalonia has a great sporting tradition and stands out for its high organisational capacity, with over 40 international tournaments taking place every year. The 1992 Olympic Games were a great success, as were the 2013 World Swimming Championships. The Formula 1 Grand Prix of Spain and the Motor Bike Grand Prix of Catalonia are held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya every year. Furthermore, Tarragona is preparing to host the Mediterranean Games in 2017.

In sports tourism, the main motivation to travel is an individual stay or a team camp, or to enjoy any great sports event. Also, the FC Barcelona Museum is one of Catalonia’s most visited, with more than 1.5 million visitors a year.

Sports Tourism Destination (STD)

This is a specialisation label awarded by the Catalan Tourist Board to recognise destinations characterised by offering top-range resources and services aimed at sports-loving visitors. Municipalities certified asSTD comply with a set of overall standard sports requirements, such as having top facilities to do different sports, specifically those the destination is specialised in, as well as an accommodation offer adapted to the needs of athletes.

Every STD is under one of the three following categories:

European reference centre. International championships have been held at the destination and sports practice at top level can be ensured there.

Multi-sports destination. It is possible to do more than four sports.

Pole of excellence. Certain sports can be done at top level, like flatwater and whitewater rowing and kayaking, high mountain sports (including mountain biking, skiing, cycling, climbing and hiking), water sports and football.

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40 Press Pack ‘14 Thirteen STDs in Catalonia are currently certified by the Catalan Tourist Board:

On Costa Brava: - Banyoles-Pla de l’Estany www.turismeiesport.cat - Castelló d’Empúries-Empuriabrava www.castelloempuriabrava.com - Lloret de Mar www.lloretdemar.org - Blanes www.visitblanes.net

On Costa Barcelona: - Santa Susanna www.stasusanna-online.com - Calella www.calellabarcelona.com - Castelldefels www.castelldefels.org/esports

On Costa Daurada - Cambrils www.cambrils.cat - Salou www.visitsalou.cat

In Terres de l’Ebre - Amposta www.turismeamposta.cat

In Pirineos: - Sort www.kayacsort.cat - La Seu d’Urgell www.turismeseu.com and www.parcolimpic.cat - Val d’Aran www.visitvaldaran.com

In addition to the aforementioned specific criteria on sports, STDs also have to meet several overall tourist requirements such as availability of enough tourist accommodation, specific menus for athletes and opening time flexibility.

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www.catalunya.com

Press Pack ‘14 41 Fun in the Snow

With such charming areas like Cerdanya, Núria Valley, Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park and Val d’Aran, the Catalan Pyrenees are an ideal destination to enjoy the snow.

Catalonia has been pioneering in skiing as La Molina ski resort in the Girona Pyrenees opened in 1943, the first in all Spain. Four years later Vall de Núria followed, also in the Girona Pyrenees.

Skiing attracts over two million visitors every year. There are 16 ski resorts in the Catalan Pyrenees, providing a varied offer, the largest in Spain. The overall skiing area encompasses 600 kilometres of slopes and a capacity to carry around 165,000 skiers per hour.

The 10 alpine ski resorts are:

- Baqueira Beret - Port Ainé - Boí Taüll Resort - Port del Comte - Espot Esquí - Tavascan - La Molina - Vall de Núria - Masella - Vallter 2000

There are in addition 6 Nordic ski resorts with cross-country slopes and snow racket routes. These are:

- Aransa - Sant Joan de l’Erm - Guils Fontanera - Tuixent-La Vansa - Lles - Virós-Vall Ferrera

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42 Press Pack ‘14 The Pyrenees also provide opportunities for other snow-related activities, such as snow racket walks, snow bikes, surfing, Telemark skiing, dog sled riding, ice climbing and heli- skiing. In addition to most ski resorts, different companies provide this sort of services. All this is completed with a wide accommodation offer with all imaginable comfort, traditional mountain cuisine that stays up-to-date and numerous personal wellness centres.

Catalan ski resorts have undertaken an investment of more than 5.5 million euros for the 2013/2014 season. In total, almost 280 million euros have been invested in the last 15 years to improve services and infrastructure in order to remain the economic driver of the Catalan Pyrenees.

All-year sports and leisure facilities have turned ski resorts into tourist destinations beyond the winter season, featuring now a significant summer offer. Thanks to their top facilities, the Catalan Pyrenees are the venue of numerous national and international competitions every season.

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www.catalunya.com www.visitpirineus.com

Catalan Ski Resort and Mountain Activity Association www.catneu.net

Press Pack ‘14 43 Enogastronomic Tourism

Discovering a country’s gastronomy, strolling along market stalls, buying, savouring and chatting with its cuisine makers, travelling along wine routes—all this and much more makes enogastronomic tourism.

Gastronomy is a part of a nation’s cultural heritage. Catalan cuisine dates back to times immemorial, with a long tradition of recipes gathered in ancient handbooks. An example for it is the Book of Sent Soví, a Catalan recipe book from the 14th century, considered one of Europe’s oldest and a landmark in early Catalan cuisine.

Catalonia is playing an international leading role in gastronomy. Ferran Adrià, Carme Rus- calleda, Joan Roca, Carles Gaig and Sergi Arola, among others, have become ambassa- dors of our culture. Catalonia features 63 stars in the 2014 Michelin Guide.

In addition to the great names of Catalan cuisine, the gastronomic landscape also features the Cuisine Associations of Catalonia, groups of restaurants and other food establishments whose offer is based on local produce, the cuisine and the territory they represent. They are the following:

In Costa Brava: In Pirineus: - Cuina de l’Empordanet - Cuina Pirinenca de Cerdanya - Cuina del Vent - Cuina Volcànica - Girona Bons Fogons - Cuines de la Vall de Camprodon - Grup Gastronòmic del Pla de l’Estany - Fogons de la Vall de Ribes - Joves Cuiners - La Xicoia

In Costa Barcelona: In Terres de l’Ebre: - Club de Tast de Sitges - Cuina de La Ràpita-Delta de l’Ebre - Penedès Fogons - Club de Gastronomia de L’Ametlla de - Corbera Sabors Mar - Cubat In Terres de Lleida: In Barcelona: - Noguera Cuina - Barceloneta Cuina In Catalunya Central: In Costa Daurada: - Cuina Vallès - Osona Cuina - Cuines del Vendrell - El Gust és Nostre (Calafell) - Cuina V.O. - Tarragona Gastronòmica

44 Press Pack ‘14 Wine tourism is a new way of holiday-making, focusing on the landscape (vineyards), the product (wine) and the place where it is made (cellar). Catalonia boasts a winemaking heritage dating back 2000 years in history since the Greeks and Romans arrived in Empúries. With eleven wine and one sparkling wine denomination of origin, several well established routes and around 500 winemaking cellars, Catalonia has an enormous potential in wine tourism. In this respect, the Catalan Tourist Board has implemented the Catalonia Wine Tourism programme to develop and consolidate this tourist product.

Catalonia cultivates and produces a large basket of quality products. Some of them have different origin and food quality labels such as the denominations of origin and protected geographic indications. Organic products take a relevant position in the Catalan agrofood offer and are audited and certified by the Catalan Organic Production Council (CCPAE).

