Walks France
... by The Walking Party
A Taste of Catalunya
Cadaques and the rugged Costa Brava, Sitges, one of the prettiest ports and Collioure the port of inspiration to the Fauve painters Matisse and Derain. A one star michelin restaurant over looking the Mediterranean. Another cultural and gastonomic gem from The Walking Party. And then finishing off in Barcelona one of the great capital cities of Europe visiting the Sagrada Familia and the Casa Batllo two of Gaudi's masterpieces.
Hopefully also the wonderful human tower festival an extraordinary dering do of Spanish bravura and the calçots gastronomic feast a hedonistic festival of dropping fire cooked leeks into the mouth having covered them with romesco sauce!
| Duration | Distance | Price Per Person | Single Room Supplement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Days | 45 Miles | €1890 | €360 |
| Departure Dates | |||
| 4th - 11th, 11th - 18th, 18th - 25th March and 25th March - 1st April | |||
There are also three nights at the famous port of Cadaques nestled in the Costa Brava with Dali’s house in the next door village. A boat trip round the cape and finishing in a four star hotel overlooking the beauy of Collioure and a dMichelin star dinner to end.
For Birdy people we would be delighted to start this week a day early and go from Sitges to the world famous wetlands of the Ebro Delta. Here we would do an evening and a morning’s bird watching before going to Sitges to collect the rest of the group. There would be a supplement of 210 euros per person for this.
A Taste of Catalunya : Day 1
You arrive at Barcelona airport in the afternoon to be met by James. We drive to the Santa Maria hotel on the front of the pretty port of Sitges. This is an old style three star hotel in a wonderful position and you will stay your for first three nights in. Bedrooms are simply, clean and with a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean. We will wander into the old town in the evening and have a tapas dinner in the old port amidst the usual Spanish hustle and bustle.
A Taste of Catalunya : Day 2
We drive to a small village to start our mornings walk in the Garraf park behind Sitges. This is a lovely hilly park full of wild fennel, rosemary and thyme and almond blossom with lovely views out over the Mediterranean. We walk through the park to have a picnic laden with fresh Spanish produce with Diana before continuing towards Sitges. In the late afternoon we will visit a local vineyard and hear about the making of the celebrated Catalan methode champagnoise ‘Cava’. Dinner again in Sitges this time at a celebrated local restaurant in the old port again.
A Taste of Catalunya : Day 3
After another lovely breakfast on the front we walk in to the town for a coffee before soaking in the crazy atmosphere of the castellers. These are the human tower-building ‘contradas’ and we will enjoy this fabulous spectacle as they vie to create the most artistic towers. After tower building we move in the cars for a drive to start a walk up hill with beautiful views to the Convent of Santa Maria where we will enjoy a delicious barbecue of calçots and other Catalan specialities (the food markets here challenge Italy in their diversity and colour). These calçots are young leeks are the celebration of February/March cooked in the embers of the fire and it is a wonderful Catalan gastronomic moment. Return to Sitges by car. Dinner across the bay overlooking the sea for the final night in Sitges. Walk: 6 miles
A Taste of Catalunya : Day 4
After breakfast we set off in the cars for the great Catalan city of Barcelona. We will visit the fabulous Sagrada Familia cathedral designed by the celebrated Catalan architect Gaudi, and which is still being constructed today. An astoundingly beautiful masterpiece mass of art nouveau and fantastic animal forms. One of the most extraordinary buildings of Europe and an absolute must to see. Lunch in in the centre of the city before visiting the wonderful Casa Batllo again designed by Gaudi but of course this time a home for the rich bourgeoisie with wonderful earthly forms creating spiritual calm! We drive then to the famous small port village of Cadaques. Here you stay at the Playa Sol hotel with lovely views out over the bay. Dinner in Cadaques.
A Taste of Catalunya : Day 5
After breakfast we visit the house of Salvador Dali. A beautiful complex of a few fishermen’s cottages that Dali slowly accumulated with time. Surprisingly prettily decorated and not nearly as surreally bizarre as I thought it might be! It is very beautiful indeed with more subtle querks of surrealism than the shocking Dali delirium. One feels this is his wife Gala’s influence ..; the soft feminine touch! We then continue by foot through the park with sea views to the next door port for lunch. Optional walk along the coast after lunch before returning to Cadaques by car. Dinner Cadaques
A Taste of Catalunya : Day 6
For those interested we will drive to the Aiguemoll Reserve for an early morning bird watch. This is one of the great spots for the March migrating birds. Flamingos, Glossy Ibises, Spoonbills and even a possible rare spotting of a Black Stork. For those less interested in birds, there is time after breakfast to wander around the beautiful village of Cadaques before we return from the reserve to all take the boat ride along the Costa Brava. Here we in and out through the inlets and outlets before returning to Cadaques for a light lunch and an afternoon off. Time just to relax in the sea ofr the hotel pool or just wandering around the beauty of the port. Dinner in Cadaques.
A Taste of Catalunya : Day 7
After breakfast we drive to French Catalunya. We will arrive at the port of Collioure for lunch. This is an exceptional place and we reflect this by staying in the lovely four star hotel Le Relais des Trois Mas which has wonderful views over the Collioure bay. Collioure is absolutely enchanting and centred around a fortified castle that stretches into the bay. This was a centre for the Fauve painters in the early twentieth century like Henri Matisse and André Derain who loved Collioure for its special light and fluttering fishing boats. We will sample some of the great wines coming from this area the Collioure reds and the Banyuls fortified wines. Dinner will be at the Michelin starred restaurant La Balette which is part of the hotel.
A Taste of Catalunya : Day 8
We leave Collioure after a wonderful breakfast looking out over the bay and head for Barcelona. If you would like to stay on a couple of days in this great city we would of course be delighted to arrange this for you. It does seem a shame not to make the most of the opportunity!
