SPECTACULAR NATURE
LA TERRA ALTA
The Terra Alta region is a place of stunning beauty and breathtaking natural landscapes. To the south, the Els Ports mountain range forms a rugged limestone frontier between the region and the sea. Small rivers and streams run down from the northern faces of these mountains into the lower-lying areas inland like Terra Alta and Matarranya. The River Canaletes is a prime example, winding its way through the hilly landscapes of Arnes, Horta de Sant Joan and Bot. The narrow Canaletes valley offers many great spots for canyoning and climbing. The flat lands between Els Ports and Bot are home to century-old olive trees and spectacular vineyards.
WINEMAKING TRADITION
Winemaking is a well-rooted tradition and for many years the region has been home to vine-growers and winemakers who produce some of the best wines in Catalonia. This can be seen not only in the landscapes but in the villages and towns. For example, the architect Cèsar Martinell – a disciple of prestigious artists like Antoni Gaudí, Josep Maria Jujol and Josep Puig i Cadafalch— designed the old Noucentisme cellar in Bot and the stunning Art Nouveau wine cellars in Gandesa and Pinell de Brai. The playwright Àngel Guimerà described them as being Cathedrals of Wine. Also be prepared to fall in love with the narrow arcaded streets, doorways, arches, and Renaissance period manor houses in Gandesa, Batea, Arnes and Horta de Sant Joan, the latter being the small town which captured and inspired the imagination of Pablo Picasso during his stays there in the early twentieth century.
A PLACE FOR REMEMBRANCE
Terra Alta is also a place of memory. Among the rugged mountain landscapes and quiet loneliness of bare rock faces, some of the most decisive and bloody fighting of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) took place. Nowadays the Consorci Memorial dels Espais de la Batalla de l’Ebre works to inform and explain this history to visitors. This body runs five visitor centres and another fifteen different sites related to the fighting, including old trenches, bunkers, shelters, and military camps. One of the most haunting places to visit is the ruins of the old town in Corbera d’Ebre, known as Poble Vell, which was devastated by bombing in the war. The Memorial de Camposines is a monument for those fallen here in the war, and the viewpoint at Coll de Moro shows where Franco’s officials directed their attacks from during the Battle of the Ebro. It is also the site of an Iberian settlement and proto-historic necropolis. A visit here will take you through over two thousand years of history. Past, present, and future – the landscapes of Terra Alta hold their memories for you.
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