Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor

Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor is in Barcelona (province) of Catalonia in Spain.

Understand
The park covers an approximate area of ​​, between the counties of Maresme and Vallès Oriental. It is formed by the Serra del Corredor and the Massís del Montnegre. The Corredor and the Montnegre are separated by the streams of Vallgorguina and Arenys.



History
The park boasts a rich history deeply intertwined with the natural beauty it now preserves. Its story dates back centuries, with evidence of human habitation since the Paleolithic era. In medieval times, the park's lands were the backdrop for feudal disputes and the construction of castles like Montpalau.

As the centuries passed, the park's forests provided valuable timber for shipbuilding during Spain's maritime expansion. In more recent history, it became a refuge for guerrilla fighters during the Spanish Civil War.

Today, this protected area stands as a testament to the region's ecological diversity and its historical significance.

Landscape
The Montnegre and the Corredor constitute a compact and continuous mountainous complex of rather gentle relief with a landscape reshaped by human activity and covered in exuberant Mediterranean forests. The two massifs are, however, very different. Montnegre, bigger and steeper, is also wilder and more impenetrable. The Corridor, on the other hand, shows a gentler and gentler relief, with rounded shapes due to erosion that have favored the agricultural occupation of even the central areas. More than 95% of the park's surface is forested.

Flora and fauna


The geographical location, topography, and climatic variations between the inland slopes and those facing the sea influence and diversify the vegetation covering these mountain ranges. The proximity of the sea, which provides an additional degree of environmental humidity, especially in summer, also promotes the development of lush vegetation enriched with numerous Central European and even Atlantic species.

The most widespread formations are holm oak forests and evergreen oaks, with the latter favored by the economic interest associated with the cork industry. Stone pine forests, also very abundant, characterize the landscape of the coastal slopes of Maresme, where they occupy vineyards and abandoned crops over the past 150 years.

At the higher elevations of Montnegre, the cork oak groves and large-leaved oak groves stand out for their scientific and scenic interest. Amidst the oaks, a wide variety of Central European-affinity plant species grow, including some beech trees that persist due to the high humidity on the ridges.

In the sheltered areas of Montnegre, among hazel groves and evergreen oak forests, there are still significant chestnut tree plantations. Magnificent alder groves are preserved in the wetter lowlands and along the banks of numerous streams and rivers flowing towards the Tordera River.

The park host a rich and varied wildlife population. Among the inhabitants are large mammals like wild boars and roe deer, along with various bird species, including raptors and migrating birds. The well-preserved forests provide habitats for Mediterranean and Central European forest-dwelling species. Notably, this region is part of a major bird migration route in the Western Mediterranean. Open areas support a variety of predators and herbivores, contributing to the area's ecological richness and making it a significant wildlife observation site.

Climate
The climate within Montnegre i el Corredor Natural Park exhibits fascinating variations due to its geographical location and topography. It experiences the influence of both the Mediterranean Sea and the inland areas. This results in climatic diversity between the interior slopes and those facing the sea. The proximity of the sea brings additional humidity, particularly during the summer, fostering lush vegetation that includes Central European and even Atlantic species.

Get in
The park is north-east of Barcelona and south-west of Girona and Costa Brava

By train
Rodalies-Renfe trains
 * Line R1 i RG1: Mataró, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Caldes d'Estrac, Arenys de Mar, Canet de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar, Calella, Pineda de Mar.
 * Line R2 nord: Llinars del Vallès, Palautordera, Sant Celoni, Gualba i Riells i Viabrea-Breda

By car
You can get there by the Motorways AP-7, C-60 and C-32.

The C-61 crosses the park from Arenys de mar to Collsacabra to Vallgorguina to sant Celoni.

The B-510 between Dosrius and Llinars del Vallès gives acces to the track to the santuari del corredor.

The BV-5112 runs the Olzinelles Valley from Sant Celoni.

Fees and permits
It's free to enter.

Get around
The parc has mainly unpaved roads. Some of them allow cars. Have in mind that is a small mountain range with almost no flat roads. Be careful with the climbs and descends in a car if you are not used to unpaved roads.

See










Long Range

 * The GR92 runs across the full length of the park, between Llinars and Tordera.


 * The Spanish GR-5-Viewpoints trail crosses the parc between Sant Celoni and Canet de mar.
 * the GR-83 crosses the parc between Viabrea to Sant Martí de Montnegre to Sant Iscle de Vallalta to Canet.

Local routes

 * PR-C 216 From Canyamars to Santuari del Corredor., level increase.
 * SL-C 80 Parking Can Bosc, Dolmen de Ca l'Arenes, el corredor., level increase.
 * SL-C 106 Sant Corneli. Starts in Fogars information point., level increase.
 * PR-C 146 De Calella a Tordera., level increase.
 * SL-C 79 La vall d'Olzinelles. Starts in Can Draper (Sant Celoni) ., level increase.
 * SL-C 79 La vall d'Olzinelles. Starts in Can Draper (Sant Celoni) ., level increase.

Mountain bike
Hundreds of Mountain bike ways and paths can be used in the parc. Some suggested routes are:


 * Sant Andreu de Llavaneres - Creu de Rupit - Santuari del corredor and return.
 * Sant Celoni - Riera Fuirosos - Sant Marti de Montnegre - Return by Cami de Sant Celoni or by Olzinelles.
 * Dosrius - Canyamars - Pou de Glaç - Creu de rupit - Santuari del corredor - Can Bordoi - Torrassa del Moro - Dosrius.
 * Calella- Hortsavinya - Sant Marti de Montnegre - Collsacreu - Arenys de Mar . Return by train
 * Mataro - Can Bruguera - Creu de Rupit - Collsacreu - Sant Marti de Montnegre - Tordera. Return by train

Buy
There are no specific products of the parc. In the surrounding cities you can find some local producers of food products.

Springs

 * See Hortsavinyà recreational area
 * See Sant Marti del montnegre recreational area
 * See el corredor recreational area

Sleep
The best option for finding lodging is to look in surrounding villages like Mataró, Sant Celoni,Calella Santa Susanna, Sant Pol de Mar, Tordera or even in Barcelona.

Camping
See El Corredor recreational area in the Eat section.

Stay safe
In summer time don't do fire in the wild. There are big fines and you can easily burn the forest. Mediterranean forests are quite dry in summer time.

Go next
Parc de la Serralada Litoral: following the GR92 south you get to this park. Entering by Urb.Sant Carles you can follow the GR92 until La conreria in Badalona.

Visit Montseny Natural Park