The Slow Food movement has been gaining support in recent years. This international association intends to safeguard food, raw materials and growing and processing techniques passed on by local tradition consolidated over time.

The role of crafts at the table is also important. The ties between cuisine, produce and the land shall point out the role of craftspeople manufacturing products related with gastronomy, either for the kitchen or the table, like basketry, wooden spoons and forks, blown glasses and earthenware pots.

More than 300 enogastronomic events and shows take place in Catalonia during the year. Biannual events such as the Gastronomic Forum that will be held in Barcelona for the first time in 2014, Alimentaria Barcelona, the Catalan Wine and Cava Show and Mercat de Mer- cats, also in Barcelona, as well as the Health and Slow Food Fair in Lleida are noteworthy.

Gastronomy is a part of the landscape and travelling, thus making it possible to know a country through its food. In Catalonia there are numerous gastronomic gatherings and routes that allow discovering the land this way.

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www.catalunya.com

Press Pack ‘14 45 Golf Tourism

Its mild Mediterranean climate and a natural environment that combines the beauty of the mountains with wide golden sand beaches make Catalonia a perfect destination for golf lovers.

Catalonia has a long-standing golf tradition, its first golf course dating from 1914. Thanks to the great variety in golf clubs, which amount to almost forty, and the diversity of golf courses, Catalonia is one of Europe’s main golf destinations, with roughly 50,000 players currently registered.

The Golf Tourism Club was created in 1996 and includes numerous companies related with this sport. Its goal is to present Catalonia’s golf offer in a structured and consistent manner. The partners to the club are golf and pitch & putt courses, tourist accommodation businesses having an arrangement with a course, specialised travel agents and booking centres, specific associations as well as hotels and organisations with a structured golf offer.

The diversity of golf courses is paralleled by their quality as they have been designed by the best specialists. This has earned them international recognition, and high-profile tournaments are held at different Catalan golf courses every year.

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46 Press Pack ‘14 Although the bulk of the golf courses are to be found in Costa Brava and Barcelona, Costa Daurada and the Pyrenees are destinations where golf can be combined with great beaches and the city of Tarragona with its World Heritage from Roman times in the former case, while the latter provides a high mountain backdrop with an excellent rural setting and gastronomy.

Some courses are part of resorts or close to facilities specifically designed for golf players and amateurs as well as accompanying persons, featuring a great side offer generally related to health and wellness, gastronomy and culture.

Catalonia has 38 golf, 38 pitch & putt and 7 par 3 courses. The facilities concentrate on Costa Brava, Costa Daurada, Barcelona surround- ings (Garraf, Maresme and Vallès areas), the vicinity of Lleida and the Pyrenees.

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www.catalunya.com

Press Pack ‘14 47 Watersports

Watersports are mainly done at the sea but also in rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Catalonia has a long coastline stretching from Cape of Creus in the north, close to the French border, to Terres de l’Ebre in the south. A total 580 kilometres of coast include counties in three provinces: Girona, Barcelona and Tarragona. Marinas (www.acpet.es). Catalonia has developed a network of marinas, all equipped with suitable facilities for sailors. Their total number is 49: 17 in Girona, 16 in Barcelona and 16 in Tarragona province. Nautical resorts. A nautical resort is a tourist and recreational area for enjoying active holidays in contact with water and for any kind of nautical activity, like dinghy sailing, cruiser sailing, motor boating, surfing and windsurfing, scuba diving, kayaking, rowing, cruiser charters, water skiing and sea trips. Nautical resorts also provide a set of facilities such as accommodation, restaurants, tourist, cultural and recreational offer in the surrounding area as well as boat maintenance services.

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48 Press Pack ‘14 The Catalan Nautical Resort Association (AENC) is part of the Spanish Nautical Resort Association (AEEN) which is made of a total 23 nautical resorts located along the Spanish coast. There are six nautical resorts in Catalonia (from north to south):

- Roses Cap de Creus, - Salou - Cambrils – Montroig/ on Costa Brava Miami Platja-Vandellòs/ www.enroses.com l’Hospitalet-l’Ametlla de Mar, on Costa Daurada - L’Estartit Illes Medes, www.estacionautica.info on Costa Brava www.enestartit.com - Sant Carles de la Ràpita - Delta de l’Ebre, - Santa Susanna, in Terres de l’Ebre on Costa Barcelona www.enlarapita.com www.enauticasantasusanna.com

- Vilanova i la Geltrú, on Costa Barcelona www.estacionauticavilanova.com

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www.catalunya.com www.encatalunya.cat

Press Pack ‘14 49 Nature, Adventure and Mountain

Catalonia offers numerous ideal settings for leisure, adventure activities and enjoyment of nature. This allows visitors knowing the country’s history as well as its natural and cultural heritage in an easy and pleasant way.

Hiking and cycling routes

The Catalan footpath network is linked to the European and Peninsular networks thanks to its almost 9000 kilometres of signposted ways, more than half of which are part of the long distance footpaths (GR), the rest being short distance (PR) and local ones (SL). Some routes are noteworthy for their uniqueness: Camí dels Bons Homes (Good Men’s Way) follows the ancient routes of the Cathar exiles; Carros de Foc (Fire Chariots) connects different huts in Aigüestortes National Park; Porta del Cel (Gate to Heaven) links four huts in Alt Pirineu Natural Park; Cavalls del Vent (Wind Horses) leads through Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park; and Estels del Sud (Southern Stars) is a trek through Els Ports Natural Park.

Other interesting routes are Camí de Sant Jaume (St. James’ Way), the pilgrimage way between Sant Pere de Rodes and Alcarràs; Els Tres Monts (The Three Mountains) linking three significant natural areas, Montseny, Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac and Montserrat; Ruta dels Refugis (Hut Route) through Montsant Natural Park and the Prades range; Ruta del Ter (Ter Route) along the course of that river; Camins del Bisbe i Abat Oliba (Bishop and Abbot Oliba Ways) through Catalunya Central; and Itinerànnia in the Girona Pyrenees.

There is a wide offer to discover and enjoy Catalonia by bike. The Green Ways (Vies Ver- des), cycling paths along abandoned railway lines, and some cycling route networks like

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50 Press Pack ‘14 that in Baix Empordà are most notable. For mountain bikers, Catalonia has a complete network of mountain biking centres spread all over the country, a pioneering project in Spain set up seventeen years ago.

Mountain biking centres in Catalonia are freely accessible areas with a minimum 100 kilometres of signposted ways starting from a visitor centre with tourist information and cycling services. The 18 mountain biking centres composing the network offer a total 306 routes with over 6400 kilometres of signposted ways and different degrees of difficulty.

Birdwatching

Catalonia’s strategic location and geographic diversity make it a prime birdwatching destination. The Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, the Ebro and Llobregat deltas, Ivars-Vila- sana lake, the Segre, Cinca and Ebro river junction known as Aiguabarreig, Els Ports, Montserrat, Cap de Creus, Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, Cadí-Moixeró, Mont-rebei i La Terreta and Vall de Núria are some of the most interesting areas. Many existing birdwatching facilities in Catalonia are accessible for persons with reduced mobility.

