Serra de Montsant Natural Park
The Serra de Montsant Natural Park, in the north of the Priorat region, is one of the most imposing landforms in the Tarragona region, with Roca Corbatera as its highest point at 1,163 m. This massif, covering more than 9,200 ha, is made up of a great block of limestone conglomerate with numerous spectacular potholes, caves, rock shelters and gorges carved by erosion.
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Thanks to this unique terrain, the Serra del Montsant still enjoys a high level of biodiversity. The vegetation is highly contrasted, with mountain holm oak woodland alongside the shady vegetation of the gorges and the shrubs and grasses typical of very dry areas. This combination is the result of a relief that allows microclimates to exist. Montsant is home to one of the richest wildlife populations in Catalonia.
The area around the River Montsant deserves special mention, where you can find mammals such as the weasel, the genet or the wildcat. The cliffs are breeding grounds for several birds of prey, some as scarce as Bonelli's eagle or the eagle owl. The river is of particular interest for its abundance of reptiles, amphibians and fish, such as the Iberian viper, the salamander, the Iberian barbel and the Ebro nase. The estate known as the Fraguerau Gorge, in the municipality of Ulldemolins, has been declared a Wildlife Refuge covering 183 ha in order to preserve these communities. As for architectural heritage, Montsant owes its name to the long list of hermitages, often in improbable and beautiful spots, the oldest being the Hermitage of Sant Bartomeu, dating from the 12th century. All of them show the spirituality of the past, today turned into places of celebration and gathering. Also worth highlighting are the ruins of the first charterhouse on the Iberian Peninsula, the Scala Dei Charterhouse ("Ladder of God"). In addition, in these lands we find wines with two designations of origin, the Priorat Qualified Designation of Origin and the Montsant Designation of Origin, both of great prestige and quality thanks to the characteristics of the soil and climate of the Park. Besides these two designations, Montsant is also widely known for producing olive oil with the Siurana Protected Designation of Origin.
