The Montrebei mountain pass, declared a Refugee of Wild Fauna, formed by the Noguera Ribagorçana River when cutting through the Montsec mountain pass, separate the Montsec d’Ares and the Montsec de l’Estall and constitutes the only large virgin mountain pass of Catalonia. You can only pass it via Via Ferrata, partially excavated in the rocks, which allows you to enjoy this place in a very spectacular way.

The walls of the mountain pass have over 500 meters of drop and some of the narrowest points of the mountain pass are only 20 meters wide.

Terradets mountain pass. Montsec de Rúbies.
Profundity: 390 m.

The Muricecs or Muriacs cave is located in the district of Llimiana, on the Montsec mountain range. It is situated in the wall of the Terradets mountain range, not far from the Noguera Pallaresa River. The cave gets his name from its inhabitants, the muricecs (bats).

Human rests of the prehistoric age, Bronze Age and the Iron Age have been found.

This is the most accessible and renowned cave, but from Llimiana you can also visit other very interesting caves: Cova Negra, Forat del Gel and Forat de l’Or.

> The Hunting Nature Reserve Boumort is spread out over 13.097 hectares with a maximum altitude of 2077m. We find a typical pre-Pyrenean landscape with great diversity and strong contrasts, created by a very rugged mountainous relief.

> The roaring period starts mid September and lasts until mid October. During this period the male deer fight over the female deer and create their own harems by constantly roaring and marking territory with glandular and urinal discharge and by scratching tree trunks with their antlers. In the roaring period the dominant individuals will develop an intense instinct to keep the harem united. It is for this reason that, during this period, they are constantly chasing each other and fighting other competitive male deer, which will provoke a stiff fatigue at the end of the mating season.

You have to keep in mind that the female deer mating season is as short as only 24 hours.

Mid October the mating intensity of the male deer reduces and the female deer start to abandon the harems to join the rest of the female deer until the next autumn.

Two hundred million years ago the Montsec mountain range was a marine basin. Passing time and the forces of nature pushed, doubled and elevated the sedimentary rock and created its current aspect.

Montsec is a large calcareous mountain range of more than 40km long and 18.696 hectares. The erosive force of the Noguera Pallaresa and Ribagorçana rivers has cut out the spectacular mountain passes of Mont-Rebei and Terradets which divided the mountain range into three sectors: East to West, Montsec d’Estall (on Aragon ground), Montsec d’Ares and Montsec de Rúbies (on Catalan ground).

In the Montsec region you can find two areas that have special fauna protection:

The Wild Fauna Reserve in Sant Llorenç de Montgai

This reserve covers 486 hectares, spread out over the towns of Camarasa and Os de Balaguer and contains the ‘Patridor de Gerb’ (skimming/diving wall) and the Sant Llorenç reservoir. Here, it is possible to find a number of relatively rare species of fauna, including the capercaillie and the bearded vulture.

Noguera Ribargorçana-Mont Rebei Partial Nature Reserve

Occupies an 11 km stretch of riverside. It received its nature reserve status on account of its water predator, the otter.

The ravines and cliffs of the mountain range provide excellent hideouts for the birds of prey that fly over Montsec both during the day and at night. These include the peregrine falcon, the vulture, and the golden eagle.

The abundance of water in the reserve has permitted the existence of an important number of aquatic species of fauna as well as bird species including the mallard, the grebe and the grey heron. The most significant fish species in the reservoir include the autochthonous carp and barbell and the more recently introduced black-bass.

Llimiana is a small village of 168 registered inhabitants in its municipality, which includes the villages of Llimiana, Masos de Llimiana and los Obacs. It is located south of Tremp reservoir in the Pallars Jussà region, opposite Montsec mountain range.

Here we all come together.. those who come for the weekend, those who come for the summer, Easter holidays, Christmas, the annual festival, a long holiday weekend, Sant Gervàs celebration, friends of the people that come to the village, those who come to the village because they are lost, those who came here when they were little, those who have heard of the village but have never been to visit, those who live nearby... Llimiana is a very small village, but the world is a small place... Everybody knows someone that has heard of Llimiana! Aah! Someone in my family knows it.. or I was there a couple of years ago.... or I know a girl that always goes there and always tells me how pretty it is!

What does Llimiana offer?

Museum home Bonifaci, a doctor’s dynasty from the beginning of the 19th century with an outstanding political and medical career during the Spanish civil war and large part of the years of Franco in a large exile in different European countries.

The Valley of the Vultures Route is interesting for everyone, regardless their age, who is in for a day out in the country in an area of great natural beauty and cultural value.

