Parc de Garraf, Nature park in Catalonia's coastal mountains, Spain
Parc de Garraf is a nature park in Catalonia's coastal mountains, spanning three regions and covering around 12,800 hectares. The landscape features deep canyons and Mediterranean vegetation across limestone terrain.
The land was cultivated for centuries with wheat and wine production before a phylloxera plague destroyed agriculture in the mid-1800s. It received official protected status in 1992 following this agricultural collapse.
Plana Novella palace, built in 1890, now houses a Buddhist monastery with Tibetan art exhibitions inside. This unexpected cultural presence sits quietly within the protected landscape for visitors to explore.
The park is accessible via train stations at Castelldefels, Garraf, Sitges, and Vilanova i la Geltrú, with marked trails from these points leading into key areas. Bring plenty of water when visiting, especially during warmer months, as the rocky terrain offers little shade.
The karst landscape holds numerous caves and sinkholes carved by water erosion over time, creating an underground network beneath the surface. These formations support animal species more commonly found in North Africa, making the ecosystem surprisingly diverse.
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