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On Thursday, June 13, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) presented the tourist offer for this summer 2024 of the tourist facilities it manages: six mountain resorts (La Molina, Vall de Núria, Vallter, Espot Esquí, Port Ainé and Boí Taüll), tourist transport (Montserrat Rack Railway and Funiculars, Núria Rack Railway, Tren del Ciment, Tren dels Llacs and Tren Granota) and the Parc Astronòmic del Montsec.

During the event, the president of FGC, Toni Segarra Barreto, expressed his desire to guarantee an attractive tourist offer aimed at all audiences. “At Ferrocarrils we work to obtain the best return for the territory, this is our priority. And we do it through the creation of an economic, social and labor dynamism that offers the best service to the people who visit us. An objective that we base on seven fundamental pillars: sustainability and the fight against climate change, the diversification of the proposal of activities to promote local tourism, seasonal adjustment to attract visitors throughout the year and better distribute the influx of public. ; the digital transformation of our services to improve customer service and mobility for citizens; collaboration with territorial agents to promote the areas of influence where they are located; "the promotion of sport and outdoor physical activity in all its forms and sustainable mobility to access tourist destinations, following European models."

This summer 2024, FGC Turisme continues to support the Pirineu365 Club, the loyalty program aimed at all clients of FGC mountain resorts who want to enjoy the mountains and outdoor activities 365 days a year.

In its first year of operation, it already has more than 20,706 members (that is, an increase of 112% compared to the start of the 2023-2024 winter season), who enjoy special offers on FGC products and services, prize draws, participation in conferences and experiences in the Ferrocarrils mountain stations, among other advantages.

The mountain resorts, up close

The FGC Turisme mountain stations are the gateway to some of the main natural and national parks in Catalonia and, therefore, become ideal proximity destinations to enjoy experiences in the high mountains.

La Molina will start the season on Saturday, June 15 and will be operational until October 6; Vallter will do so on Saturday, June 29 and will close on September 1; Boí Taüll will kick off the season on Saturday, July 20 and will be open to the public until September 1; and Vall de Núria, which is open 365 days a year, already offers summer activities.

As for the La Molina resort, among its wide range of activities, the Bike Park stands out, which is the largest in the entire Iberian Peninsula, children's activities and panoramic walks with the Cap de Comella Chairlift and the Cadí Cable Car. - Moixeró to the top of Tosa d'Alp at 2,537 meters. This becomes an unbeatable starting point for excursions, such as those of the Mines and Fauna circuits.

In addition, this summer, starting on Saturday, June 29, La Molina recovers the activities in the Lake area and incorporates new proposals. Visitors will be able to enjoy different activities, such as kayaks, water scooters, the remodeled Disc Golf circuit, children's electric bicycles, as well as the sports circuit. As a star proposal, the new aquatic bicycles stand out, which can be rented throughout the summer season. Suitable for all audiences from 1.50 m tall, they allow you to discover the lake in a different way while practicing sports.

Vall de Núria, where activity never stops, is a place without cars, since the Núria Rack Railway is the only means of transport to access it. It is a natural space free of contamination where the biodiversity of the valley is preserved, such as marmots, chamois or the bearded vulture.

This summer 2024 it will be one of the most attractive mountain tourist facilities for the general public. Its summer offer is intended for families, athletes or those visitors who want to enjoy a day of rest or spiritual shelter in contact with nature.

Among its proposals stands out the ride on the Coma del Clot Cable Car, the extensive variety of hiking routes for all levels and a wide range of activities for the little ones in the house, such as boats and canoes, horseback riding and pony or mini golf.

New this summer, Vall de Núria offers yoga sessions and on June 29 it will inaugurate a temporary exhibition about Ecovall that will be free for all visitors. This summer, in addition, the Vall de Ribes resort presents four new experiences to enjoy and rediscover the valley: canyoning excursions, Olla de Núria trekking, photography outings and night outings. All these experiences include a stay at the Vall de Núria Hotel.

The Vallter mountain resort will begin the season on Saturday, June 29 and will extend it until Sunday, September 1. This summer it focuses its summer offer on outdoor sports activities. Among the main activities, the panoramic ride on the Jordi Pujol Planella Chairlift stands out, which takes visitors up to 2,535 m and allows them to visit the source of the Ter River, a space that will be identified with dry stone elements and with new information signs to communicate and raise awareness about this place.

