CATALONIA: PUIGCERDÀ

Recently I could make a brief visit to Puigcerdà in La Cerdanya after enjoying a lovely morning in the fortified village of Villefranche de Conflent (World Heritage by UNESCO) and a fantastic journey on the Train Jaune (Yellow Train) between this village and Mont-Louis (also a fortified village by Vauban and World Heritage by UNESCO).

Estany de Puigcerdà

I was in Puigcerdà only for an hour, where I could visit:

• Campanar de Santa Maria (Santa Maria Bell Tower)
• Plaça de Santa Maria (Santa Maria Square)
• Plaça dels Herois (Herois Square)
• Carrer Major (Main Street)
• L'Estany de Puigcerdà (Puigcerdà Pond)
• View from Plaça de la Vila (Town Square)
• Train Station of Puigcerdà

Campanar de Santa Maria (Santa Maria Bell Tower)

Santa Maria bell tower in Puigcerdà

Plaça de Santa Maria (Santa Maria Square)

Santa Maria Square in Puigcerdà

Plaça dels Herois (Herois Square)

Herois Square in Puigcerdà

Carrer Major (Main Street)

Carrer Major (Main Street) of Puigcerdà

L'Estany de Puigcerdà (Puigcerdà Pond)

Boats in Estany de Puigcerdà

L'Estany de Puigcerdà is the place I liked the most of this town

Views from Plaça de la Vila (Town Square)

View of the Pyrenees from Puigcerdà

Train Station of Puigcerdà

Snowy mountains of the Pyrenees from Puigcerdà

In the Pyrenees I have visited the following places too:


- Catalonia

• Romanesque churches of La Vall de Boí
• Aigüestortes National Park (Boí area)
• Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park (Espot area)
• Vall de Núria
• Vall de Camprodon
• Camprodon and Setcases
• Ripoll Monastery
• Beget
• Olot-Vall de'n Bas
• Port del Comte
• La Seu d'Urgell
• Castellar de N'Hug and Fonts del Llobregat

- Andorra

• Andorra La Vella
• Andorra GrandValira-Grau Roig
• Vallnord: Arinsal and Arcalis

- France

• Gorges de la Fou and Coustouges
• Villefranche de Conflent

Finally, clicking on the next link, you will find links to other beautiful places and villages of Catalonia.

TREN GROC DE LA CERDANYA OR TRAIN JAUNE

The yellow train (Tren Groc de la Cerdanya in Catalan and Train Jaune de Cerdagne in French) crosses the Pyrenees from its northern slope in the south area of France, known as Catalunya Nord.

The Yellow Train is a fantastic way of reaching the territory of the Regional Nature Park of Catalan Pyrenees. In summer, some of the wagons have no ceiling to see the landscape in more detail.

The Yellow Train in summer

The railway line of the Yellow Train is a symbol of the Catalan Pyrenees, with its colours of blood and gold. The route of the yellow train goes from Villefranche de Conflent up to Latour-de-Carol. The whole route is 63 km long through 19 tunnels and 2 high viaducts between mountains and  costs about 15 euros.

Train Jaune de Cerdagne in Villefranche de Conflent

Yellow train crossing a viaduct, with a series of arches across a valley of The Pyrenees

It can be caught in any of its 22 stations and the trip takes about 3 hours. Although its route is entirely in French territory, its wagons are painted in yellow in honor of the flag of Catalunya.

The Yellow Train (Tren Groc de la Cerdanya in Catalan)

From the valley of the Têt River, the train offers fantastic sceneries punctuated by cultural sites.

Têt river from the Yellow train

You must not forget that at fourteen of the twenty-two stations, the train only stops if you have already requested it. To get on the train, signal to the train driver. To get off, warn the ticket inspector well beforehand.

Since 2004, as much as possible has been done to improve the quality and comfort of the train: new bus links and road services, rehabilitation of the stations, modernisation of the rolling stock... This Regional Express Train ensures that all the year round it is possible to make several return journeys every day whatever are the climatic conditions.

The Yellow Train crossing a viaduct between the mountains of The Pyrenees

Nowadays it's a touristic train and its journey is really cultural. It's actually one of the most spectacular rail you can enjoy around the Pyrenees because of the impressive landscapes.

