The Prades Mountains are one of the most important natural areas in Catalonia, meeting the basic requirements of diversity, representativeness and uniqueness, and are part of the Catalan Mediterranean system. It constitutes a perfectly identifiable geographical unit between the counties of Alt and Baix Camp, Conca de Barberà and Priorat. The area includes the municipalities of Mont-ral, Alcover, la Riba, Alforja, Capafonts, la Febró, l’Albiol, l’Aleixar, Arbolí, Prades, Vilaplana, Vilaverd, Montblanc, l’Espluga de Francolí, Vimbodí i Poblet, Vallclara, Vilanova de Prades, Cornudella de Montsant, la Selva del Camp, and Ulldemolins. Its highest point is Tossal de la Baltasana at 1,201 m.
This area, in addition to having breathtaking landscapes of great biological and geological interest, offers a wide range of outdoor and cultural activities.
The great diversity of geological substrates, along with its geographical and orographic location and the existence of large, open spaces where human presence is practically non-existent, determines the high degree of biodiversity with endemic or not very common species of flora and fauna. Furthermore, there are palaeontological sites declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998. In Montblanc we find the Rock Art Interpretation Centre (CIAR), created as a reference point in the research, conservation and study of prehistoric art in the Prades Mountains.
The area contains natural spaces of special protection such as the Partial Nature Reserves of El Titllar and La Trinitat and the Poblet Natural Site of National Interest.
It is an ideal area for sports and outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, climbing, paragliding or kayaking in the Siurana reservoir.
There are numerous routes to enjoy both its landscapes and its rich architectural and cultural heritage. Throughout the area, there are hermitages, small rural settlements and some scattered farmhouses. In the Poblet Natural site of National Interest, you can visit the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet, one of the main masterpieces of Catalan Cistercian art. There is also the Vimbodí i Poblet Glass Museum, the only museum with live demonstrations of the glass-blowing technique; the Caves and the Museum of Rural Life in Espluga de Francolí, and the mediaeval site of Montblanc, among others.
The local gastronomic highlights include chestnuts and truffles from Vilanova de Prades.
There is currently a draft project that proposes converting this area, along with Poblet Natural Park, into a nature reserve.
