Showing posts with label Ornithology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ornithology. Show all posts

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Sant Llorenç de Montgai - Climbing Paradise

Sant Llorenç de Montgai is a fantastic leisure space where you can stroll, kayak, cycle, and rock climb; it's a place where we can recharge with positive energy.

Getting lost in Sant Llorenç de Montgai

We've deliberately taken the narrow secondary road LV-9047, full of twists and turns, between vertical rocks where climbing is practiced. As the Segre River widens due to the reservoir, Sant Llorenç de Montgai stands out in the distance, blending with the riverbank.

Sant Llorenç de Montgai is a peaceful spot, off the tourist routes, where we can enjoy numerous activities related to its small reservoir, such as kayaking, sport fishing, and bird watching.

Cases vora al llac
Houses bordering the reservoir

The lake

The dam, built in 1929, gave rise to this fantastic natural space. In 1990, it was declared a Natural Reserve due to the abundance of waterfowl and its scenic interest.

Gates of the Sant Llorenç dam

The school

Part of the old school has been transformed into the bar-restaurant "El Mirador del Llac", which features an idyllic terrace overlooking the reservoir. It serves as a meeting point for both the locals and the groups who are climbing in the area.

Old school of Sant Llorenç

The Lake Train

Sant Llorenç de Montgai is one of the stops on El Tren del Llacs (Lakes Train) that runs from Lleida to La Pobla. The journey, marked by the Segre and Noguera Pallaresa rivers, is filled with tunnels and bridges, and features exceptionally beautiful landscapes.

Lake Train Stop

La Roca dels Bous

The Roca dels Bous is an archaeological site that seeks traces of the stays made by groups of Neanderthals in this rocky shelter thousands of years ago. It can be visited with the guidance of Espai Origens.

The rocks on the sides of the Roca dels Bous, such as the Cilindro and the Pared del Oso, are usually filled with climbers. It could be said that Sant Llorenç is the climbing capital of this area of Lleida.

La Roca dels Bous - Cilindro - Pared del Oso

The Camping La Noguera

The La Noguera campground has become a major catalyst for the area, featuring a restaurant, indoor pool open year-round, paddle tennis court, and rental services for bicycles and kayaks.

Kayaks camping La Noguera - prices 2018

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

El pilar d'Almenara

The Almenara pillar is a Christian watchtower built shortly after the reconquest on the Bellmunt-Almenara mountain range.

The 15 meter high tower has free access, it is entered by going up an external spiral staircase that leads to two flights of internal metallic and vertical stairs. Going up can become a little adventure.

At the top, a terrace 7 meters in diameter, without railings, which with only about 100 meters above the horizon becomes a fantastic viewpoint over the Urgell plain. With good binoculars it allows us to see a lot of places, such as the Cargol tower, another watchtower located in the Sierra de la Força, in the municipality of Ponts.

A few meters to the east we have the Romanesque church of Sant Vivenç plundered by Republican soldiers to make machine gun nests in the area during the Civil War.

In the photos you can see graffitis, something classic in heritage with free access. As in other spaces, access will end up being restricted. A pity.
I think it is an ideal place to go to see sunsets with good binoculars. We have gone too early and with haze.
Terrace without railing
Romanesque of San Vicente in the east
Agramunt

Natural Area of the Sierra de Bellmunt-Almenara

Pilar de Almenara is part of the natural space of the Sierra de Bellmunt, where you can see little bustards, dukes, barn owls, lovebirds, blue jays and hawks.

What can I do in the Lands of Lleida?

Discover the natural wonders and cultural treasures of les Terres de Lleida, where ancient heritage blends with breathtaking landscapes ...