Country & People

Sea and mountains are characteristic of Catalonia. Contrasting landscapes, the Pyrenees in the North and the plains of the Empordà in the South, capture the majestic scenery of this area.

The special scenic contrasts make up the charm of Catalonia, with lush green woods and meadows in the Pyrenees and acacias, chestnuts, and alder trees in the marshlands. Rosemary, thyme and wild lavender flourish on the southern hillsides. Whilst roaming the vast plains, vines, olive and almond trees border the paths. Silvery tranquil cork oak forests shimmer as you get nearer to the coast, which are replaced by bright pine trees when you reach the sea.

Open sandy beaches, picturesque bays and quirky seaports. These areas that used to be highly valued by merchants and pirates, are only a stone’s throw away from the rough and inaccessible chain of rocks called “Serres“, that sheltered forts and monasteries in the past.

The views on horseback are magnificent!

It seems that the moods of nature inspire people’s creativity. How else would you explain how Catalonia has raised creative minds like Antoni Gaudí, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró.

Catalonia - lives of contrasts. The Catalans are patriotic and disciplined, traditional yet modern. Contrasts also determine the relationship of Catalonia towards the rest of Spain, in particular towards Castile, whose dominance is sometimes regarded as oppression, even until today. The Catalans do not consider themselves Spanish and they are somewhat attracted by the French and German lifestyles. Bull fighting is not wanted here. Here, people prefer non-violent activities and would rather build human towers or dance with completely unknown fellow citizens to the sounds of the “Sardana”, the traditional Catalonian round dance. By the shining power of their culture the Catalans create the image of being a nation of their own.

The beginning of the Catalan language dates back to around the 9th century, but in the course of its thousand-year history, for instance during the Franco dictatorship, it underwent numerous controls and was forbidden. The Spanish interpret it more or less lovingly as “shouting”. However, “Catalá” forms part of the important Roman cultural idioms.

Catalonia is marked by its millennia-old culture. You will see evidence of its history time and again during your riding holiday with us. The small stone villages enchant us with their romantic architecture, as do the churches and monasteries you come across on our trails. Even today, the "masías" and "castillos", built by wealthy land owners and aristocracy, still give a sense of their amazing past.