Nice view of The Pyrenees from the Yellow Train

I enjoyed landscapes in The Pyrenees like this one for more than one hour

Railway line of the Yellow Train in The Pyrenees

A village in The Pyrenees near the border between France and Catalonia

The Pyrenees between Catalonia and France with the Canigou (El Canigó), a symbolic mountain

The Pyrenees from the Yellow Train

Yellow train in the station of La Cabanasse near Mont-Louis

Some years before, in 2009, I spent some days in Paris. You can see some pictures of these days in Paris clicking on the links below:

• First day in Paris (Les Champs Elysées)
• Second day in Paris (La Tour Eiffel and Montmartre)
• Third day in Paris (Le Grand Louvre and Île de la Cité)
• Fourth day in Paris (Les Invalides and Musée d'Orsay)
• Fifth day in Paris (Le Panthéon and Nôtre Dame)
• Sixth day in Paris (Jardin du Luxembourg and La Villette)
• Seventh day in Paris (Versailles)
• Eighth day in Paris (La Défense)

In France I have visited too:

• Carcassonne
• Canal du Midi and Pays Cathare
• Gorges de la Fou and Coustouges
• Villefranche de Conflent

I have visited more places and cities in France:

• Gorges de la Fou and Coustouges (in the Pyrenees too)
• Paris
• Carcassonne and Pays Cathare
• Collioure, Elne and Perpignan

In the Pyrenees of Catalonia and Andorra I have visited the following places too:

- Catalonia

• Romanesque churches of La Vall de Boí
• Aigüestortes National Park (Boí area)
• Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park (Espot area)
• Vall de Núria
• Vall de Camprodon
• Camprodon and Setcases
• Ripoll Monastery
• Beget
• Olot-Vall de'n Bas
• Port del Comte
• La Seu d'Urgell
• Castellar de N'Hug and Fonts del Llobregat

- Andorra

• Andorra La Vella
• Andorra GrandValira-Grau Roig
• Vallnord: Arinsal and Arcalis

Finally, clicking on the next link, you will find links to other beautiful places and villages of Catalonia.

FRANCE: VILLEFRANCHE DE CONFLENT AND TRAIN JAUNE

Villefranche-de-Conflent (Vilafranca de Conflent) is historically a town in the Conflent region of Catalonia, and now a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.

Villefranche is an eleventh century medieval town fortified by Vauban in the 17th century because of its strategic position in lands that changed hands between French and Spanish occupation. It lies at the foot of the Canigou at the heart of the Pyrenees. 

Classed as one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in France', Villefranche is one of the 14 Vauban sites retained for UNESCO World listing.

Town walls of Villefranche de Conflent (Vilafranca de Conflent) surrounded by the Pyrenees

In Villefranche de Conflent we strolled around at our leisure taking in the Medieval Town and enjoying the fantastic views from the Train Jaune (Tren Groc de la Cerdanya) which runs from Villefranche de Conflent to Latour de Carol taking you on an unforgettable journey through Cerdanya (Viaducts, tunnels, bridges).

Finally we had lunch in Puigcerdà, where we could make a short visit. So, during this intense day we visited and enjoyed:

• Villefranche de Conflent (Vilafranca de Conflent in Catalan)
• Train Jaune (Tren Groc de la Cerdanya, Yellow Train)
• Puigcerdà

Villefranche de Conflent

Spanish Gate of Villefranche de Conflent

Place de L'Église (Church Square) in Villefranche de Conflent

Bell tower of the romanesque church of Villefranche de Conflent

Rue de Saint-Jaques in Villefranche de Conflent

Another view of Rue Saint-Jaques in Villefranche de Conflent

French Gate of Villefranche de Conflent

Town Walls of Villefranche de Conflent and Fort Libéria beside La Têt

Comtal Gate is the starting point of rue Saint-Jean in Villefranche de Conflent

A closer view of the town walls of Villefranche de Conflent, designed by Vauban

Comtal Gate in Villefranche de Conflent

Rue Saint-Jean in Villefranche de Conflent

Nice corner of Villefranche de Conflent

Fort Libéria and the walls of Villefranche de Conflent

Train Jaune 

From the station of the Train Jaune in Villefranche de Conflent you can see the Fort Libéria

La Têt from Le Train Jaune (Tren Groc de la Cerdanya)

Enjoying the journey on the Train Jaune

Viaduct over which passes the Train Jaune (Tren Groc de la Cerdanya)

Beautiful view of the Pyrenees from the Train Jaune (Tren Groc de la Cerdanya)

Small village in the Pyrenees near the railway of Train Jaune (Tren Groc de la Cerdanya)

El Canigó (Le Canigou) from Le Train Jaune (Tren Groc de la Cerdanya)

