La Cerdanya, Catalonia region of the Pyrenees, consisting mainly of the upper valley of the Segre, which has certain distinctive qualities both geographical, historical and climate that give a special character, not indifferent to the visitors.
Protected by the mountains of Andorra to the north and the Sierra del Cadi south, is one of the most wide open valleys, because of his height, between 900 and 1300 meters. This feature along with its east-west valley makes the enjoyment of a particular climate and long hours of sunshine a year, more than 3000.
Inhabited since the Neolithic Ceretans by among others, as they knew the Romans to the people of this area, this is an area steeped in history.
In the seventh century was formed Cerdanya County, which along with other form Catalunya.
Puigcerdà With its capital, in the twelfth century has great economic and demographic boom, also due to its strategic location on the border with France, which always led to many clashes between the two countries.
clashes that eventually were resolved with the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, which divided the region between the two countries.
This is called the English and French Cerdanya, La Cerdagne.
As a curiosity, noteworthy that Llívia, English people, is located within the French because when it became the allocation by some "administrative problems", was well as "English island" in French territory.
Despite all this, have always been closely linked livelihoods of people in one hand and the other, always walk from one side to the other and vice versa, no problems now thanks to the absence of the old boundaries but always doing as they could due to customs.
In fact you can hear people always tell how exitiosa smuggling from one area to another and how they did to avoid customs on the road ground instead of through roads, which often were guarded by police on both sides.
Among the wonderful landscapes that can be enjoyed, including forests, large meadows where you can watch the cattle grazing and even the Hispano-Breton horses bred in this area of \u200b\u200bthe Pyrenees, lakes and of course mountains with peaks over 2000 meters bordering the valley.
Another attraction for tourists in this area is the large number of resorts here are, in the Catalan as the French.
addition, due to its proximity to Barcelona, \u200b\u200bespecially since we have opened the Tunel del Cadi that lets you stay in BCN only about 2 hours, has made this area rather than escape of Barcelona, \u200b\u200bboth for weekends and holidays.
This influx of people has made the valley and long live mainly from tourism and this in turn has allowed the vast majority of the peoples of the area or have been restored conseven maintaining the traditional architectural style area, with stone houses and slate roofs, houses one for second homes and others to Rent For in the holiday seasons.
Here you can enjoy long nature walks and other activities such as the caving, horseback riding, quad biking, climbing, water activities in some of the lakes in summer, skiing, riding dogsled rides, snowmobile and snowshoe tours in winter. Probably some more that I leave unnamed.
Another thing for those who do not like so much of walking in the mountains or to engage in these activities is to visit villages that are dotted around the valley, where you can meet some of the many Romanesque churches there and enjoy the wide range of cuisine which is offered in restaurants in the area.
I was living and working there in the ski resort of La Molina, about five months ago two winters and I can assure you that walk through the valley, the villages and forests and mountains, both the French and the Catalan part is a pleasure, thanks to the sun almost always shines in the valley.
can find quiet and less quiet especially fine this week, but there is always something to do, something to do and if you want peace and tranquility, is located.
Even when it rains you can do things, because then can one come to Andorra and enjoy a day of shopping or a relaxing day in the famous spa or go to the French side which also can afford to relax in one of several hot springs there, where they can enjoy a hot outdoor bath while watching the mountains around you.