Adventure experiences and active tourism

Catalonia’s extraordinary biodiversity allows visitors doing rafting and hydrospeed on its rivers as well as river and sea kayaking, canyoning, hang gliding, paragliding, flying in a balloon or light aircraft, parachuting, horse riding and rock climbing. The coast boasts a great diversity in its seabed: to the north, the Costa Brava with over thirty scuba diving centres and two marine reserves—Cap de Creus Natural Park and Illes Medes—plus Illes Formigues joining soon; further south are the rugged Garraf coast and Costa Daurada.

I-043 With an area covering almost 400 km2, Valls d’Àneu has become the first inland Family Holiday Destination (FHD). It has been certified thanks to its great natural environment with Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park and Alt Pirineu Natural Park, but also due to its high- level tourist offer, featuring especially Espot Esquí ski resort and a great wealth in children activities. (More information under “Family Holidays”)

www.catalunya.com

Press Pack ‘14 51 Business Tourism

Catalonia is one of Europe’s most dynamic destinations and Spain’s leading economic, industrial and business region. Its strategic position, the mild Mediterranean climate and one of Europe’s highest living standards make it an ideal place to live and do business.

Organisers of meetings will find good facilities, a big variety of locations, unique settings and highly qualified specialist services in Catalonia, which add to a long-standing tourist expertise. There are many reasons to choose Catalonia as the venue of an event, like great organisational skills, a wide side offer and the status of its capital Barcelona as an international landmark in business tourism.

Catalunya Convention Bureau

To consolidate Catalonia as a destination for meetings, congresses, conventions and incentive trips, the Catalan Tourist Board counts on the Catalunya Convention Bureau (CCB), a promotion and marketing programme supported by more than 120 specialised member companies and associations. The joint effort of public authorities and the business sector provides organisers of events with all possible tools facilitating the choice of Catalonia as a qualified business tourism destination.

The main goals of the Catalunya Convention Bureau are to position Catalonia in the global business tourism market, bundling and coordinating the business created by this industry in the country as well as promoting, disseminating and supporting specialised companies in the different markets.

The Catalonia Congresses and Events programme by the CCB singles out nine destinations with capacity to host congresses as they provide modern facilities and a big organisational expertise in this area. The destinations are Barcelona, Sitges, Castelldefels, Girona, Lloret de Mar, Tarragona, Reus, PortAventura and Lleida.

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52 Press Pack ‘14 Main services for organisers:

- Exhaustive knowledge of Catalonia and its resources geared at business tourism.

- Free, unbiased, professional advice on facilities, companies and tourist services specialising in organising meetings and in making post-meeting, social and incentive programmes.

- Contact and intermediation with associated companies.

- Support to nominations to capture congresses.

- Familiarisation trips, prospections, actions to communicate the offer and specific programmes.

Based in Barcelona, the Catalunya Convention Bureau welcomes professionals of the meeting industry at any of the twelve offices held by the Catalan Tourist Board in Spain, France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, the US, Russia, China, the Benelux, South America and Southeast Asia.

The Catalunya Convention Bureau has a website, www.ccb.catalunya.com, and a sales guide containing all the necessary information to organise any kind of meeting in Catalonia. This publication is edited in Catalan, Spanish, English, French and German and includes the offer of the hundred CCB member companies and organisations. It is distributed to agen- cies specialising in the organisation of congresses, conventions and incentive trips as well as associations and companies looking for a destination and facilities to hold their events and meetings.

The new Catalonia Conventions, Incentives and Events online catalogue brings together the complete offer in Catalonia regarding meeting facilities and proposals for post-meeting or incentive-related activities. The catalogue is divided into four sections: urban (Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, Tarragona), Mediterranean coast (Costa Barcelona, Costa Dau- rada, Costa Brava), Pyrenees (Pyrenees and Val d’Aran) and inland.

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www.catalunya.com/professionals/ccb

Press Pack ‘14 53 Family Holidays

60% of tourists visiting Catalonia are families. Hence Catalonia has been pioneering in Europe in looking for a certified label for destinations suitable for family holidays.

Family Holiday Destination (FHD)

The Catalan Tourist Board has developed the Family Holiday Destination (FHD) brand, a specialisation label ensuring that a destination has an offer in accommodation, restaurants and leisure adapted to the needs of families: miniclubs at the accommodation and on the beach with wardens, children playgrounds, water and theme parks, children seats and menus in restaurants, children swimming pools, identification wristbands, safety at all destinations, a wide children animation programme at the accommodation and in the street, connected rooms, availability of cradles and pushchairs, socket protectors, etc.

There are currently fifteen FHD certified destinations:

On Costa Brava: - Roses www.visit.roses.cat - Torroella de Montgrí - l’Estartit www.visitestartit.com - Calonge-Sant Antoni www.calonge-santantoni.com - Lloret de Mar www.lloretdemar.org - Blanes www.visitblanes.net - Castell-Platja d’Aro www.platjadaro.com On Costa Barcelona: - Malgrat de Mar www.turismemalgrat.com - Santa Susanna www.stasusanna-online.com

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54 Press Pack ‘14 - Pineda de Mar www.pinedademar.cat - Calella www.calellabarcelona.com

On Costa Daurada: - Calafell www.turisme.calafell.cat - Salou www.visitsalou.cat - Cambrils www.cambrils.cat - Vila-seca la Pineda Platja www.lapinedaplatja.info

In Pirineus:

- Valls d’Àneu www.vallsdaneu.org

In addition to the current fifteen FHD certified destinations, there is another in the process of certification: Sant Feliu de Guíxols on Costa Brava. The Family Holiday Destination (FHD) label is now being implemented in inland destinations catering specifically for families regarding accommodation, leisure and restaurants.

Valls d’Àneu is the first inland Family Holiday Destination certified in Catalonia. A total 36 partner businesses meet the requirements to provide families with an excellent service. In addition to Valls d’Àneu, the CTB is working in implementing the certificate in Muntanyes de Prades, Val d’Aran and Vall de Boí.

The FHD label encompasses over 450 partner businesses having made an effort to adapt and improve their offer, thus providing an optimum service to families. The range goes from accommodation to leisure including water parks, nautical resorts and restaurants with an offer adapted to cater for children.

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www.catalunya.com

Press Pack ‘14 55 Health & Wellness

Catalonia has been one of Europe’s largest thermal hotbeds over history. The properties of its medicinal mineral waters have been attracting all sorts of visitors for centuries. Whether thermal, from the sea, relaxing, to cure or simply for consumption, water is one of Catalonia’s main appeals, making it Spain’s leading region in thermal facilities.

Catalonia’s thermal tradition dates back to Roman times. Spa towns provide baths and tourist attractions like cultural heritage, nature, leisure, gastronomy, festivals and traditions. They include places like Benifallet, Caldes d’Estrac, Caldes de Malavella, Caldes de Montbui, El Vendrell, La Garriga, Sant Climent Sescebes, Sant Hilari Sacalm and Santa Coloma de Farners, which have a great wealth in mineral, medicinal and/or thermal waters.

Thanks to this natural wealth, there is a highly varied top-quality health and wellness offer made of:

- Thermal baths. Catalonia has 18 traditional thermal baths located in natural settings of great beauty. They are usually found in unique locations, at an underground health mineral water well, and their waters are mineralised or become thermal through their depth or resting time in the water table. Their therapeutic application depends on the physical and chemical properties of each health mineral water declared for public use. These centres have now adapted their facilities to new accommodation trends, offering quality standards in accordance with the modern hotel industry.

