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Lérida, Lleida
in Catalan, is one of the most mountainous
provinces in Spain and is the fourth and
probably least-known province in Catalonia.
Tourists come here to ski during the Winter
months and to enjoy walking holidays and
adventure sports during the rest of the
year. The capital city is built on the
banks of the river Segre and is an important
regional centre within Catalunya. It is
famous for its agricultural produce and
textile industry.
History of Lerida: Founded in
the 3rd century B.C. It became a Roman
town in 80 B.C. Invaded by muslims it
was then recaptured by king Ramón Berenguer
4th and later governed by king Jaime 2nd.
Later on in was invaded again in 1707.
Finally, following the Spanish Civil war
it recovered and developed, thanks to
agriculture, into the city it is today.
The remains of the ancient city wall
and important Roman buildings can still
be seen today. It also has a very interesting
old quarter and cathedral. There is a
very good viewing point which can be reached
by a lift (60 mts) from the plaza San
Joan.
Walking around Lerida: The best
walk is to visit the cathedral first and
then stroll around the surrounding area.
There are many things to see in the Cathedral
square: the Ilerdenses Institute, the
Archeological museum and the Chapter House
Museum and from there you can reach other
museums, churches and the castle (Castillo
de Gardeny).
Palaces and Castles: Castillo
de Gardeny (12th - 13th century ). Parts
of the wall and towers are original. Throughout
history it was used for strategic and
military purposes. Julia Caesar and his
troops stayed there in 49 B.C. The castle
was rebuilt and enlarged in the 13th century.
From the hill where it is located you
get great views over the city. The castle
itself is closed to the public.
Cathedrals and churches in Lerida:
- La Seo Nova (18th century)
the new cathedral - built between 1761-1781
under the orders of king Charles 3rd.
It is Baroque in style with a clear
French influence. It has one floor with
3 naves and a series of columns. The
steps leading to the large iron door
with its Borbon coat of arms are unusual.
The high alter has a statue of the Virgen
de Montserrat.
- La Seo Vella (13th century)
the old cathedral - is dedicated to
Santa María. Construction of
the cathedral began in 1203, it was
consecrated in 1278. The architect Pere
de Coma built the cathedral over the
remains of an ancient mosque. Work continued
uninterrupted until the 14th century,
when the cloister was completed. Two
Baroque bells remain - the others are
all electrically operated. You can access
the cathedral either on foot or by car
through the Lleó gate in the city wall.
- Churches:
- San Lorenzo: 12th
century. Originally a Roman it underwent
extensive work in the 14th century
and now has the appearance of a
Gothic church. It has curious octagonal
tower.
- San Martín, 12th
century. A Roman church (the Roman
museum is based here).
- San Antonio o de la Sangre:
renaissance facade
- San Francisco Convent:
Baroque, built between the 17th
- 18th centuries around an old house
belonging to the nobility.
Museums in Lerida:
- The Archeological Museum, the
Chaper House Museum, the Religious Sculptures
Museum, the Morera Art Museum
- la Paeria Townhall: 13th century,
Neoclassic. It was remodelled in 1929
in a Neo medieval style. It was given
to the city by the Sanauja family. There
is a chapel inside with a Gothic altar
from the 15th century. It also contains
an old underground prison from the 15th
century. It holds the cities archives
in an ancient baroque cupboard known
as the 'Armario de los Privilegios'.
Shopping in Lerida: You can get
local produce such as fruit, vegetables,
meat, turron, wine (Costers del Segre
- Raimat), olive oil (Les Garrigues),
different types of cheeses, sliced meat
and sausages. Look out for 'xolis' which
is a well known type of sausage from this
area and 'girella' which is a type of
black pudding. Vila Viniteca Bodega is
a wine shop selling a good selection of
wines from the province, also Bodega Salla;
You can buy great local produce in one
of the excellent delicatessens in the
city.
Restaurants in Lerida:
- The best restaurants in the Province
of Lerida: Fonda del Nastasi
(on the Huesca road), El Pigal à
Llessui (typical Catalan cuisine),
La Borda Lobato à Baqueira (typical
country cuisine), Can Boix (hotel
and restaurante), Era Mola à Vielha
(typical Catalan cuisine), La Borda
de Betrén à Vielha, Casa Turnay
à Vielha, El Caliu à Boí
(many duck dishes to choose from), Casa
Irene à Arties, Torre del Remei
à Bolvir de Cerdanya (exquisite),
Boix à Martinet (regional cuisine),
El Castell à La Seu d'Urgell.
- In Lérida city: L'Antull
(tapas and traditional cuisine ), Forn
del Nastasi (traditional Catalan
cuisine ), Sheiton (both Catalan
and interantional cuisine), La Huerta
(traditional cuisine )
Lérida cuisine: The most famous
dishes are: snails; rice with rabbit;
la coca pallaresa; la cassolada;
los panadones y el confitat; meat
stews. In Noguera "cassoletes"
(a mix of vegetables with meat) is a typical
dish. In the Arán valley "la olla
aranesa" (a type of casserole)
is another typical dish.
Hotels and accommodation: Lerida
city has a couple of hotels suitable for
short stays or business trips: AC Hotel
Lleida (****) and Condes de Urgell (****).
