Hello all, We're heading to Girona, the Costa Brava, and southern France for the first two weeks of Octobermy husband and I and our daughters, 10 and 13. Our plans are all pretty much set, except for two nights which we intended to spend exploring the Spanish side of the Pyrenees as we head from Cadaques to Carcassonne. Here's the challengeI've poured the guidebooks, and can't find any obvious choices for where to go in the area if we're not skiing, climbing, or seriously hiking. Llivia appeals to me, just for the oddness of its location, but are there other towns or parts of the area that would capture the best of the region, or something unique, and potentially be of interest to the kids? Or should we skip the region entirely and spend those two days somewhere else? We'd prefer to stay in Spain. I should mention that we'll have a car. Thanks!
Debbie
Posted by
shingle springs, CA, USA
782 posts
Hi Debbie, you can go to San Sebastian which is in the Basque region on the Atlantic Ocean which would give you access to the hill towns up in the mountains.There is also Bilbao west of San Sebastian home of the Guggenheim Museum.In Carcassonne be sure to eat Cassoulet.
Mike
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
Debiie, if you want to explore the mountains, don't go to San Sebastian (makes nos sense if you want high mountain experience). My favorite areas of the Pyrenees are between Ordesa and Monte Perdido, but you won't find medium-sized cities there, just Alpine villages. Yet the area is very scenic, including the Canyon de Analisco, the village of Bielsa with an old town, Biescas and so on. There are also those 3 close cities (Plan, San Juan de Plan and Gistaín) that are cool and more low-key - not sure about infrastructure to stay there though as I visited for a day-trip. You might consider a stay at the Parador de Bielsa, a hotel at the end of an extremely scenic narrow valley full of waterfalls and easy valley hikes. The Spanish side of the Pyrenees has less consolidated towns and more hamlets scattered around, which makes fund for exploring in a car. I'd pick up a location from where you can take circular trips. Do NOT miss the drive between Escalona and Sarvise, on this direction (part of the road is one-way) on the route marked as HU-631, through teh canyons. It is one of the most beautiful roads in Europe, in my opinion.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Neither San Sebastián nor Bilbao are in the Pyrenees.
Posted by
OP
USA
7 posts
Thanks all, but let me clarify a little. I was thinking specifically of the corner of Spain between Andorra and the eastern coast, inland Girona, Lleida or Barcelona provinces, so we won't be driving more than an hour or two out of our route. Any ideas about that spot?
Debbie
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
You're grasping at straws trying to find great spots in the Pyrenees in that area, even for a half-way scenic drive. Perpignan is interesting for its history on the French side and is along the way. Guidebooks seem to skip Zaragoza for some reason. It's easily worth a couple of days if you want to go that far west.
Posted by
OP
USA
7 posts
Thanks Ed, that's what I was beginning to think. Maybe we should change our plans and head down to the Barcelona area for those two days. I was hoping to avoid big cities altogether, but I'm sure we can find plenty of interest outside of Barcelona, and it will still only be two hours or so to get back up to Carcassonne. Suggestions welcome!