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56 Press Pack ‘14 - Wellness centres. They include spas (treatment with ordinary water to improve physical and/or mental health) and thermal leisure centres (spa treatment facilities and services with or without health mineral waters declared for public use).

- Thalassotherapy centres. Exclusive beauty and health treatment with sea water with preventive or curative effects.

- Medical and health centres. Catalonia offers top-quality medical care attracting many people from all over the world every year. Barcelona has become a reference in health tourism. In this respect, Barcelona Centre Mèdic is a unique initiative in Europe providing full-range top-quality health care at twenty health care centres in Barcelona with highest international reputation.

As a side offer to thermal tourism, there are several routes to enjoy nature as well as water museums. The most noteworthy examples are Montseny Natural Park with its wealth in underground mineral water, most of which is bottled; La Selva county, the natural con- tinuation of Montseny down to the Costa Brava; and Sant Hilari Sacalm, called the one hundred well town.

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More information on: Thermal Towns of Catalonia www.catalunya.com www.catalunyatermal.com Spa Association Barcelona Centre Mèdic www.balneario.org www.bcm.es

Press Pack ‘14 57 Sun & Beach

With its 580 kilometre coastline and almost 350 coves and beaches, Catalonia is still one of the best so-called sun & beach destinations. This sort of tourism can be completed with fine heritage and protected nature, which can be enjoyed along numerous signposted walking or cycling paths. Nautical tourism, family holiday destinations (cf. “Family Holidays” section), gastronomy and sports tourism aimed at both professionals and amateurs are suitable to complete a seaside holiday in great style.

The Government of Catalonia is heavily working on prevention, control and improvement of coastal waters and beaches, while each municipality is in charge of cleaning its main beaches every day during the summer season.

The Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil Club (ADAC), with more than 17 million member families and a high reputation among German public opinion as an unbiased organisation with tourism expertise, certifies year after year the quality of Catalan beaches, which are

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58 Press Pack ‘14 characterised by their water quality, large environmentally friendly leisure offer and countless tourist facilities, many of which are adapted to be accessible to any kind of users.

Beyond the blue flags and quality certificates at a vast number of Catalan beaches, facilities provided in the coastal municipalities and the numerous marinas and water sports businesses, it is the millions of tourists coming back to Catalonia every year who provide the best quality proof.

In its beach section, the www.catalunya.com portal provides information on every beach with all available services and often also pic- tures. The search can be done by tourist brand, county, municipality or beach name.

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www.catalunya.com

Press Pack ‘14 59 Senior Tourism

Catalonia boasts a scenic variety ranging from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean Sea. Its very well preserved territory plays the whole gamut from 3000 metre-high peaks to wide golden sand beaches. This diversity of landscapes is completed with interesting heritage, good communications, top-quality tourist services and excellent cuisine. All of this benefits from the year-round mild Mediterranean climate, which makes Catalonia a destination suitable for tourism at any season.

For this reason, the senior tourism programme is specifically aimed at people from certain countries aged 50+. It is a project adapted for the low season, when Catalonia still has nice weather together with a fine cultural and leisure offer. This initiative intends to foster the tourist industry during the off-peak season.

The hotels eligible to take part in the “Catalonia Senior Tourism” programme need to feature at least three stars and meet a set of requirements ensuring the well-being and safety of senior visitors. A specific regulation and an audit programme shall make sure that partner businesses to the programme fulfil such requirements.

Just to give some examples, requirements include bath tubs and showers with anti-slip coating, safety system in lifts, drug keeping service, a health-care centre less than five kilometres away and a chemist less than one kilometre away, access for persons with reduced mobility, adapted menus, animation programmes and leisure activities.

A specific regulation and an audit programme shall make sure that partner businesses to the programme fulfil such requirements.

www.catalunya.com

60 Press Pack ‘14 Rural Tourism

Rural tourism in Catalonia has consolidated as a quality accommodation offer, reaching a strong footprint across its territory and a high penetration in the Catalan market.

More than 2000 rural tourism businesses registered with the Tourism Registry of Catalonia make Catalonia one of Spain’s main destinations as regards the number of homes and beds. With the aim of meeting the most recent challenges and requirements, rural tourism businesses follow a 5-class rating scheme based on the following The five categories parameters: within the scheme are graphically - House environment and building type identified by wheat - Inner rooms ears, resulting in the - Outdoor area following rating: - Furniture and equipment Basic: - Commercialisation conditions 1 wheat ear - Services provided to guests (food, welcome, health, etc.) Comfort: - Cultural, nature, family and rural tourism activities offered 2 wheat ears to guests Grand comfort: This rating scheme has been set out jointly by the Catalan 3 wheat ears rural tourism industry and the Government of Catalonia. It Superior: is a pioneering scheme in Europe aiming at becoming a 4 wheat ears key tool to consolidate and grow this tourist product in the Superior Premium: future. The certification process is voluntary and open to all 5 wheat ears rural tourism businesses in Catalonia.

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Catalan Confederation of Rural Tourism www.ecoturismecatalunya.com Rural Tourism and Agro-Tourism Confederation of Catalonia www.turalcat.com

Press Pack ‘14 61 What´s New 2014 2014, the Year of Family Tourism in Catalonia

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the declaration of the International Family Year by the UN, the Government of Catalonia has declared 2014 the “Year of Family Tourism”. On this occasion, Catalonia has set out several actions to foster this sort of tourism, one of the strategic products for Catalonia as a holiday destination. Among other proposals, Catalan tourist businesses can join the scheme by offering special discounts and promotions for children in any of the following four modes: 20% discount, 50% discount, children free or special offers for large families. Accommodation and tourist service associations will hold several contests and draws with prizes and promotions specifically aimed at children. There will also be activities for the youngest.

The actions under the Year of Family Tourism will start in spring, when the promotion campaign will set off and the first initiatives aimed at the final public will be implemented. They will go through to the end of the year, with offers and promotions for snow and winter tourism. Eligible families under the scheme are adults with children up to 16 years of age travelling together.

60% of visitors to Catalonia are families. Hence Catalonia is pioneering in Europe in crea- ting a certified label for destinations that are especially receptive to family tourism: the Family Holiday Destination (FHD) brand. With the inclusion of Valls d’Àneu in the Lleida Pyrenees, there are already 14 municipalities certified as FHD by the Catalan Tourist Board. Valls d’Àneu is a mountain area with little villages that have kept their rural charm amidst pristine nature that has gone almost untouched by humans. It is the first inland destination included into the FHD list, which was so far made up of seaside municipalities only. Furthermore, Sant Feliu de Guíxols on Costa Brava is in the process of certification. www.catalunya.com Wine Tourism Catalonia

At eleven wine Denominations of Origin and one for sparkling wine, Catalonia is well established with a large offer not only in quality wines but also related to wine tourism. To foster visits and activities in cellars, the Wine Tourism Catalonia promotion programme has been implemented, which aims at positioning Catalonia as a landmark wine tourist destination.

