First time Spain visit, will start with 1.5 weeks in southern Spain and Granada, then flying to Barcelona. Considering a 5 day car trip (April 7-11, Easter week) up to Girona and eastern Pyrenees. Will return for 4.5 days in Barcelona.
Any suggestions for a mellow route and the important sites to visit, without all day drives every day?
Thanks.
Dawn
I don't drive in Europe so can only suggest a couple of towns I was able to reach by public transportation (in the summertime) that I thought were very pretty: Puigcerda (poo cher DAH) and La Seu d'Urgell. There are also some smaller places stretched out along the highway running both north and south from Puigcerda: Llivia (surrounded by France) on the N-154, and Bellver de Cerdanya and Martinet on the N-260.
I have no idea whether either area would fit well into a 5-day loop from Barcelona.
Besalu, with its fortified bridge and preserved medieval core, is definitely possible, but it's readily accessible by bus from Girona and even from Barcelona. If I had a car I would prioritize places that are difficult to each without one.
A great idea, it's definitely an interesting corner of Spain to do a road trip, however I certianly would not go as far as Andorra. While Barcelona is known for not having much in the way of Semana Santa festivities, know that many villages/towns in northern Catalonia do indeed have their own processions and unique celebrations. This could be a great opportunity to see centuries old traditions "in citu", like the medieval Dance of Death in Verges or the Passion Processions in Girona. This is roughly how I would plan the route:
Start Barcelona drive to
Girona (2 nights) - Passion Processions (April 8)
-drive to Verges to see Dance of Death (April 9)
-continue to
Besalú (1 night)
-drive to north west to
Ribes de Freser (1 night) - day trip to Vall de Nuria (Pyrenees)
-drive south and stop at Ripoll Monastery, continue south
Vic (1 night) - day trip to medieval cliffside village of Rupit
drive back to Barcelona
