Starry nights and good wine in Priorat

Priorat is a beautiful place to explore during the day, but when the sun goes down and the stars begin to shine, the landscapes of the Tarragona region take on an indescribable magic, offering the ideal atmosphere to enjoy peace and silence.

The night sky and tranquility are qualities that have been especially recognized in this area since 2019, when the Generalitat declared the environment as

an acoustic and light protection zone

, becoming

the first in all of Catalonia with this double scope of protection

.

enlarge photo cova fdez.

One of the best enclaves to enjoy the night sky is

the Serra de Montsant natural park

, a unique place with numerous trails, and unknown by many people, where in the 12th century the monks of

the Order of the Cartuja

built a monastery ,

the historic Charterhouse of Escaladei

, thus founding the first charterhouse on the Iberian Peninsula.

The conservation of the quality of the night sky and the vision of the stars is a very precious asset in the area and, as Sergi Paricio, head of the Service for the Prevention and Control of Noise and Light Pollution of the Generalitat, explains, for years They are running a program to improve the darkness of the park.

According to Paricio, this is very important for vegetation and animals, "who are affected by light pollution to hunt or hide at night, since the light spreads a long distance."

It is for this reason that the light in some municipalities around Montsant is being changed to a pumpkin hue because it has less impact.

In recent years, new projects, activities and accommodation have been born here that link very well with

astrotourism,

since they are located in the middle of the field and thus allow you to enjoy a very special night under the stars.

Falling asleep looking at the sky, living the nights in a different way and feeling a deep connection with nature are some of the traveling experiences that seek greater authenticity without giving up any comfort.

enlarge photo Exterior of the Terra Dominicata hotel.

eric dherouville

This is the case of

Terra Dominicata

, a five-star hotel surrounded by vineyards and cypresses where it is possible to immerse yourself in the silence and the gastronomy of the Priorat region.

The accommodation is located just three kilometers from the

Cartoixa d'Escaladei

and in a farmhouse that was formerly inhabited by peasants who worked the lands under the monastery's domain, today completely renovated with great elegance and with all the services, including an attractive terrace and an outdoor swimming pool.

The hermitage of Mare de Déu de Montsant, in the Priorat region.

A. ROIG

Two appellations of origin

Like many establishments in the area, the hotel has

its own wine cellar

.

The fact is that Priorat is considered

one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world

and has two designations of origin: the well-known

DOCa Priorat

and the

DO Montsant.

The main difference between them is that the DOCa Priorat (qualified denomination of origin) mainly coincides with the towns that had been under the rule of the monks of the Escaladei Charterhouse, and the DO Montsant (denomination of origin) encompasses the territory of the first crescent shaped.

Furthermore, the majority type of soil in the DOCa Priorat is slate, known as

llicorella,

and the orography is very rugged, “cataclysmic”, defined by the writer Josep Pla.

Cristina Beltrán, head of the

Priorat Regional Council

Tourism Office

, indicates that the Montsant denomination of origin was created in 2001. Until that date, the wineries in the area belonged to the

DO Tarragona

, but due to their uniqueness and quality of its wines claimed a proper appellation and was achieved.

Another difference is that DOCa Priorat is a qualified denomination.

Along with that of

Rioja, they

are

the only two in Spain that hold this distinction

, which is awarded to wines that have reached high levels of quality over a period of time.

The

Alma Mater restaurant

, in the Terra Dominicata hotel, has almost

300 references of Priorat and Montsant wines

, allowing travelers to access most of the proposals in the area.

Two Priorat wines are made in its wineries:

Domus Aquilae

and

Umbra

.

Wine and gastronomy are a cornerstone of the region, which is why you will find very good quality restaurants with

signature

cuisine even in the smallest towns, such as

Els Tallers

, in the small Siurana, or

Brots Restaurant

, in Poboleda.

enlarge photo 'Glamping' by Bodegas Perinet.

Luda Lish Photo

Another unmissable visit is to visit

the Perinet winery

, a spectacular estate in

La Morera de Montsant

that allows a trip through its

llicorellas,

the history and customs of the territory, always inspired by the excellence of the wines of the area.

Organize

buggy

tours

- small vehicles designed to drive through the mountains - to explore its vineyards, and gastronomic breakfasts to enjoy a different experience accompanied by good wine and local products.

It has recently added to its offer the possibility of

sleeping in a

glamping

between the vines to enjoy the most exclusive wines around a bonfire and under the starry sky of Priorat, but with all the luxuries and services of any accommodation.

An activity that requires prior request for groups of at least 10 people.

Toast at the observatory

In the region, activities are held throughout the year that combine wine and contemplation of the sky.

This is the case of

Vi, glosa i estrellas

,

a show in which the connections between the world of wine and the stars are discovered through songs, stories and poetry.

The activity, led by Alexandre Bonanit and Gemma Balagué, with the collaboration of the

Celler Cooperatiu de Cornudella de Montsant

, is developed from a tasting of three or four wines.

The astronomer discovers some of the product's relationships with the night sky with highly suggestive arguments, while the glosser begins a game with words that perfectly matches the tasted wine, astronomy and what is happening in the audience at that moment.

A very unique pairing.

Another experience is to go to the Astropriorat astronomical observatory, located next to the sports and leisure area of ​​the town of

La Torre de Fontaubella

.

Here one can join activities such as an

audiovisual description of the Moon, planets and stars

, followed by a practical observation with telescopes.

When the session is over, a glass of wine is offered.

We are in Priorat for a reason.

Practical Guide

• Hotel Terra Dominicata, in Escaladei

•  Alma Mater Restaurant

• Perinet winery, in La Morera de Montsant 

•  Activity Vi, 'gloss and stars'

•  Astronomical Observatory Astropriorat 

• Tourism of the Priorat.

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