According to a first inventory by the industry, almost 300 wine cellars offering tours have been identified, plus a network with basic services and a more sophisticated side offer related to wine tourism as well as several public and private tourist initiatives in connection with wine and vineyards. www.catalunya.com

62 Press Pack ‘14 Buy Catalunya 2014, a must on the agenda

Buy Catalunya has become Catalonia’s most important promotional and commercial event as well as a must on the agenda of global tour operators and Catalan tourist businesses.

Every other year, the CTB organises a meeting upon appointment at which Catalan companies have the opportunity of presenting their offer not only to the biggest tour operators in Europe but also from some major emerging markets such as Russia and China. Further- more, these tour operators will first enjoy a familiarisation trip allowing them to know the products and land of Catalonia on site. Buy Catalonia will be held in October this year. Its previous edition in June 2012 welcomed 170 tour operators from over thirty international markets and 220 Catalan tourist companies, and around 3000 interviews were held. http://workshops.catalunya.com

Hotels with gastronomic specialisation

The Government of Catalonia has created the gastronomic specialisation label for small hotels (50 rooms maximum). This voluntary option allows businesses to stand out for their quality offer, especially based on a large assortment of Catalan dishes made with local produce from protected geographical denomination and protected geographical indication. The process to obtain this label is on a voluntary basis.

Sports Tourism Destination (STD)

The Sports Tourism Destination brand is a label awarded by the Catalan Tourist Board to municipalities providing top-range resources and services aimed at sports-loving visitors. Besides complying with requirements related to the sport for which it has been certified, every destination is under one of the three categories created recently: Eu- ropean Reference Centre for having hosted international competitions, Multi-Sports Destination when more than four sports can be done and Pole of Excellence if providing facilities for doing sports at top level. There are currently 13 municipalities in Catalonia certified as STD. www.catalunya.com

1st Business Tourism Forum in Catalonia

The Catalan Tourist Board is holding through the Catalunya Convention Bureau (CCB) the 1st Business Tourism Forum in the Disseny Hub Barcelona on 11 February. This working meeting with all companies within the Catalan business tourism industry shall provide training, information and networking opportunities. Its purpose is to provide the Catalan industry with tools to promote itself and the destination. The event has been designed based on the needs identified by the industry.

Press Pack ‘14 63 The main goal of the meeting is to identify needs, strengths and trends while paving the way to promote Catalonia and its industry in the business tourism market.

Another new feature of the Catalunya Convention Bureau for this year is the Catalonia, Conventions, Incentives & Events online catalogue including the whole offer in an orderly manner for its use by tour operators and specialised agents.

The CCB will also promote several business platforms such as the Iberian Congress within the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) that will be held in Girona in early April and the Meeting & Incentive Forum Europa Autumn that will take place in Sitges from 21 to 25 October. www.act.cat/forum-turismo-reuniones-catalunya

2013-2014 ski season

With an investment of more than 5.5 million euros, Catalan ski resorts are prepared for a season they expect to be fine.

Catalonia has a long-standing skiing tradition since La Molina opened in 1943, being the first ski resort in Spain. It was followed by Vall de Núria four years later; both are located in the Girona Pyrenees. During the 1960s and 1970s, the number of resorts grew rapidly. There are currently 16, divided into ten alpine and six Nordic ski resorts. Together they feature 600 kilometres of slopes, making it Spain’s largest skiing area.

Recent investments have focused on artificial lighting for night skiing, purchasing state-of- the-art machines for snow conditioning and increasing the number of snow cannons for artificial snow production. www.catneu.net

Sustainable Tourism – The Barcelona Declaration

Following the 7th International Conference on Sustainable Tourism in Destinations held in Barcelona in October 2013, Catalonia joined the Signature of the Vision 2020 for Sustaina- ble Tourism in Catalonia – The Barcelona Declaration. It engages the destination in fostering sustainable tourism by improving the impact on cities, facilitating integration of visitors and also strengthening the balance with residents. This allows entering a commitment towards the people and consolidating Barcelona and Catalonia as an innovative, leading, competitive, sustainable, differentiated first-rate tourist destination. http://rtd7.org

64 Press Pack ‘14 NECSTouR Assembly in Barcelona and Girona

NECSTouR (Network of European Regions for a Sustainable and Competitive Tourism) is an open network of European regions with the aim of deploying and deepening initiatives to coordinate regional development programmes aiming at a more competitive and sustainable tourism. In spring 2014, Barcelona and Girona will jointly host the annual assembly, the aim of which is to foster and strengthen cooperation among regional organisations taking part in this network. www.necstour.eu

Commemoration of 1714

11 September 2014 will mark the 300th anniversary of the fall of Barcelona to Bourbon troops and the consequent loss of Catalonia’s freedom. Numerous events have been planned throughout the year to remember that date. The programme includes exhibitions, round-table discussions, seminars, publications, routes, festivals and artistic proposals spread over several venues.

One of these events was the opening of the Born Centre Cultural in September 2013. After some years of refurbishment, this former market has become a unique multiuse area amidst a vast pedestrian zone where the city of 1700 is revived. A unique archaeological site exca- vated underneath takes visitors back to the early 18th century as the old layout of medieval streets with their shops, recreational areas and noble houses has been recovered.

With several exhibition rooms and a gastronomic area, the Born Centre Cultural is like a time machine taking visitors to the dramatic battle of 1714. From an artistic perspective, the old Born Market is recovered, a true iron cathedral built in 1876 featuring prominently Catalan blacksmith tradition, otherwise visible in Gaudí’s work and numerous heritage buildings in Barcelona. www.tricentenaribcn.cat www.bcn.cat/elborncentrecultural

BARCELONA Barcelona and Paris are closer

The cities of Barcelona and Paris have become closer since December 2013 thanks to the high speed railway. Trains link both cities within six hours and 25 minutes without having to change at Figueres-Vilafant, as it had been so far. The high speed link is operated jointly by Spanish Renfe and French SNCF.

High speed trains will also run between Barcelona and Marseille, Toulouse and Lyon. The

Press Pack ‘14 65 connection of both high speed networks links up to 17 Spanish and French cities. Barcelo- na is thus connected with the rest of Europe.

Hence the Pyrenees are no barrier anymore as they are now pierced by the Pertús tunnel, allowing AVE and TGV trains to run on standard gauge. www.renfe.com Seatrade Med docks in Barcelona

For the first time, Barcelona will host Seatrade Med, the most important cruise trade fair in the Mediterranean. The Catalan capital has consolidated as the largest cruise port in the Mediterranean and the world’s fourth, while the industry continues growing in Catalonia every year. The offer in cruise destinations will increase in 2014 with the inclusion of the ports of Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sant Carles de la Ràpita, which will add to Barcelona, Palamós, Tarragona and Roses. Sant Carles de la Ràpita will welcome over a thousand cruise passengers of Star Clippers between 9 July and 13 August. This will promote tourist destinations in southern Catalonia, especially Terres de l’Ebre, for which the Delta Ebre Port brand has been created. In its strive to foster the cruise industry, the Government of Catalonia takes part in different international shows like that in Miami (March) and Hamburg (September). www.seatrade-med.com - www.portdebarcelona.cat - www.portsgeneralitat.org The new Encants, bargains within everybody’s reach

