Montseny Natural Park is a UNESCO designated biosphere located in Catalonia, Spain, approximately 100km north of Barcelona.
Life in Montseny Natural Park has a different rhythm, one where it might take all morning to go the bank because you run into people you know who stop for a chat, or two years to artfully restore a centuries old Catalonian farmhouse, or where you toast bread over an open fire for breakfast, or step outside your front door and pick fruit right from the trees, or where you spend 7 hours a day eating delicious and local cuisine as I discovered during my five days in Montseny. OK, the locals don’t do that much eating EVERY day, but we did!
If that wasn’t enough to make me fall in love with Montseny the scenery would have done it:
View of Turó de l'Home, the highest mountain in Montseny Natural Park at 1706 m.
Locals are committed to finding a balance between sustainability and supporting the population that lives there. Much of the food served in restaurants in Montseny Natural Park is grown locally and served in a traditional Catalonian style.
View of Montsoriu Castle. Photo courtesy of Martín Gallego, used with permission of the Museu Etnològic del Montseny.
Monsoriu Castle is currently being restored to resemble its former glory days when it played an important role in medieval times.
I would love to hike up to the Turó de l'Home - next time!
Fresh fruit is found all over Montseny Natural Park with fruit trees growing side by side traditional Catalonian farm houses.
Wild flowers are abundant in Montseny Natural Park.
Yet another view of Turó de l'Home. I'm a little obsessed with this mountain!
I admire the people of Montseny and their way of life. It’s much different than my life in Munich, but I think I could learn a lot about slowing down. In fact, I was so inspired by the fragrant smells of herbs and plants and use of fresh produce that I decided to bring a little of Montseny to Munich by starting my own herb garden! It’s my little piece of Montseny on my balcony. It reminds me to slow down, rub the leaves of the peppermint or lavender plant and breathe! It’s not the same as being in Montseny, but it does make me feel instantly more relaxed. Stay tuned to find out more about the villages, unique cultural traditions, herbs and off course the cuisine awaiting you in Montseny Natural Park!
Note: I had not heard of a “natural park” before going to Montseny. According to Wikipedia a natural park “is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns.”
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