But for hotels with charm in Lerida,
we suggest you venture out into the province
and stay at any of the following establishments:
Parador of La Seu d'Urgell (***),
set in a convent in la Seu, 140 km from
Lleida. Or Hotel Terradets (**)
next to the beautiful Lake Terradets,
80 km from Lerida; Cal Rei de Talló
Hotel (**), set in a typical masia
near Cerdanya, 165 km from Lerida, or
the luxurious Can Boix Hotel(****)
and Restaurant in Peramola, 100 km from
Lerida.
Lérida province
Lérida province is in the northeast
of Spain, forming part of the Catalan
autonomous region. The mountainous areas
are popular with tourists especially the
area around the Pyrenees, most notably
the Aran valley (good for winter sports).
Also a well know wine producing area.
The Boí valley was declared a world heritage
site in 2001 due to the number of Roman
churches and other remains in the area.
Andorra
Andorra is on the other side of
the Pyrenees. A feudal state since 1278
ruled by the bishop of Séu d'Urgell and
by Count Foix (nowadays the president
of France holds this title). Andorra obtained
complete autonomy in 1993. The official
language is Catalan, although Spanish
and French are also spoken. This tiny
state lives off tourism due to the fact
that all goods are tax free. It is also
poplular for skiing; ski stations - Pas
de la Casa, Soldeu, El Tarter. The Cercle
de Pessons is an area with some very beautiful
lakes. Andorra, like Calatunya, has a
number of Romanic churches -Sant Martí
is one that particulary stands out.
AIGUESTORTES I L'ESTANY DE SANT MAURICI
NATIONAL PARK: immense and spectacular(10.230
hectres). The biggest in Catalunya. It
has ski stations for winter sports (especially
Espot) and over 150 lakes and lagoons,
some over 50 metres deep. Also good for
hiking and wonderful scenery.
Towns worth visiting in the province
of Lérida:
- La Seu d'Urgell
- Vielha
- La Pobla de Segur
- El Pont de Suert
- Caldes de Boí
- Espot
Villages and places of interest in
the province of Lérida :
- Alt Urgell:pyrennes, adventure
sports.
- La Seu d'Urgell:
Roman 12th century Cathedral. Diocesan
Museum (medieval art and manuscripts
dating back to the 10th century).
- Cadí-Moixeró National
Park: Roman churches and
monasteries.
- Alta Ribagorça: pyrenees
- Aigüestortes i l'Estany de
Sant Maurici National Park.
- La Vall de Boí: world heritage
site Sant Climent de Taüll, Santa
María de Taüll . Santa Eulalia,
Coll, Barrera, Durró,…
- Caldes de Boí: ski
stations in Boí-Taüll, spas and
mountain springs
- Vall d'Arán: pyrenees,
ski stations, adventure sports,
fishing, hunting and hiking - beautiful
forests.
- Vielha: Sant Miquel
12th century Roman church, Aran
valley museum
- Baqueira-Beret:
ski stations, adventure sports,
spas.
- Parque Nacional d'Aigüestortes
i l'Estany de Sant Maurici.
- Bossot, Salardú, Escunhau,
Arties: a number of small
villages with beautiful Roman churches.
- Cerdanya: pyrenees near Girona.
Winter sports, adventure sports, hunting,
fishing, golf and horse riding.
- Parque Nacional de Cadí-Moixeró
- Bellver de Cerdanya:
see the castle, Sta. María de Talló
basilica, Fou de Bor caves, megalithic
remains.
- Alp: ski station
La Molina y Masella. Also famous
for its carnivals.
- Pallars Sobirà: pyrenees, adventure
sports, good for canoeing.
- Llessui: Museum,
ski station - Llessui. Roman remains.
- Sort: medieval walled
town, Condes de Pallars castle.
- Parque Nacional d'Aigüestortes
i l'Estany de Sant Maurici.
- Rialp: ski station
- Port Ainé.
- Espot: ski station
Super-Espot.
- Pallars Jussá: lakes, hiking,
adventure sports
- Parque Nacional d'Aigüestortes
i l'Estany de Sant Maurici.
- Tremp: 9th century
church - Sta.María
- La Pobla de Segur.
- Noguera Balaguer: pyrenees,
lakes, adventure sports, rafting, canoeing...Roman
remains.
- Balaguer:14th century
Gothic church, medieval market square,
9th century Arabic castle.
- Sierra de Montsec:
medieval castle,Noguera Pallaresa
y Noguera Ribagorçana rivers: adventure
sports,climbing, hand gliding, caves
to explore
- Baronía de Rialb:
24 villages with Roman churches
and ancient farmhouses.
o Mont Rebei: 4 reservoirs.
- Solsonès: lakes, forests, farmhouses,
Roman remains..
- Solsona: Roman and
Iberian remains, forts, walls, Cathedral,
Diocesan Museum (Roman paintings).
- Odén: traditional
farmhouses, Roman churches, castles:
Montsonis, Florejacs, Pallargues...
- Sant LLorenç de Morunys:
ski station - Port del Comte. Ver
: Sant Llorenç (Mare de Déu del
Colls) church, 13th century sanctuary.
Lord (Mare de Déu de la Fusta),…
- Segarra: flat countryside,
olive groves, orchards and other agriculture.
- Cervera: medieval
and Roman remains.
- Guissona: Roman remains,
museum.
- Torà: originally
a medieval town, something which
can be seen in its streets and houses.
- Urgell: flat countryside, olive
groves, orchards and medieval castles.
- Tárrega
- Agramunt
- Bellpuig: medieval
barony.
o Vallbona de les Montges: originally
medieval.
- Segriá: the Segriá river valley
. Canales built by the Arabs who occupied
this place for 400 years.
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