This 31km long route was initially designed for motor vehicles, but it can also be followed by mountain bike or on foot. You can follow this route by yourself, but it is also possible to do a guided trip. (Tremp town hall offers a free guiding service).

Birds are the largest part of the local fauna and amongst them most interestingly birds of prey. The most characteristic species are the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus). Other birds of prey that merit particular mention include the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) and peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).

The most numerous mammal species found in this area are the wild cat (Felis sylvestris), European badger (Meles meles), fox (Vulpes vulpes) and wild boar (Sus scrofa).The Pyrenean chamois (Rupricapra pyrenaica) is also an occasional visitor to the area.

Vall Fosca (the Dark Valley) is located in the north of Pallars Jussà region and is a gorgeous setting where water, mountain, varied vegetation and different animal species all live together in harmony.

Here, due to the altitude of the mountains in the highest part of the valley, the sun sets very early i.e. at 6 o'clock in the evening during the periods of the year in which the days tend to be longer. This unique feature gave the valley its name, Vall Fosca, which literally means dark valley.

Capdella, at an elevation of 1,420 metres, is the last and highest village of a series of rural villages along Vall Fosca Valley: Pobleta de Bellveí, Estavill, Envall, Antist, Castell-estaó, Beranui, Plana de Mont-rós, Astell, Oveix, Aguiró, Paüls, Pobellà, Mont-rós, Molinos, Torre de Capdella, Aiguabella, Espui and la Central de Capdella.

The Flamisell River is axis of the valley. If you follow the course of the river, you will be able to enjoy an ever-changing landscape that will lead you to the highest part of Vall Fosca where you can catch a cable car up for 500 metres to the foot of the mountain peaks at a height of about 3000 metres. Here you can visit over 30 lakes.

Vall Fosca offers you a wide range of activities whether summer or winter: cycling, walking, canyoning, activities in the snow, hunting, fishing, artistic routes, visits to the hydroelectric museum, etc.

Vall Fosca's varied geographical features allow an offer of activities for each and everyone. Those who are in good physical shape can go walking in the highest part of the valley; it is also possible to get there by taking the cable car to Lake Gento and getting out at the highest part of the valley. Here you can try canyoning or in winter go mountain skiing, etc.

For those who prefer to enjoy the mountains in a more relaxing way, there is the hydroelectric museum or go and see the villages in the valley to view the architecture, the Romanesque churches, etc.

The cable car from Sallente to Lake Gento offers a very comfortable way to reach the altitude of over 2000 meters to be able to enjoy the routes of Aigüestortes Nature Reserve and Sant Maurici Lake.

The Capdella Power Station Museum gives you the opportunity to trace the history of the hydroelectric power station from the moment the ideas were put on paper right up until the power station was put into action in 1914, showing you the financial, social and infrastructural changes the station brought along.

Located in the heart of the Lleida Pyrenees, this is the most genuine representation of the high mountains and it is unique for its majestuous landscapes and richness in flora and fauna. The park is seeded with spruce and hundred year old black pine trees and it is watered by almost 200 mountain lakes, where the chamois, the capercaillie, the marmot and the mythic bearded vulture live.

The best excursions to start exploring the park are the Enamorats path, the Roca de la Cremada, the Llong Lake, the Sant Maurici path along the observation post and Amitges. At Aigüestortes Nature Reserve you can observe phenomenal glaciers like U-shaped valleys and natural lakes. The countryside includes alpine meadows and spruce and pine woods that cover the lower areas. Some of the highest points of the park have altitudes around 3000 meters..

Aigüestortes Nature Reserve and Sant Maurici Lake, the kingdom of the high mountains, is dominated by majestuous mountains and it is sprinkled with ice-cold water lakes. Probably the most rugged mountain tops and the walking paths that cross the highest mountain cols are out of reach of most of the thousands of people that visit every year to enjoy the fantastic countryside. Nevertheless we think that this area is everyone’s heritage and we all have to have the opportunity to get to know it in any way we can.

The Aigüestortes Plateau and Sant Maurici Lake are the well-known sites of the Nature Reserve. With the objective of making them accessible to everyone and eliminate physical barriers, imposed by nature, some wooden paths have been constructed, which are also suitable for wheelchairs. These paths are also suitable for people with reduced mobility and as a guide line for blind visitors. Though motorized access is prohibited in the Nature Reserve, as an exception, vehicles of people with reduced mobility are accepted. Please get acknowledgement at the Nature Reserve.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT (TAXIS 4x4)
In the villages of Boí and Espot there is a taxi service available to take you to the Aigüestortes Plateau and/or Sant Maurici Lake.