Train Jaune Station in Mont-Louis

Puigcerdà

L'Estany de Puigcerdà (Puigcerdà Pond)

Carrer Major (Main Street) of Puigcerdà

I have visited more places and cities in France:

• Gorges de la Fou and Coustouges (in the Pyrenees too)
• Paris
• Carcassonne and Pays Cathare
• Collioure, Elne and Perpignan

In the Pyrenees of Catalonia and Andorra I have visited the following places too:


- Catalonia

• Romanesque churches of La Vall de Boí
• Aigüestortes National Park (Boí area)
• Aigüestortes i Llac de Sant Maurici National Park (Espot area)
• Vall de Núria
• Vall de Camprodon
• Camprodon and Setcases
• Ripoll Monastery
• Beget
• Olot-Vall de'n Bas
• Port del Comte
• La Seu d'Urgell
• Castellar de N'Hug and Fonts del Llobregat

- Andorra

• Andorra La Vella
• Andorra GrandValira-Grau Roig
• Vallnord: Arinsal and Arcalis

Finally, clicking on the next link, you will find links to other beautiful places and villages of Catalonia.

COSTA BRAVA: CAMI DE RONDA IN SANT FELIU DE GUÍXOLS

Camins de Ronda (Ronda Way) were  footpaths built in 19th Century along the Costa Brava coast to help the police to patrol the coast and avoid smuggling. It was formed from small footpaths through the cliffs along the coast of Catalonia.

View of Sant Feliu de Guíxols from the beginning of the Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way)

Nowadays Camins de Ronda are a set of public seaside footpaths (belonging to the GR-92) often connecting beautiful beaches of the Costa Brava. They have been restored to provide pretty hiking trails, as they pass through some of the Girona coastline’s most emblematic locations, offering beautiful views of these beaches.

The network of footpaths that has been best restored can be found linking together the fishermen’s districts and the coves in the townships of Begur and Palafrugell, as well as different points of Palamós and Platja d’Aro and the entire coastline from S’Agaró to Sant Feliu de Guíxols.

Cala Jonca from Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols

Stairs near Cala Jonca in Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) from Sant Feliu de Guíxols to Sant Pol beach

Wide area to walk quietly of Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Sant Feliu de Guíxols

Sea views from this point of Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) were quite relaxing

There are several flight of stairs in Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) from Sant Feliu de Guíxols to Sant Pol beach in S'Agaró

Costa Brava from Mirador de Sant Elm (Sant Elm viewpoint)

From Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) you can see nice places like this one of La Costa Brava 

More beautiful Camins de Ronda in Costa Brava are:

• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Tossa de Mar
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in S'Agaró
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Platja d'Aro
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Palamós
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Begur
• Camí de Ronda (Ronda Way) in Calella de Palafrugell

If you liked these pictures, clicking on the next links you will find more pictures of another fantastic beaches in La Costa Brava, like:

• Blanes
• Tossa de Mar
• Sant Feliu de Guíxols
• S'Agaró
• Palamós and Sant Antoni de Calonge
• Sa Tuna, Sa Riera and Aiguablava beaches in Begur
• Llafranc and Calella de Palafrugell beaches
• Tamariu beach
• Cadaqués, Roses and Empuriabrava
• L'Escala, L'Estartit and Les Illes Medes

Besides, in Costa Brava you can visit the fantastic old city of Girona, many lovely villages and interesting places, like:

• Calonge
• Pals and Peratallada
• Dalí Theatre-Museum
• Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes in El Port de la Selva
• Empúries
• Catedral de l'Empordà (church of Santa Maria) in Castelló d'Empúries
• Medieval village of  Besalú

Moreover if you like beaches, below you have other beautiful beaches in Catalonia, Spain and Portugal:

- Costa Daurada beaches

• Barra del Trabucador beach in Delta de l'Ebre
• L'Ametlla de Mar
• Salou beach
• Miami Playa
• Beach beside the Castle of Tamarit
• Beach of Roc de Sant Gaietà

- Barcelona Beaches

• Barceloneta beach
• Castelldefels beach
• Sitges beach
• Sant Pol de Mar

- Spain and Portugal

• Mallorca
• Cádiz and Costa de la Luz
• Beaches in  Galicia
• Basque Country - Guipúzcoa and San Sebastián
• Cantabria and Santander
• Alicante

• Beaches in Algarve

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find more beautiful villages, beaches and landscapes in Catalonia.