Ski Resorts
Lleida and Barcelona : Cataluña Ski Resorts
By m.p. - Nov 15, 2007 - 5:33 PM
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Baqueira-Beret is the largest of the six ski resorts in Lleida province, with an area extending from 1,500 metres up to an altitude of 2,510.
Situated in the Val d’Aran, it is equipped with 72 ski runs, covering a total area of 104 kilometres, served by a system of 549 snow cannons. There are pistes for all levels of skill here, with 4 green runs, 36 blue, 26 red and 6 black, together with a 7 km cross-country circuit and a slalom stadium. Its extensive ski lift system has the capacity to carry more than 56,000 people an hour.
It is divided into three separate sectors: Baqueira, Beret and Bonaigua.
Lying close to the border with France, its nearest airport is Toulouse, 166 kms away.
The Boí Taüll resort, as its name indicates, lies in the Boí Valley, and is also a popular destination in the summer, with a wide range of sporting activities on offer. The Aigüestortes National Park is just 10 kms away.
The ski station itself is equipped with 49 marked pistes (9 green, 4 blue, 28 red and 8 black), providing a total skiable area of 43 kilometres, and a system of 155 snow cannons providing close to 16 kms of artificial snow. A snow park, jump areas and off-piste circuits make up another 11 kms of area.
There are two ski schools on site with 100 instructors, and accommodation at the resort for 1,200.
Espot Esqui is right at the entrance to the National Park, in the Pallars Sobirá district, and is popular with those who want to escape the crowds or for those who want to enjoy a family holiday amongst this beautiful scenery. The resort opened in 1967 and now offers 23.5 kms of skiable area, with 22 runs (2 green, 9 blue, 7 red and 4 black). A system of 89 snow cannons provides 9 kms of artificial snow.
There is one ski school on site, with accommodation in the resort and in the surrounding area, and ample activities on offer during the summer.
Port-Ainé, is also in Pallars Sobirá, in the town of Rialp, and is split into two separate centres: the ski resort, Port-Ainé Outdoor, where activities also take place in the summer, and Port-Ainé Sport Centre Rafting, between Rialp and the town of Sort, for adventure sports.
The ski resort offers 28 marked pistes (7 green, 4 blue, 13 red and 4 black), plus 2 blue circuits and 3 black itineraries. Its system of 9 ski lifts can carry 10,000 people an hour, with 88 snow cannons providing 12 kms of artificial snow.
There is one ski school here, with instructors for all levels of skill. There is just one hotel on site, but ample accommodation in the surrounding area.
The Port del Compte ski station is the most southerly of Lleida’s ski resorts, and is within easy reach of Cataluña’s large cities. It is in the Solsonés district, surrounded by an extensive forest of black pine, one of the most beautiful areas of the Pre-Pyrenees.
The station is equipped with 36 marked runs (7 green, 11 blue, 13 red and 5 black), providing a total skiable area of 40.7 kms, and served by 15 ski lifts. A system of 200 snow cannons provides 17 kms of artificial snow on 15 of the pistes. There is one ski school here with 50 instructors.
Returning to the Pallars Sobirá district, we find the Tavascan High Mountain Ski Resort, 10 kms from Tavascan itself. This mini ski station offers 5 pistes (1 green and 4 red), covering 5 kms of skiable area. Cross-country skiing facilities are much more extensive, with 16 kilometres of marked circuits.
There is one ski school here, with the only on-site accommodation in the Refugio Pleta del Prat mountain retreat at the foot of the slopes. The Refugio is also open during the summer months for those who want to enjoy the many sporting activities on offer in this area.
The only ski resort in Barcelona province, Rasos de Peguera, is just 14 kilometres from the town of Berga, with its 114 kms distance from the Catalan capital, Barcelona, making it the ideal destination for an introduction to the sport or for a day’s skiing with the family.
There are just ten pistes here (2 green, 2 blue and 6 red), with a further 2 kms for cross-country skiing. One ski school with 22 instructors.
Rasos de Peguera has a lengthy history despite its small size, and also has its place in the history of skiing in Cataluña for the day in Christmas 1908 when members of the Catalunya Excursion Centre made their first ski descent in Rasos de Peguera.
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