What can I do in the Noguera region - Balaguer?

Discover the wonders of La Noguera: activities for families and history buffs, prehistoric heritage and medieval, exuberant nature, local gastronomy and exciting adventures outdoor. Explore the Mont-rebei Gorge, caves and medieval monuments. Enjoy climbing in the Cova Gran de Santa Linya and sports nautical in the calm waters of the reservoirs from Camarasa, Canelles, Santa Anna, Sant Llorenç de Montgai and Rialp. A unique destination in Catalonia for all tastes.

Sant Mamet and the Montsec de Rúbies

• Discover Balaguer, capital of Noguera.
• Where to find organized activities?
• Which towns can't I miss?
• Our gastronomy.
• Our heritage.
• What excursions can I do on foot?
• Tours to do by car.
• The climbing paradise.
• Active tourism and calm waters.
• What can I do today?

Territory Activators

For Families with Children

In Balaguer, the capital of Noguera, we can search for gold in the Segre River with the Center for Gold Interpretation, which is part of the Noguera Museum.

In Camarasa, with Origins Space, we can learn about the Neanderthals and participate in other activities related to prehistoric, historical, and natural heritage in the surroundings of the Mont-roig mountain.

At the Montsec Astronomical Park in Àger, in addition to observing space, various activities related to astronomy and science are organized.

At the Seró Transmitter Space, activities related to prehistory are carried out.

The West Natural Spaces project, in Noguera, introduces the Montsec mountain, the Segre - Noguera Pallaresa confluence, the slopes of Noguera Ribargorçana, the Serra Llarga, and the Segre - Noguera Ribagorçana confluence, organizing various very interesting activities during the year.

Launching rockets at the COU in Àger

For Adults

At the Monastery of Las Avellanas, many interesting activities are organized, such as medieval dinners, historical events, and nighttime concerts.

Castell del Remei has established a Foundation with the aim of preserving its valuable heritage. Through this initiative, various activities are organized, including yoga, jazz, exhibitions, wine tastings, concerts, and races.

Small but Unique Villages

Sant Llorenç de Montgai, a natural reserve for waterbirds, is my favorite place in Noguera. When I visit, I can feel my heart rate slowing down.

Alòs de Balaguer, more remote, is the realm of hunters and fishermen.

Penelles has become the capital of Street Art in Lleida.

Tiurana with its starlight certification is the ideal place to spend summer nights.

Penelles - Street Art

Gastronomy

Barley, wheat, almond trees, olive trees, vineyards, honey, milk, and the orchard all contribute to the rich gastronomy of Noguera. Additionally, there are small workshops that transform these elements into wine, beer, cheeses, jams, samfaina cakes, and many other culinary delights. These products end up nourishing our restaurants that are gaining culinary excellence day by day.

Blossoming almond trees

Heritage

Prehistory chronological axis made by the Museu de la Noguera

From prehistory, we have the rock paintings of the Vilars cave in Os de Balaguer, the archaeological site of the Parco cave in Alòs de Balaguer, the Neanderthal shelters of the Cova Gran in Santa Linya, and the Roca dels Bous in Sant Llorenç de Montgai. We also have fossil sites like la Pedrera in Vilanova de Meià.

Map made by the Museu de la Noguera

In the medieval period, Noguera was a borderland and part of the County of Urgell, where castles, monasteries, and Romanesque hermitages were built, such as the Monastery of Santa María de las Avellanas, the Montsonís Castle, and the collegiate church of Sant Pere d'Àger.

There are also Spaces of Memory from the Spanish Civil War, such as the Merengue hill in Camarasa and the wartime remnants around the Cap de Pont in Balaguer.

We must not forget the extensive heritage of Balaguer, the capital of Noguera, and its walls within which the three monotheistic cultures, Christians, Muslims, and Jews, coexisted.

Plateau del Merengue in Camarasa

Hiking Excursions

The quintessential hike in Noguera is the Mont-rebei Gorge, but it's also wonderful to explore the Mu Gorge and visit the Tobacco Cave.

The Montsec, Mont-Roig, Sant Mamet, and the Montclús mountain range offer countless possibilities, such as hiking to the Pedrera de Meià from the Santa Maria de Meià side or from the Doll Road near to Terradets.

Exploring the plain with its fields that change color with the seasons, collecting thyme, rosemary, asparagus... Open spaces that are a delight to the senses.

Barley and wheat fields in February

Motorized Excursions

Our preferred motorized route, whether on a motorcycle or in a car, is the circuit around Montsec de Rúbies, passing through the Doll Road, Terradets, Barcedana Valley, El Pas Nou, and Vilanova de Meià Valley.

The Montsec, Mont-Roig, Sant Mamet, and the Montclús mountain range offer countless possibilities for 4x4 routes, such as visiting the Balconet de Santa Linya, ascending Sant Mamet, or exploring the abandoned village of Rúbies.

Camarasa Reservoir - El Coscoll

Rock Climbing

The Cova Gran de Santa Linya is world-renowned in the rock climbing community. Chris Sharma lived in Sant Llorenç de Montgai for many years. Accommodations in Camarasa are always filled with climbers from all over the world.

The Cova Gran de Santa Linya

Active Tourism - Land, Air, Water

In Àger, the capital of Montsec de Ares, the spirit of adventure sports permeates the environment. It's an area renowned for free-flying, with a special emphasis on paragliding and hang gliding. You can also enjoy hot air ballooning, ultralight flying, as well as gliding and paramotoring. Several specialized companies and schools offer courses, introductory flights, g uided outings, and equipment rentals.