The Glòries area with the Agbar Tower as its landmark has now a new unique building with the opening of the new Encants Vells market hall. Also known as Fira de Bellcaire, it is one of Europe’s oldest antiquity, collection, spare part, handcraft and clothing market dating back to the 14th century and welcoming 90,000 buyers every week. In this new venue with an area of 35,000 square metres, the 283 stalls are distributed across a space where auction areas, bars, a restaurant and food and beverage shops can also be found. www.encantsbcn.com

Walks along the city beach

Barcelona is not just any Mediterranean city. Its ten beaches from Barceloneta to the Fòrum are fully integrated into the urban fabric. Besides being very easy to reach by public trans- port and walking, the five-kilometre long seaside promenade is dotted with interesting services for pedestrians such as Wi-Fi connection. It is also a perfect addition to Barcelona’s cultural, shopping and tourist offer. Only a few minutes away from the beach, it is possible to visit the Gothic Quarter and the Picasso Museum, walk through the most central shopping area or look at the architecture by Gaudí. Otherwise, a tour on the Barcelona Bus Turístic can be done past Barcelona’s most relevant sights and its seafront. www.barcelonaturisme.com

66 Press Pack ‘14 BCNShop, Barcelona just one click away

BCNShop, the Turisme de Barcelona online shop, places hundreds of tourist and additional products and services provided by Barcelona in reach of everybody, anywhere on the world. Anybody interested in visiting the city has access to the offer of 590 companies. Some of it is managed by Turisme de Barcelona, such as the Barcelona Card, the Barcelona Walking Tours and the audio guides, while other services are shared with other operators, like the Barcelona Bus Turístic by TMB, which has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. It is also possible to purchase nearly 140 products from companies within a large diversity of areas, such as mobile apps, car rental, organised tours and especially cultural proposals: museum tickets, concerts, sights, etc. www.bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.cat

The MNAC terraces, a new space for events

The National Art Museum of Catalonia is one of Europe’s most important of its kind and boasts a great location on Montjuïc hill as well as a fine architecture. The areas currently used to host events—Sala Oval accommodating 1200 people, Sala de la Cúpula and Òleum restaurant—are now completed by the Terrassa, a new open-air space ideal for cocktails and receptions offering great views of the city of Barcelona and the light, sound and colour show of the Montjuïc Fountain. www.mnac.cat

Le Corbusier at CaixaForum

The historic CaixaForum building hosts an exhibition on the work of Le Corbusier from 29 January to 11 May 2014. Coproduced with the New York MoMA, it shows one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. It presents a complete retrospective on the author, from his early days in Switzerland to his death on the French Riviera. http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es

BARCELONA PROVINCE Tourism Circle

It is a new tool for tourist promotion in the Barcelona province with the purpose of fostering participation of tourist companies in promoting their products and destinations. The Tourism Lab is a working tool that enables transfer of tourist knowledge from R&D&I to local tourist bodies, the business and society as a whole. http://comunitatturisme.diba.cat/

Press Pack ‘14 67 Tourist quality

A total 390 tourist service companies in Barcelona province have been recognised by the Integrated System for Tourist Quality in Destinations (SICTED), a scheme allowing tourist destinations in all Spain an integral and ongoing quality management for the service they provide.

The Barcelona province is the area in Spain with most awarded companies, which proves the commitment of the tourist industry in becoming consolidated as a leading tourist destination and its engagement with tourist quality. www.barcelonaesmoltmes.cat/ca/sicted/

Golf and wine tourism very close to Barcelona

“Barcelona is much more” introduces the new golf destination that provides the unique opportunity of playing on nine different golf courses only 40 kilometres away from the city of Barcelona.

There are five wine Denominations of Origin in Barcelona province: Penedès, Alella, Pla de Bages, Catalunya and Cava. They all are implementing a large wine tourism programme that includes visits to cellars, tasting, routes through vineyards as well as music and theatre performances in wine cellars. www.barcelonaesmoltmes.cat

Accessibility to natural areas

Twelve protected natural parks and areas cover almost a quarter of Barcelona province. They all feature a wide programme of activities, and signposted routes and educational programmes are being adapted for people with physical and sensorial disabilities. http://parcs.diba.cat/web/accessibilitat/

New booking centres

Berguedà and Alt Penedès counties have now new booking centres providing not only tourist information on their respective areas but also direct booking of accommodation, restaurants and activities. www.berguedareserves.cat

Sustainable tourism

Montseny and Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac natural parks have joined the European Char- ter for Sustainable Tourism, an initiative of the Europarc Federation, the overall aim of which is promoting development of sustainable tourism in Europe’s protected natural areas.

68 Press Pack ‘14 Besides, the working methodology with the Montseny Biosphere Reserve has been included by the UNESCO into the Register of Best Safeguarding Practices of intangible cultural heritage. This is the first Catalan project included into the register, which confirms the good work done so far in safeguarding intangible heritage. http://parcs.diba.cat

Catalonia Geopark Over 36 million years ago, the geographical centre of Catalonia was underneath a sea that disappeared as the Pyrenees rose, a process that left us spectacular rock formations and a wealth in natural resources that have shaped Catalonia’s landscape and society. The Geological and Mining Park of Catalonia is a project that exploits the land’s geological and mining assets as well as its tourist attractions, placing them under the umbrella of geotourism, thus providing an interesting first-rate tourist offer that blends culture, nature, geology, mining and gastronomy. In this area in Bages county, tourist attractions include Coves de Salnitre in Collbató, Coves del Toll in Moià, Muntanya de Montserrat Natural Park and Muntanya de Sal Cultural Park in Cardona.

Open-air tourism in Anoia

A cooperation project by the Anoia County Council and Club Nordic Walking Catalunya Central provides for six annual Nordic walking activities in the county, plus other promotion actions. Featuring already several outdoor centres, the area is positioning itself as a reference for this type of sports in Catalonia.

COSTA BRAVA AND GIRONA PYRENEES New Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees portal

The new portal featuring the tourist offer of Costa Brava and the Girona Pyrenees will start working in February. It customises its contents according to the language and interests of the different markets of origin. Featuring many photographs and audiovisual contents, it will integrate the presence in social networks into all its pages and is available in seven languages.

The event agenda will be updated on an ongoing basis, with a focus on communication with users in order to provide a web site with dynamic and agile contents. www.costabrava.org

El Celler de Can Roca, the world’s best restaurant

Press Pack ‘14 69 With El Celler de Can Roca in Girona by the brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca rated as the world’s best restaurant in 2013 by the British Restaurant Magazine, Catalan cuisine is experiencing its climax thanks to the pioneering task done by Ferran Adrià as well as young chefs and cuisine groups in Catalonia, besides the quality of local produce.

The Girona province boasts sixteen restaurants with a total twenty Michelin stars, among which El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Miramar by Paco Pérez in Llançà and Les Cols by Fina Puigdevall in Olot. Wines and sparkling wines from Empordà DO are also noteworthy as they foster wine tourism in the area and underpin the quality of local produce. www.cellercanroca.com

Masella, skiing by night in the Catalan Pyrenees

The five ski resorts in the Girona Pyrenees—La Molina, Masella, Vall de Núria, Vallter 2000 and Guils de Fontanera—have improved their services and facilities (ski lifts and cannons), while others have gone for innovation.

