Prades Mountains, also known as Muntanyes de Prades, is a large

calcareous Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. In zoology ''Calcareous'' is used as an ad ...

mountain massif straddling the comarcas of

Alt Camp Alt Camp () is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. It is one of the three comarques into which Camp de Tarragona was divided in the comarcal division of 1936. Geography Alt Camp is a county in the province of Tarragona in Catalonia, Spain. T ...

Baix Camp Baix Camp () is a comarca of Catalonia. It is one of the three comarques into which Camp de Tarragona was divided in the comarcal division of 1936. Baix Camp is located on the coast, between Tarragonès to the northeast and Baix Ebre to the sout ...

Conca de Barberà Conca de Barberà () is a comarca (county) in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. Its total area is . At its creation in 1936, it contained 23 municipalities, but in 1990, several of these were amalgamated; Rojals was combined with Mon ...

, Garrigues and

Priorat Priorat () is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the highly regarded wines that are certified under the DOQ Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are certified as DO M ...

, in

Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy. Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the nort ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. They are a

Site of Community Importance A Site of Community Importance (SCI) is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) as a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration at ...

. These mountains have characteristic large and rounded rocky outcrops. They are mostly heavily forested with

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

and

pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accepts ...

trees, and the non-native chestnut tree has adapted to the local forests.

Geography

The range runs in an east to west direction and is part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range. The main peak is Tossal de la Baltasana (1203 m), other summits are Mola d'Estat (1127 m), Mola dels Quatre Termes (1117 m), La Mussara (1055 m), and Punta de la Barrina (1013 m).Mapa Topogràfic de Catalunya - Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya
/ref> The 731 m high Tossal de la Creu is a visible landmark from the

Poblet Monastery Poblet Abbey, otherwise the Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Poblet ( ca, Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Poblet), is a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1151, located at the foot of the Prades Mountains, in the comarca of Conca de Barberà, in Ca ...

, located at the foot of the range. The

Francolí River The Francolí is a river in Catalonia (northeastern Spain). Its source is in the Prades Mountains and it flows into the Mediterranean Sea at Tarragona. This river has a highly irregular flow. It can cause seasonal floods some of which, like the 19 ...

has its source in these mountains as well as other minor local rivers.

Municipalities

The Prades Mountains are a large massif with many smaller subranges extending over the following municipal terms:

L'Albiol L'Albiol is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. The Prades Mountains are located within the municipal term of the town. The 1791 church is dedicated to Saint Michael. See also *Prades ...

Alcover Alcover is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Alt Camp, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. The Prades Mountains are located in the vicinity of this municipality. It is the birthplace of the footballer A football player or footballer is a sport ...

L'Aleixar L'Aleixar is a municipality in the '' comarca'' of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. The Serra de la Mussara, a subrange of the Prades Mountains rises north of the town. The church is dedicated to Saint Martin. See als ...

Alforja Alforja is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. The main monuments are Sant Miquel church in the town, as well as the shrines of Sant Antoni de Pàdua and Mare de Déu de Puigcerver outs ...

Almoster Almoster is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. According to the 2008 census, its population was of 1,339 inhabitants. Location Almoster is located to the south of Catalonia and north of Tarragona. ...

Arbolí Arbolí is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Baix Camp in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the west of the ''comarca'' in the Prades mountains. A local road links the village with the C-242 road. The Prades Mountains are located in the ...

Capafonts Capafonts is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' nationality'' ...

, Cornudella de Montsant,

L'Espluga de Francolí L'Espluga de Francolí is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' n ...

La Febró La Febró is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' nationality'' ...

, Montblanc,

Mont-ral Mont-ral is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Alt Camp, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. The Prades Mountains are located within the municipal boundaries. History Mont-ral was part of the Montblanc Vegueria until 1716. Later it became part of th ...

La Pobla de Cérvoles La Pobla de Cérvoles is a village in the province of Lleida and autonomous community of Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' natio ...

, Prades, La Riba,

La Selva del Camp La Selva del Camp is a municipality in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, northern Spain. The Prades Mountains are located in the vicinity of this municipality. Main sights *Parish church of Sant Andreu *Castle (12th century) *Convent of St. ...

, Ulldemolins,

Vallclara Vallclara is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' nationality'' ...

Vilaplana Vilaplana is a municipality in the '' comarca'' of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. The Serra de la Mussara, a subrange of the Prades Mountains rises north of the town. This mountain range is named after the abandoned vi ...

Vilanova de Prades Vilanova de Prades is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Conca de Barberà, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. It is a popular holiday resort located at high altitude atop the Serra de la Llena, close to the area where this mountain ...

Vilaverd Vilaverd is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Conca de Barberà in Catalonia, Spain. The Prades Mountains Prades Mountains, also known as Muntanyes de Prades, is a large calcareous mountain massif straddling the comarcas of Alt Camp, Bai ...

, El Vilosell and

Vimbodí i Poblet Vimbodí i Poblet is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Conca de Barberà in Catalonia, Spain. The main settlement is the village of Vimbodí. The Prades Mountains are located in the vicinity of this municipality. Sights The Monastery ...

Gallery

File:Pena roja.jpg, The massive Pena Roja File:Esglesia de la Mussara 2006.jpg, The ruined church of La Mussara, an abandoned town in the Serra de la Mussara, a subrange of the Prades Mountains File:Catalunya capafonts-prades (8).JPG, A forest near

References

Bibliography

*Domingo, Màrius. ''Muntanyes de Prades. Excursions naturals''. Valls: Cossetània, 2000 *Domingo, M. i Borau, A. ''Muntanyes de Prades, Paisatge i Fauna''. Valls: Cossetània, 1998 *Ferré Masip, Rafael. ''Les Muntanyes de Prades. Guia itinerària''. Barcelona: Piolet, 2001 *Insa, Josep. ''Les Muntanyes de Prades. Caminant de poble a poble''. Valls: Cossetània, 2005

External links

Tourist information

Tretzevents: ''Les Muntanyes de Prades''

Associació d'Amics de les Muntanyes de Prades

Protected areas in CataloniaGeneralitat
{{Authority control Mountain ranges of Catalonia Alt Camp Baix Camp Conca de Barberà Garrigues (comarca) Priorat