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REGIONAL NATURE PARK OF THE CATALAN PYRENEES

The Catalan Pyrenees Regional Natural Park is a vast territory of mountains and alti-planos which has the particularity of benefiting from Mediterranean sunshine. Traveling along its length, getting lost in its valleys or resting on a viewpoint, each time you experience new perceptions and sensations. The professionals who benefit from the “Valeurs Parc naturel régional” brand welcome you and guide you in your exploration of natural and cultural heritage.

Nature
Ranging from 300 m to 3,000 m above sea level, the territory is notable for the diversity of landscapes, environments, fauna and flora that compose it.
The presence of 7 nature reserves, 5 classified natural sites and 7 Natura 2000 sites are all indicators of exceptional biodiversity.

Culture
Occupied since prehistoric times, the Catalan Pyrenees were gradually structured in the Middle Ages, in the form of counties, then vigueries during the time of the Kingdom of Majorca. This border territory is ultimately attached to the Hispanic monarchy, which is opposed to France.
The Treaty of the Pyrenees put an end to the war between the crowns of France and Spain in 1659. Roussillon, Conflent, Capcir and the eastern part of Cerdagne then returned to France, to the exclusion of enclave of Llívia. Louis XIV then had a series of fortifications built or remodeled by his military architect, Vauban.
This centuries-old history remains deeply anchored in the territory of the Regional Natural Park, which claims its Catalan identity while highlighting the Vauban fortifications of Mont-Louis and Villefranche-de-Conflent, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.
Between the construction of the Yellow Train line at the beginning of the 20th century, the subsequent boom in tourism, the exile of the Spanish Republicans at the end of the civil war and the transformations of the rural world, recent history is also on everyone’s minds.
The Catalan Pyrenees Regional Natural Park supports the appropriation of this history by residents, but also the promotion of this rich cultural heritage for visitors. The programs on oral memory, built heritage or museographic sites reflect the overall nature of this approach.

La Maison du Parc is open all year round, Monday to Friday
🕛Opening: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. / 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
There you will find information to discover the territory of the Park and its riches, leave with some local products and beautiful works thanks to its shop and observe live the colony of bats that it hosts.
Free.
closed on public holidays
The Regional Natural Park team is at your disposal to inform you about its actions and local heritage.
With free and permanent access, an outdoor exhibition traces the history of the Bastide site, at the foot of the two towers dating from the 17th century. You will also find a few picnic tables.