The Lands of Lleida route - 230.00 Km -


Balaguer, the capital of La Noguera, has around 17,000 inhabitants and is the second largest settlement in the province. Its outstanding attractions include: the Gothic-style church of Santa Maria; the shrine to the Holy Christ; the convent of Sant Domènec; and the former female monastery of Santa Maria de les Franqueses. As well as its religious buildings, its attractions include: the emblematic Plaça del Mercadel square; the remains of Castell Formós castle; the town’s Gothic walls; the (archaeological) Museum of La Noguera; and the somewhat curious Centre for Interpreting the Gold of the River Segre. It is possible to visit all of these spaces as you pass them along the way. They will give you an interesting insight into Balaguer and its history before you take the C-26 and head eastwards. This road will take you first to the Rialp reservoir and then on to Ponts, along 39 km of what is a good and relatively straight road.

Ponts is a village of around 2,700 inhabitants located in the comarca of La Noguera. It is in the eastern part of this district and is one of its most important population centres and a notable communications channel between the mountains of Western Catalonia and the Lleida Plain and Central Catalonia. It forms part of the natural Pre-Pyrenean comarca of El Segre Mitjà. Near the village, you will find the collegiate church of Sant Pere de Ponts, an outstanding example of Lombard Romanesque-style architecture. Ponts is known for its gastronomic tradition and particularly for its Ranxo Festival (based on a traditional soup-stew), which is held on the Tuesday of Carnival. From Ponts, take a local road (the L-313) to discover the real character of this area during a 21 km ride to Guissona. This is a narrow, though quite straight, road through a similar environment.

Guissona, with a population of 7,000, is the second largest settlement in the comarca of La Segarra and is famous for its prestigious agriculture and livestock cooperative. The village also has a well-known cultural heritage, which includes: the Archaeological Park of the Roman Town of Iesso; the Eduard Camps i Cava Museum; its medieval walls; the Portal de l'Àngel; an ice well; and the Font de l'Estany and Font de la Salut springs, and is famed for its festivals, which include the Roman market of Iesso (held on the third Saturday in July). Take the L-311 and after 15 km you will be in Cervera.

Cervera, with just over 9,000 inhabitants, is the capital of the comarca of La Segarra. The town is renowned for the wealth of its cultural and monumental heritage, which ranges from the elegance of its neoclassical and baroque style university building to its haughty medieval walls, which were constructed in the 14th century, and the baroque style palace of La Paeria, which now serves as the seat of the local administration. Some of the alleys in the historic centre provide the setting for the popular festival of the Aquelarre (Witches' Sabbath). The town has recently achieved world fame through the echo of two of its most famous citizens, who are world motorcycle racing champions: Marc and Àlex Márquez. The town already has a space that no motorcyclist should miss: the Marc Márquez Museum, which is located in the central area, where it is always possible to note a certain smell of petrol and the admiration that the local people have for these famous bikers. It is now time to seek fast roads over short distances in order to discover more interesting places in the Lands of Lleida. Take the A-2 dual carriageway for 12 km to Tàrrega.

Tàrrega, with its 16,700 inhabitants, is the capital of the comarca of L'Urgell. This is a town located on the Lleida Plain, just before a small sierra and near the River Ondara. Its outstanding features include the 420 m-high Tossal de Sant Eloi mound, where there is a 20 ha park, and a Romanesque-style church that dates from the 13th century. Tàrrega is a town that offers agreeable walks through its historic centre, which houses its Plaça Major square, with the Town Hall and church of Santa Maria de l'Alba, and the Carrer del Carme, with its Romanesque, Gothic and Art Nouveau-style façades. In the month of September, the town has its annual mass meeting associated with the performing arts: the world famous Street Theatre Fair of Tàrrega.

When you have visited Tàrrega, return to the A-2 and go on for another 12 km until you reach Bellpuig. This is a municipality in the comarca of L'Urgell. It has a population of 5,000 and a rich cultural heritage which includes: the Gothic-Renaissance transition style convent of Sant Bartomeu; the magnificent neoclassical-style tomb of Ramón Folc de Cardona; and the popular procession of penitence of Our Lady of Les Dolors. However, it is also known to motorcyclists on account of its motocross circuit and all the activity carried out there. Leaving Bellpuig behind, and returning to the A-2, you should go on for another 35 km and then turn off towards the south of the province. Then continue along first the C-12, and then the C-242, until you reach La Granadella. This is a village of around 700 inhabitants in the comarca of Les Garrigues. One of its attractions is the baroque-style church of Santa Maria de Gracia, which - on account of its size - is popularly known as "the cathedral of Les Garrigues". Its belfry, which has an octagonal tower, is one of the most beautiful and majestic in Western Catalonia. To know this area better, you should go back along the C-242 for 10 km and then take the C-12 until you arrive at Maials.

This is a village in the comarca of El Segrià with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants. It is located in a dry land area and stands on the edge of La Ribera d'Ebre. Visitors are recommended to go to the Museum of Farming and the Home and to try the magnificent olive oil (the village hosts the Green Olive Oil Fair).

Having seen the dry land area and approached the border with the comarques of Tarragona, you should now return to the C-12. It is then a 36 km ride to the final destination on this route: the city of Lleida. You will travel there along a fast, busy road after a mainly straight ride through this dry land environment.

Lleida is a city of 140,000 inhabitants and is located in Catalonia's Central Depression. It is the capital of the comarca of El Segrià and the Vegueria of Ponent. It is also the head of its judicial district and the seat of the Bishop of Lleida. This is a capital with an important historical, cultural, gastronomic and commercial legacy ... which it will be a pleasure to discover. The city offers many opportunities to discover its history and culture via its monuments. The most important and emblematic of these is its Seu Vella (old cathedral): a Romanesque-Gothic building that looks out over the city. The Castell del Rei (King's Castle) and the Knight Templar Castle of Gardeny, the Paeria Palace (the seat of the city council), the former (Gothic style) Hospital of Santa Maria (which currently houses the Institute of Lleida Studies), the new (baroque style) Cathedral of Lleida, the Art Nouveau buildings and the medieval churches of Sant Llorenç and Sant Martí are other buildings that visitors are recommended to visit and discover.

 
The Diocesan and Local District Museum of Lleida, the Jaume Morera Art Museum, the La Panera Art Centre, the Roda Roda Museum (which exhibits vintage cars and motorcycles) and the Water Museum also form part of the wide range of cultural spaces of great interest offered by the city. As for natural spaces, there is the La Mitjana river park, the channelled section of the River Segre and the Camps Elisis Park, all of which invite pleasant walks. This is a capital with an important historical and cultural legacy and whose gastronomy and commercial activity will offer you agreeable discoveries and a good rest.



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