The Priorat is one
of the oldest and also one of the least densely populated districts
of Catalonia, and although it is only one hundred miles from
Barcelona, it is as remote from a bustling city as could be
possible. Located southwest of Barcelona, not too far from Tarragona,
this region sits in a natural amphitheatre of low mountains
that surround it on all sides. The twenty three towns that form
the Priorat are all relatively small and quite close to each
other, the principal one being Falset.
The economy of the Priorat has always relied on agriculture
and the production of wine and olive oil, making it an ideal
location for wine tours, winery visits and culinary tours. Here
they have been exporting wine since the fifteenth century, and
wine production remains its most important activity along with
the production of olive oil.
There are several
ruins from pre-Iberian settlements as well as vestiges of the
Romans’ presence. The most notable historic feature though,
is the “Cartoixa”, or monastery of Escaladei. Soon after the
Islamic domination which ended in 1153, a group of Cartusian
monks were sent here from France in order to establish their
presence in Catalonia. Thus was founded the first monastery
of the Iberian peninsula, which you will of course have the
chance to visit during your stay.
Enjoy a Spanish Culinary Cooking and Gourmet Food Vacation in El Priorat, Spain. Our culinary vacations allow you to travel to, and learn how to cook delicious Catalan cuisine with daily hands-on cooking classes in our private hotel in the village of El Masroig. Offering wine tours of some of the Priorat's top wineries where the tastings and one-on-one winery tour visits will allow you to discover what makes Priorat wines world reknown.