The reservoirs of Camarasa, Canelles, Santa Anna, Sant Llorenç de Montgai, and Rialp, the largest area of calm waters in Catalonia, are ideal places for water sports, including kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, and sailing.

Mountain bikes crossing the Sant Llorenç de Montgai dam

Agendas

Cartells de Ponent Agenda Ajuntament Balaguer Espai Origens - Activitats Museu de la Noguera - Activitats Agenda Ara Lleida - La Noguera Surt de Casa - Ponent Fundació Castell del Remei - Agenda

More information

The best restaurants in La Noguera The rich heritage of Noguera Excursions in Noguera Towns of Noguera La Noguera Festivals Sports in Noguera Special activities in Noguera

In other languages

Catalan version Spanish version

Location

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Introduction to Balaguer from the Wall

Balaguer, the former capital of the County of Urgell, is distinguished by its rich history and cultural diversity. Its imposing Gothic wall, along with Andalusian remnants, attests to its past since the 9th century. The coexistence of Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the medieval city highlights its multicultural character. The arcaded Mercadal square and its weekly market reflect its vitality as a social center. Additionally, the Gothic church of Santa Maria, the Holy Christ, and the illustrated balconies honor its cultural heritage.

• The Wall
• Andalusian Traces
• Mercadal Square
• The Jewish Quarter
• Santa Maria Church
• Illustrated Balconies
• What to Do in Noguera?

The wall

Walking along the 500 meters of the Balaguer wall that have been restored is a good way to start getting to know what was the capital of the County of Urgell from 1130 to 1413.

We parked the car next to the Segre in the Pont Nou and we headed to the arcaded plaza of the Mercadal, where there is a market every Saturday. Looking towards the town hall, we take the alley on the right that takes us to the Portal del Gel, on the other side there is a structure that allows us to climb the wall.

If we go to the right, we walk on top of the wall that is more than a meter and a half wide, enjoying excellent views of the city and the Noguera plain. On the other side, a metal walkway takes us up to the Gothic church of Santa Maria.

The part of the wall that can be visited, in addition to access through the Portal del Gel, has doors at both ends, in Santa María and in the Torre del Bombo.

The three entrances to the wall are closed and are managed by the tourist information point located in the Museum of the Noguera.

Gel or Monzón Portal

Except for small Andalusian sections, this part of the visitable wall dates from the 14th century, from the county period.

The largest stones in the following photo are fragments of the Andalusian wall that is attached to the Christian wall, and present a construction structure very similar to the Andalusian wall of Castell Formós from the 9th century.

Balaguer Walls Flyer

Be sure to look at the flyer made by Noguera Museum from which I have extracted the following map of the walls, both Gothic and Andalusian.

Extracted from a flyer from the Noguera Museum

Balaguer Andalusí - Noguera Museum

Balaguer became a medina in the 9th century, the result of a military camp held by Muslims in the 8th century. The city developed under the protection of the camp wall and experienced parallel growth with its wall during the 9th and 10th centuries. The camp and subsequent medina occupied an area of 25 hectares known as the Almatà plan, which is one of the most important medieval sites in Catalonia.

Balaguer within the Andalusian culture does not have the importance that Tortosa and Lleida may have, but it has the advantage that the city moved towards the southeast over the years, leaving the Andalusian area free of later constructions, which currently facilitates your research.

The Andalusians who lived in Balaguer already had artisans specialized in making ceramics.

They looked at the world in the opposite direction to current Westerners and placed the Arabian Peninsula in the center. The Iberian Peninsula is on the far right and is the opposite of usual.

They were looking for gold in the Segre River that the waters carried from the Pyrenees.

Andalusian bombs

El Mercadal

The arcaded plaza of El Mercadal is medieval, and has always been the social center of Balaguer.

Porticoed Plaza del Mercadal.

The Jewish quarter

In Balaguer, the three monotheistic cultures, Christians, Muslims and Jews, coexisted since the city's Andalusian era. In the 14th century, the Jews were moved to the south of the Plaza del Mercadal by royal order, creating the Jewish quarter, which was the name given to the Jewish neighborhood of Balaguer. In the 15th century, there was a Jewish community of about 300 inhabitants who even had their own legal system. At the end of the 15th century, they were expelled from the peninsula by decree of the Catholic Monarchs.

Objects from the Balaguer Jewish quarter.

Santa Maria

From the final part of the wall, in the Bombo tower, former Franco observatory during the Civil War, looking in the direction of Sant Llorenç de Montgai and Camarasa, we see from left to right, the Gothic church of Santa Maria, the mosque converted into the church of Sant Crist, the Sierra del Mont Roig of reddish rock, Sant Jordi in Camarasa, Sant Mamet in Alòs de Balaguer, and further down the Montsec.

Within the Fars de Ponent tourist route, in Balaguer you go up to the Torre del Moro of the Santa Maria church, which is the one on the left in the previous and subsequent photographs.

Illustrated Balconies

In the Historic Center of Balaguer, Núria Riba has created a mural tribute to Frederic Letamendi, in the Plaza del Carrer dels Teixidors, highlighting traditional Balaguerine customs.

Very close by, in the Museum Square, there is another illustrated balcony that pays homage to Margaret of Montferrat, mother of Count Jaume d'Urgell, in this case the work of Oriol Arumí.

Painted Houses

Balaguer skyline.

More information

Flyer of the walls of Balaguer Noguera Museum

El Molí geolocalizado

Very close

• What can I do in La Noguera?
• La Transsegre
• Sant Llorenç de Montgai
• The Winery of El Castell del Remei