Discovering Prehistoric Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin, Prades Mountain Tour
Highlights
- Travel south of Barcelona for a private tour of the remarkable UNESCO prehistoric rock art sites in the stunning pine and oak forests of the Prades Mountains
- Visit the picturesque medieval walled town of Montblanc where you can ramble along the winding cobbled streets, and discover the delights of Catalonia's medieval heritage
- Experience the tranquil, stunning countryside of Catalonia “away from the madding crowd”
- Immerse yourself in the charms of this Mediterranean region’s culture and heritage in an expert-led tour
- Have a traditional Catalan lunch in a local restaurant or have a gourmet Catalan picnic
Duration: Approximately 8 hours
Activity level: Moderate
Itinerary
Morning
Tour leader Killian Driscoll and your chauffeur will pick you up from your chosen location, and you’ll start your tour driving out of the city with Killian introducing the day ahead, and answering any questions you may have.
Throughout the day, Killian will share with you his knowledge of the history and archaeology of the region, and the places you visit. You will be given an insight into the lives of the people that inhabited the area, looking at the prehistoric rock art sites, and Catalonia's medieval walled towns.
Your tour of the archaeology of prehistoric rock art takes you to the Prades Mountains about 90 minutes west of Barcelona. The first stop will be your private tour of UNESCO prehistoric rock art sites in the Prades Mountains. These remarkable sites - of which we will visit two in the same valley - are rock shelters high up in the oak and pine forests of the Prades Mountains, and are testament to people's habitation of this mountain region over thousands of years.
To get to the sites, we’ll drive for 20 minutes up the Prades Mountain past Montblanc, ascending to 1000 metres. Then walk for 45 minutes on a trail through the rosemary and thyme scented forests to the painted rock shelters.
At the paintings, you'll learn about and be immersed in the world of the ancient artists and their communities. These intriguing paintings are up to 10,000 years old. You’ll experience the stunning paintings of animal hunting scenes, honey collecting from wild bees, amongst more abstract paintings of symbols.
Lunch
From there you'll return down the Prades Mountains to have your leisurely lunch in a local restaurant of your choice or your specially prepared, gourmet Catalan picnic.
Afternoon
After lunch, you'll explore the beautiful, small town of Montblanc. Its magnificent medieval fortified town walls and towers, enclose the authentic, living medieval town.
Montblanc and its environs are infused with history and archaeology, as it was once one of Catalonia's most important towns. Walking through the cobbled streets, you will appreciate the deep heritage of the town, coming across remarkable buildings and vistas throughout the quiet, laid back town.
On the way back to Barcelona, you'll travel through the stunning Penedès wine region, where you'll stop at a local village to soak in the atmosphere or have a coffee at a local cafe.