This is the case of Masella, which offers the unique experience in the Catalan Pyrenees of skiing by night on Fridays and Saturdays along ten kilometres on thirteen slopes reachable through seven ski lifts. With this initiative, Masella follows the example of other ski resorts in Europe. www.masella.com - www.pirineugirona.org

Empordà DO Wine Route

The revival of wine production in Empordà has led to the creation of the Empordà DO Wine Route Club, an association initiated by the Costa Brava Girona Tourism Board with the aim of blending the knowledge of wine and the land through wine tourism, thus promoting this sort of experiences among nature and gastronomy lovers.

The route is made of 24 wine cellars, nine hotels, eleven restaurants, three bars and specialist wine shops, eleven outdoor activity companies, three museums, two wine therapy treatment centres, three booking centres and several information offices scattered around the territory, making it over 80 businesses to provide visitors with a 100% enogastronomic experience allowing them to get in touch with the winemaking tradition directly through the owners.

The Empordà DO Wine Route will be audited by ACEVIN in mid-2014 to be officially certified as a wine route. www.costabrava.org

Exhibition space on Catalan cuisine

A space devoted to Catalan cuisine has just been opened in Palafrugell in Baix Empordà county on the Costa Brava, covering from Iberian times to Ferran Adrià, including medie-

70 Press Pack ‘14 val recipes, the contribution of bourgeois cuisine and the wisdom of grandmothers. This interactive space features 72 Catalan products with details on their origin, nutritional properties and growing season. There is also an area devoted to the most representative recipes of Catalan and Empordà cuisine, their history and relation with the land. The project is completed with a couple of films showing the past and present of tourism in this calm corner of the Costa Brava. www.visitpalafrugell.cat

COSTA DAURADA Cirque du Soleil in PortAventura

PortAventura will offer a new show in July and August 2014, performed by the renowned Canadian group Cirque du Soleil. Being called Kooza, it will be featured every day in a cir- cus tent accommodating 2400 people. With this agreement, PortAventura will become the first European theme park hosting a show by Cirque du Soleil, who have performed only in cities so far. www.portaventura.es

Catalan Sailing Week

The Club Nàutic de Cambrils will organise the 27th Catalan Sailing Week from 1 to 4 May 2014. This event, one of the most relevant in the Catalan regatta circuit, gathers around 600 boats in different classes with a thousand participants who will contend in different competitions in seven sailing areas located in the Gulf of Sant Jordi.

This will be the first of three editions to be held on consecutive years in Cambrils. The com- petition will be simultaneously the Spanish Catamaran Cup, the Catalan 420 Championship and a regatta counting for the official Catalan Sailing Federation level 1 ranking. Together with the sports event, numerous activities will also be organised for the public, both cultural and introductory to sailing.

RACC Catalonia-Costa Daurada Rally

One more year, the World Rally Championship will pay a visit to the Costa Daurada roads, a unique occasion for all motorsports fans to enjoy watching the best pilots of the circuit driving on asphalt and gravel. The event will take place from 24 to 26 October. www.rallyracc.com

Early Christian necropolis in Tarragona

The early Christian necropolis in the city of Tarragona has been reopened recently, a unique site considered the most relevant open-air funerary area in the Western Roman

Press Pack ‘14 71 Empire. Món de la Mort (World of Death) is the interpretive centre that explains how Romans approached the end of life. It also features an itinerary in braille. www.tarragonaturisme.cat

Escaladei Charterhouse

In the Montsant range in Priorat county, this monastery founded in the late 12th century helped decisively developing culture and winemaking in the area. The central part of the minor cloister has been recently recovered with the original pieces found in the course of excavations. This action adds to other previous renovation works, thus making Escaladei one of the most relevant heritage sites in Priorat, a county especially known for its wines. www.mhcat.cat/monuments/cartoixa_d_escaladei

TERRES DE L’EBRE Terres de l’Ebre, a Biosphere Reserve

After the designation of the Montseny range as a Biosphere Reserve 35 years ago, Terres de l’Ebre is the second area in Catalonia obtaining this recognition. This confirms the degree of protection of this territory located in southern Catalonia where two protected natural areas are found, the Ports massif and the Ebro Delta. www.terresdelebre.travel

New project at Pinell de Brai cellar

The modernist cellar in Pinell de Brai by architect Cèsar Martinell, nicknamed “the Wine Ca- thedral”, is planning a new project for 2014 that will offer not only visits but also wine tasting and possibly gastronomic proposals as one of the stakeholders in this new venture is young chef Francesc López from Torreó de l’Indià, a restaurant featuring one Michelin star. www.catedraldelvi.com

Renaissance festival

Tortosa dresses up during the third July week to revive the times of Renaissance, when the city was visited by princes and noblemen. Over 3000 people dressed in historical costumes represent life as it was 500 years ago, while theatre groups perform around town, together with workshops, gastronomic proposals, handcraft and medieval markets. www.festadelrenaixement.org

72 Press Pack ‘14 TERRES DE LLEIDA Promotion of enogastronomy

The Lleida Tourism Board will promote and commercialise regional agrofood products and local gastronomy through the “Lleida Experience” packages, the idea of which is forging a permanent partnership between the agrofood and tourist industries. Several gastronomic gatherings with local produce will also be held between May and September. www.turismedelleida.com

Pirineus-La Seu d’Urgell airport

The Government of Catalonia, the Government of Andorra and the Spanish Ministry of Public Works have reached an agreement to develop the airport into a public infrastructure able to handle regular flights. Pirineus-La Seu d’Urgell airport, reopened in June 2010 and currently handling private flights only, shall thus become a good option for tourists visiting the Catalan Pyrenees and Andorra. The installation of a customs post has been requested to allow operating flights from non-Schengen countries, mainly the United Kingdom and Russia.

Montsec has obtained the Starlight certification

The Montsec Astronomic Park continues growing in visitors and has recently been given the Starlight Destination and Reserve certification under the UNESCO. This is an acknowledge- ment of the quality of its sky for night observation, although there are also programmes for day sky watching. A total 24 municipalities (18 in Noguera, 6 in Pallars Jussà county) boast excellent properties for stargazing, a tourist offer completed with interesting heritage and well preserved nature. www.motsec.cat

Granyena de Segarra natural area

Four recently signposted routes exploit the value of this natural area combining croplands with endemic vegetation. Granyena has the largest forest area in the Lleida Plain, its main crops being vine, olives and almonds. It is a good place to watch steppeland birds and some raptor populations. www.lasegarra.org

CollitaSegarra Segarra county has always stood out for its cereal crops. Mechanisation of agriculture starting in the second half of the 20th century brought a big change into the rural way of life. The CollitaSegarra brand intends not only to recover traditional mowing activities but

Press Pack ‘14 73 also hold photograph exhibitions, lectures, events, etc. The whole initiative lasts from the Mowing Festival in June to the Threshing Festival in August. www.lasegarra.org

Cistercian Route This route of little more than 100 kilometres can be done walking or by mountain bike and covers the three Cistercian monasteries, Santes Creus, Poblet and Vallbona de les Monges. A map with both cultural and tourist information and services is currently being made, which will be of great help to visitors who wish to know this great cultural heritage. www.urgell.cat - www.larutadelcister.info

