More than 43,000 protected hectares create a new natural destination between Tarragona and Lleida

Catalonia is preparing to add a new major natural icon to its green destinations map with the creation of the Natural Park of the Prades Mountains, Poblet and the Llena Mountain Range, an extensive mosaic of landscapes and ecosystems that will come to life in 2026. With 43,700 hectares and 24 villages involved, this future protected area is birthed as an ambitious ecological corridor and an invitation to discover the Mediterranean interior from a calm, mindful, and deeply experiential perspective. Located in the interior of the province of Tarragona, and extending to the western area of the province of Lleida, the future Prades Mountains Natural Park will become the second largest in Catalonia, only surpassed by the Alt Pirineu Natural Park. Its main uniqueness lies in its rich diversity: there Central European, Mediterranean, and even boreal landscapes coexist, shaping a unique natural setting that changes with the seasons. This new park will articulate a genuine green infrastructure network between the pre-coastal areas of Camp de Tarragona and the interior of Lleida. Mountains, plateaus, and ravines intertwine in an ecological continuum, thereby reinforcing connectivity with other already established protected areas, such as the Poblet forests or the Montsant Mountain Range Natural Park. The result is a coherent, vast, and deeply humanized area, where nature and traditional activities have coexisted for centuries.

Panoramic view of the cliff formations of Els Motllats in the Prades Mountains Natural Park (Catalonia, Spain) © Shutterstock

Biodiversity constitutes one of its great values. More than 4,000 species and up to 95 different habitats find refuge here. Forests, temporary wetlands, rocky slopes, and flower-filled meadows form a living landscape, especially appealing to those who wish to experience nature observation, hiking, or the relaxed contemplation of well-preserved environments. But the park does not look solely to the natural environment. It was also created to become a driving force for sustainable rural development. The management of the area will make it possible to regulate public use, enhance compatible agricultural, forestry, and livestock activities with conservation, and strengthen the identity of the towns that are part of this expansive territory. The participatory governance model, involving administrations, entities, and local sectors, aims to consolidate a shared and lasting project. For the international visitor, the future Prades Mountains Natural Park represents a new gateway to the interior of Catalonia: a still little-known, diverse, and authentic destination, where time is measured in paths, landscapes, and silences. Location Catalonia is located in the northeast of Spain, bordered by France and Andorra to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the Region of Valencia to the south, and Aragon to the west. It has access via the AP–7 and AP–2 highways, international airports in Barcelona and Girona, seaports, and a high-speed rail network.