The Pre-Pyrenees is a spectacular destination with a rich biodiversity. Here you’ll find a selection of the best birding, botany and geology trails that will give you in-depth knowledge of the natural values of this territory. You’ll enjoy the numerous species of flora and fauna found in this place and you can observe its peculiar geological formations while exploring this unique landscape.
Nature Observation Trails
The Pre-Pyrenees (which constitute the outer ranges of the Pyrenees mountains) and the Somontano region (which lies in the foothills of the Pyrenees ) are the two geomorphic units that mark the transition between the Mediterranean and Atlantic climate zones. This implies the observation of a wide biodiversity of species both in terms of flora and fauna. You may come across species on the same excursion that are many kilometers apart in Europe, such as holm-oak groves (Quercus ilex) together with Scots pine forests (Pinus silvestrys), or rosemary (Rosmarinus oficinalis) together with Pyrenean-violets (Ramonda myconi).
The proposed trails will lead us through a contrast of landscapes, from the arid steppes of the south of the Somontano region to the rocky limestone peaks of the pre-Pyrenees, in less than 50 km.
Birding Trails
Here you’ll find a selection of the best birding trails in the Pre-Pyrenees, where you can observe numerous species of birds. Among many other attractions, it is home to one of the largest griffon vulture colonies in Europe. These trails will let you discover the different species that permanently reside in the Pre-Pyrenees, the species that winter here, and the species that use the Pre-Pyrenees as a transit point on their long migratory journeys.
Botanical Trails
The Pre-Pyrenees is an extremely diverse territory where, thanks to the differences in climate between the areas, it is possible to find clearly differentiated ecosystems. As a result of this diversity, it is possible to observe a large number of botanical species.
Among the most characteristic habitats, you’ll find oak forests or holm oak forests, kermes oak forests, Portuguese oak forests, as well as various pine, silver fir and beech forests; the latter are located on the Atlantic side of the different Pre-Pyrenean mountain ranges. In the landscape, two species of bushes—common box and Echinospartum horridum—can be found, always in the driest areas. The limestone and conglomerate crags are home to the other species, forming part of the spectacular geological formations of the Pre-Pyrenees.
Geological and Scenic Trails
The Pre-Pyrenees boast a rich landscape and include some of the most unique and representative geological formations on the entire peninsula.
With the passage of time, thanks to a varied climate and the nature of its limestone rock, water and wind have carved out exceptional reliefs, including vertical walls and magnificent conglomerate mallos (vertical geological formations), deep ravines and abysses, narrow gorges and monuments as spectacular as Mallos de Riglos, and the numerous ravines of Sierra de Guara, among which, Mascún Ravine—one of the hidden gems of the Pre-Pyrenees—stands out.
