Pyrenees

The Pyrenees is a mountain range that starts from the Cantabrian Sea and runs up to the Mediterranean Sea. The range extends to a length of 450 km and the peaks reach up to 3000 meters. It has many beautiful scenes along with rich cultural heritage hidden within it.

Tourist attractions

San Juan de la Peña Monastery

The monastery dates back to the 10th century and originally consisted of a single monastery which was built in Romanesque style. However in the 17th century, a fire resulted in the rebuilding and construction of another monastery which was built in Baroque style. The place is famous for Romanesque Cloister which is an excellent piece of architecture and attracts tourists.

Roncesvalles Royal Collegiate Church

This church resembles the Nôtre Dame cathedral which is situated in Paris. The church is built in Gothic Style and the main purpose for the construction of the church was to help the pilgrims going to Saint James.

The church also has many halls among which one has been made a museum for keeping and storing 13th century art works. Along with this, attractive pieces of metalwork can be found here. The church also contains a silver statue of Virgin Mary with Child; the chess set which belonged to Emperor Charlemagne and many such pieces of cultural importance. The walls of the church are beautifully decorated with mural painting which dates back to the 13th century.

Dormant volcanoes and volcanic regions

There are a large number of dormant volcanoes spread out between the Pyrenees peaks and the Costa Brava beaches. The volcanic areas present are beautiful and they are not just covered by dust and ash but are also packed with ancient houses and castles that attract tourists. Some of the volcanic areas are:

The Garroxta volcanic area which is also a nature reserve consists of thirty volcanoes and was formed more than 11,000 years ago. Lava laid plains, forests over these plains, streams, the beaches and the basalt walled gorges provide a spectacular view for the tourists. There are also a large number of natural springs present here.

The Croscat volcanic region is another area of dormant volcanoes and provides eye catching scenes which should not be missed by the tourists. The area has a number of villages like Santa Pau, Batat and Castellfollit de la Roca which provide picturesque scenes.

The village of Castellfollit de la Roca is located on a huge basalt gorge and its beauty increases when viewed from a helicopter. Other than these villages, a beach forest can also be found here which is the home for large varieties of birds and reptiles.

Parque Natural de Bardenas Reales

It is a semi-desert and is characterized by plains, terrains, cliffs and gypsum ravines. It was formed by the action of water on soil. It is a biosphere reserve as declared by the UNESCO. Large number of animals and birds can also be found in this area.

National Parks

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park and the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park are the two national parks here.

The parks are characterized by beautiful waterfalls and torrents. The beauty of the landscape with rocky ridges and peaks is worth watching. The forest here is rich in all kinds of alpine plants and pines.

Photo Credit: Pixabay