Paratge Natural d'Interès Nacional de l'Albera

 Albera Natural Site (Paratge Natural d'Interès Nacional de l'Albera) is in Costa Brava of Catalonia. It boasts the magnificent Monastery of Sant Quirze de Colera, a jewel of Catalan Romanesque art. This protected area serves as an ecological and scenic haven, showcasing the unique transition from Pyrenean to Mediterranean species.

Understand
The Paratge Natural d'Interès Nacional de l'Albera, situated in the northeastern Alt Empordà region, is a nature reserve encompassing the Albera mountain range. It is divided into Requesens-Baussitges and Sant Quirze de Colera-Balmeta sectors.

The Albera range, acting as the Franco-Spanish border, features prominent peaks like Puig Neulós and Puig dels Pastors, creating a diverse and captivating landscape dominated by Pyrenean metamorphic rocks.



History


The Albera Range, marked by the Pyrenees' lowest passes, serves as a historical crossroads between European and Iberian cultures. Notably, its southern slopes house Catalonia's significant megalithic monuments, spanning the Middle Neolithic to the Chalcolithic era (3500-1800 BCE). Prominent dolmens like Canadal, Mas Baleta, and the Cabana d'Arqueta, as well as the Castellar menhir, showcase a rich archaeological tapestry. Panissars and Pertús passes, critical ancient routes within Jonquera, reveal the region's strategic importance over time. The Santa Maria de Panissars monastery ruins, on the French border, attest to its medieval role as a wayfarer's hospital, with recent excavations uncovering Roman road remnants and possible trophies of Pompey from the Via Domitia - Via Augusta (1st century BCE).

The Albera region boasts a robust Romanesque heritage from the medieval period, notably represented by the Sant Quirze de Colera Benedictine monastery. Documented since the 10th century, this site features a remarkable basilica, cloister remains, monastic structures, and fortifications. Other architectural gems include the ancient parishes of Sant Martí de Baussitges and Sant Genís d'Esprac, alongside the pre-Romanesque Sant Pere del Pla de l'Arca in Jonquera. The Espolla municipality showcases the beautiful Espolla Castle and the residence of the Marquises of Camps. Rabós features numerous dolmens, complementing its historical and architectural significance. This diverse cultural and historical landscape makes the Albera Range a compelling destination, weaving a narrative of human settlement, cultural exchange, and architectural evolution across millennia.

Landscape
The western sector, primarily composed of two large estates, Requesens and Baussitges, features the wettest and elevated areas with almost 100% forest coverage. The vegetation is remarkably diverse, ranging from lowlands to highlands, encompassing holm oaks, cork oaks, chestnut groves, oak forests, mixed deciduous forests (elder, whitebeam, elm, holly, etc.), and meadows at the summit. Riparian vegetation along the banks of the Anyet and Orlina rivers includes ash, willow, and alder. The eastern sector, Sant Quirze de Colera-Balmeta, has more Mediterranean characteristics, with shrublands, thickets, and holm oaks in lower areas and evergreen oaks in higher regions. The third sector is the foothills of the Albera, known as the Aspres de l'Albera, representing the intermediate zone between the actual mountain range and the Empordà plain. This area features a mosaic of dryland crops, primarily vineyards and olive groves, interspersed with natural vegetation like shrublands and holm oaks.

Flora and fauna
Vegetation

The Requesens-Baussitges sector features the wettest and elevated areas, with almost 100% forest coverage and remarkably diverse vegetation, including holm oaks, cork oaks, chestnut groves, oak forests, beech forests, and alpine meadows at the summit. The Requesens area encompasses the headwaters of the Anyet River with splendid riparian vegetation, including ash, willow, and alder. The Baussitges area includes the high valley of the Orlina River, where populations of easternmost beech trees on the peninsula persist.

The Sant Quirze de Colera-Balmeta sector represents a fully Mediterranean zone, historically impacted by forest fires. The vegetation is dominated by evergreen oaks, shrublands, and thickets.

Fauna

In this area, the last populations of the Mediterranean turtle on the Iberian Peninsula persist. There is a notable variety of other herpetological species (amphibians and reptiles): frogs, snakes, lizards, and more.

Over 200 bird species have been identified. Among fish, the common trout and mountain barbel are noteworthy. The diversity of mammals in the Natural Area and its surrounding area is significant, with 44 species recorded, representing nearly 75% of Catalonia's total mammal species.

The Albera cow is an indigenous, semi-wild breed endemic to the area.

Get in
The protected area lies between the AP-7 the N-260 and the French border.

By plane
The nearest airports are Girona-Costa Brava (, in Spain) and Perpignan–Rivesaltes (, In France)

By railway
Figueres has a high-speed train station, connected to Madrid and Barcelona and also to France High speed trains

Llançà, Colera i Port Bou has a local train station.

By car

 * From France: The   from Montpellier and Perpignan to the Spanish border. Then the  until Figueres or La Jonquera
 * From Barcelona and Girona: The, until Figueres or La Jonquera.
 * From Figueres take  to Port bou to access the easternmost side.
 * From Figueres take and then the  to Peralada, follow  and  to Rabós to access the Sant Quirze de Colera area.
 * From la Jonquera take to Cantallops to access the Recasens area

By boat
There are some ports you can use if you go sailing.
 * Port Bou
 * Colera
 * Llançà

Fees and permits
It's free to enter.

Do

 * Hikinkg: GR 11 (Pyrenees Trail) goes from Higuer Cape in Hondarribia to Cap de Creus in Cap de Creus Natural Park

Local Hikes
Requesens area Sant Quirze de Colera area (see Rabós )
 * I1 - From Cantallops to Requesens, 6 km, 2 hr, medium difficulty.
 * I2 - Around Requesens Castle, 5.5 km, 2 hr, medium difficulty.
 * I3 - Faig de la Pedra 9 km, 3 hr, difficult
 * I4 - Requesens forests, 11.5 km, 5 hr, difficult
 * I5 - Estanys de la Jonquera, 3.5 km, 1 hr, easy
 * Route 1: Espolla - Sant Quirze de Colera.  2 hr 20 min
 * Route 2: Rabós - Sant Quiric - Sant Quirze de Colera.  2 hr 45 min
 * Route 3: Vilamaniscle - Sant Quirze de Colera.   1:45 min
 * Route 4: Sant Quirze de Colera - Requesens  6 hr 10 min
 * Route 5: Sant Quirze de Colera, springs, mountainpasses and peaks 3 hr 10 min
 * Route 6: Old farms in Sant Quirze de Colera

Eat
Visit the nearby villages like
 * Le Perthus (France)
 * La Jonquera
 * Cantallops
 * Espolla
 * Rabós
 * Peralada
 * Llançà
 * Colera
 * Port Bou