LA NOGUERA, A NATURAL PLACE TO ENJOY BY BIKE

La Noguera is the largest comarca (local district) in Catalonia and is located in the Pre-Pyrenees of Lleida. It contains a great diversity of landscapes, with practically virgin territory surrounded by a rich and varied flora and fauna, where it is possible to enjoy peace and silence.

This is a very diverse territory. In the north of the comarca, la Noguera Alta is dominated by the Montsec d’Ares and Rúbies mountains and the impressive Mont-Rebei, Terradets and Mu gorges. This area also includes the valleys of Àger and Meià and the Monclús, Sant Mamet, Sant Miquel, Mont-roig and Carbonera uplands that stand between them, which contain numerous caves, chasms and places of outstanding natural beauty. It is also important to stress that La Noguera offers the largest extension of still waters in Catalonia, including the Camarasa, Canelles, Santa Anna, Sant Llorenç and Rialb reservoirs.

In the southern part of the comarca, la Noguera Baixa occupies a wide area whose landscapes are dominated by rivers, irrigation channels, canals and both irrigated and unirrigated crop fields. Its role as the capital of the Earldom of Urgell once made Balaguer one of the most important historic and monumental cities in Catalonia. Its most significant attractions include: the church of Santa Maria, Formós castle, The Archaeological Park of Almatà, the convent of Sant Domènec and a set of buildings located in its historic centre that include the porches of the Plaça Mercadal (market square).

The circuits of the Montsec-la Noguera MTB Centre run through areas of great beauty in the municipal territories of Àger, Les Avellanes i Santa Linya and Os de Balaguer, all of which belong to the Montsec zone.

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Text: Council of La Noguera
Photo: M. Santesmasses, A. Paüls and F. Borrás
Graphic Design: Fernando Borrás