Verdú castle After staying closed for many years, this medieval fortress reopens with fully renewed rooms, ready to host any sort of event. Verdú in Urgell county has been inhabited for a long time in history as prehistoric, Iberian, Roman and medieval remains have been found there. www.verdu.cat - www.urgell.cat

VAL D’ARAN Val d’Aran, the first mountain destination obtaining the Biosphere Destination certificate Val d’Aran will obtain the Biosphere Destination certificate at Fitur awarded by the Institute of Sustainable Tourism, a body associated to the UNESCO and member to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) under the auspices of the United Nations Foundation. The certificate is a recognition for an economically, environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable tourist model highlighting the value of the local cultural and natural heritage. Val d’Aran thus becomes the first mountain destination to obtain this certificate, only the overall second in Catalonia after the city of Barcelona. www.visitvaldaran.com

Aran Park This new recreational and educational area aims at teaching the local fauna and flora of Val d’Aran. The park is located in Bossòst and features an interpretive centre, a shop, a learning room, a restaurant and a picnic area. www.aran-park.es

74 Press Pack ‘14 Wildlife watching One of the attractions to be promoted in Val d’Aran, wildlife watching lures specialist, environmentally friendly tourism as observations are done from great distance under the supervision of specialised guides. Capercaillies, bears, deer and groundhogs can thus be watched in their natural habitat under the guidance of specialist companies. www.visitvaldaran.com

Aran Bike Park It is a circuit especially laid out for mountain bike descent lovers, including two routes through great scenery, among which Varicauva forest. In summer it is also possible to ride down the Blanhiblar slope in Naut Aran, which is accessible from the Blanhiblar ski lift in Pla de Beret. www.visitvaldaran.com

Naturaran Located in Les, Naturaran gives the opportunity of enjoying an adventure park integrated into the scenery. Divided into several circuits by degree of difficulty, Naturaran offers more than 200 games, featuring prominently zip wires crossing the forest. The area is suitable for all sorts of public and includes night routes. www.naturaran.com Aran Natura ConventionBureau Torisme Val d’Aran has created a platform for incentive trips that aims at positioning the area as a nature destination for all sorts of events and business trips. Aran Natura Conven- tionBureau has been created to serve the needs of a specific audience, thus becoming a reference in congress, meeting and incentive tourism. www.visitvaldaran.com

PYRENEES Mountain routes in English After the success experienced with the Camina per l’Alta Ribagorça (“Walking through Alta Ribagorça”) guide, 21 routes will now be published in English, describing the ancestral communication paths used in the past. Each route consists of a technical sheet with a small description of the itinerary, a QR code and tracks for those who wish to do it with GPS. All the information will be available on the Alta Ribagorça County Tourism Board portal. www.turismealtaribagorca.com

Press Pack ‘14 75 Epicentre, a new visitor centre Epicentre in Pallars Jussà county has become the meeting point where visitors can gather information on cultural, heritage and natural sites in this area located in the Pyrenees as well as on places to eat and stay overnight. www.pallarsjussa.net Museum of Isona and Conca Dellà This museum with plenty of paleontological sites located in Isona has just renewed its presentation. It features an exhibition of the remains found in the area, including a real-size reproduction of the Pararhabdodon isonense, a species that inhabited Conca Dellà over 65 million years ago. www.pallarsjussa.net - www.parc-cretaci.com Camí del Sol This circular track, the name of which translates “Sun Way”, crosses Cardós Valley in Pallars Sobirà county in two stages through Alt Pirineu Natural Park between Estaon and Pleta del Prat huts in Tavascan. It is 34 kilometres long and has an accumulated altitude gain of 4800 metres, leading past high mountain lakes such as Llac del Diable and Llac de Soliguera and crossing lush pine and fir forests. www.refugipletadelprat.com/camidelsol.html Alt Pirineu Natural Park, activities for everybody This natural park, Catalonia’s largest, has planned several activities throughout the year. They are aimed at all sorts of public, especially children. With the “Explora el Parc” (Expore the Park) passport, they will have the opportunity of visiting museums, exploring areas specifically designed for them and climbing vantage points, all of which will be registered in their personal passport. www.gencat.cat/parcs/alt_pirineu The Voices of Pamano The novel and subsequent TV series have made known several corners in Pallars Sobirà in the Pyrenees that can now be visited with specialist guides in what can become a new ecotourism experience. www.sortturisme.com Mountains of freedom

76 Press Pack ‘14 This high mountain track follows the routes through the Pyrenees the people were forced to take on their way to exile. The landscape of Alt Pirineu Natural Park and the mountains of the French department of Ariège saw countless refugees passing through during the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Today they are a space of freedom. www.muntanyesdellibertat.com Salt Museum The curious town of Gerri de la Sal in Pallars Sobirà, known for its salt obtained through handcraft over ages, has now opened a museum to remember this industry. A tribute will be paid to all those who worked in the salterns with an audiovisual film showing the whole salt production process from the water flowing out of the well to its transformation into salt in the ponds located along the Noguera Pallaresa river. http://baixpallars.ddl.net Kayaking in the Noguera Pallaresa This river is widely known to be one of Europe’s finest for wildwater sports. Out of the numerous competitions to be held there in 2014, the 51st International Noguera Pallaresa Rally in July and the Freestyle Kayaking World Cup from 8 to 13 July stand out. www.kayaksort.cat

Press Pack ‘14 77 Useful Addresses

Tourist bodies

Catalan Tourist Board Tel. 93 484 99 00 www.catalunya.com

Costa Brava Girona Tourism Board Tel. 972 208 401 www.costabrava.org

Tarragona Provincial Council Tourism Board

Costa Daurada Tel. 977 230 312 www.costadaurada.info

Terres de l’Ebre Tel. 977 444 447 www.terresdelebre.travel

Tourism Barcelona Tel. 93 368 97 00 www.barcelonaturisme.cat

Barcelona Provincial Council Tourism Delegation Tel. 93 402 29 63 www.barcelonaesmoltmes.cat

Lleida Provincial Council Tourism Board Tel. 973 245 408 www.lleidatur.com

Torisme Val d’Aran Tel. 973 640 688 www.visitvaldaran.com

78 Press Pack ‘14 Tourist Promotion Centres outside Catalonia

Benelux South America Tel. (+32) 26 406 151 Tel. (+55) 11 30530477 [email protected] [email protected]

France China Tel. (+33) 1 40 46 97 97 Tel. (+8610) 848 682 84 [email protected] [email protected]

Italy Tourist Information Point Tel. (+39) 02 873 935 73 Centro Cultural Blanquerna Madrid [email protected] Tel. 915 241 000 Central Europe [email protected] Tel. (+49) 69 7422 4873 [email protected]

Nordic Countries Tel. (+358) 407 17 72 95 [email protected]

UK & Ireland Tel. (+44) 207 583 88 55 [email protected]

Eastern Europe Tel. (+7) 495 567 18 71 [email protected]

USA Tel. (+1) 212 78 23 332 [email protected]

Southeast Asia Tel. (+65) 62204022 [email protected]

Press Pack ‘14 79 Partners:

Official Asia & Middle Est Official Europe´s Official South America´s airline partner airline partner airline partner