Among the star proposals for high mountain fans, the activation of the Ter Route on foot and by mountain bike stands out, which has its own license and the first stamp is placed in Vallter, which becomes the starting point; hiking and trail running outings around the Morens circus; or the now traditional challenge "The Roof of Catalonia", a first-class mountain pass of 12 kilometers and 895 meters of elevation that separates the idyllic town of Setcases from the arrival in Vallter.

During this summer, activities will also be offered for children who will be able to participate in the Fajol self-guided Gymkhana to obtain the Fajol Club card and a Fajol keychain as a gift.

Boí Taüll will welcome the season next Saturday, July 20. This summer 2024 comes full of excitement, since the construction of a 200-meter double zip line is planned. It will be announced when it is ready for use. This lift is the first of others that are planned to be done within the framework of the Adrenaline Mountains summer project.

Among the various proposals that can be made throughout the season, the guided routes with electric bicycles in the station for all levels, the rental of electric motorcycles for boys and girls from 3 to 10 years old in a children's circuit, located between the Vaques and Junior ski lifts, as well as family hiking routes of difficulty levels, in the middle of the Alt Pirineu.

As for Espot Esquí and Port Ainé, both located in Pallars Sobirà, during the summer season they maintain their link with the region, promoting and participating in the activities of the territory. In addition, different cultural, sports, gastronomic and traditional aspects of the region are promoted through their social networks. Finally, it is important to highlight that the Espot Esquí mountain station will be linked to the bicycle hub project, promoted by the Regional Council and with European funds. Hand in hand with this initiative, the Pallaresa station will give up its space to house a Bike Park.

A sustainable trip to escape the rush

FGC Turisme tourist transports will also be in circulation during the summer season: three tourist trains, three funiculars and two rack trains. Under the umbrella of the Turistren brand, FGC invites citizens to rediscover the territory of inland Catalonia to transport them to destinations full of nature, culture and history. A proposal in which the trip becomes an experience in itself.

The Montserrat Rack Railway and the Montserrat Funiculars, located in the Bages region, allow sustainable access to one of the most emblematic and characteristic places in Catalonia: the Montserrat Mountain Natural Park, an incomparable tourist reference that receives visitors from all over the world. parts of the world. Apart from the numerous hiking routes that can be followed, you can also enjoy museum spaces such as the Geopark Interpretation Center or the Montserrat Museum, without forgetting the obligatory visit to the Basilica of Montserrat.

The Núria Rack Railway, in the Ripollès region, brings the population from the towns of Ribes and Queralbs to Vall de Núria, a unique natural enclave in the Catalan Pyrenees. This is the only transportation to access the FGC mountain station. Along the 12.5 kilometers of route and 1,000 meters of elevation gain, this tourist transport with more than 90 years of history offers spectacular views of the landscape. The journey is made without crowds since users are recommended to book their ticket in advance and, in this way, availability and seats are guaranteed. In this way, it is also possible to respect and protect the environment with a sustainable influx of visitors and without overcrowding, both for the valley and its surroundings.

This summer, your ticket includes the ride with the Coma del Clot Cable Car to the Mirador del Pic de l'Àliga and the visit to all the museum spaces and interpretation center that the visitor will find in Vall de Núria and at the rack railway station in Ribes Vila. In addition, on weekends you can enjoy a special circulation with vintage trains and an interpretive guide that includes an exceptional stop at the Fontalba viewpoint on the route.

As for the Tren del Ciment, in Alt Berguedà, it maintains its tourist route that runs along the route that in the past linked the Asland cement factory, in Castellar de n'Hug (today converted into the Cement Museum), with Guardiola from Berguedà, currently stopping at the Artigas Gardens designed by Antoni Gaudí and the Pobla de Lillet.

The Tren dels Llacs runs through one of the most spectacular and unique places in the territory, entering from La Plana to the Pre-Pyrenees of Lleida. Travelers can choose between two forms of travel: either with the Historical Train or with the Panoramic Train, which stands out for its large windows. Be that as it may, visitors will be able to enjoy landscapes that will not leave them indifferent, between mountains, bridges, tunnels and gorges. This season, the Tren dels Llacs will be in operation until October 26. In total, there will be 24 circulations of the Historical Train and four circulations of the Panoramic Train.

As a novelty this year, the Department of Territory has completed the Llacs cycle tourism route, 107 kilometers long. It runs through the regions of Segrià, La Noguera and Pallars Jussà, parallel and complementary to the FGC Lleida - La Pobla de Segur line, in an environment of high landscape value. Its objective is to promote the safe use of bicycles as a tourist, sports and leisure element. In this sense, FGC's commitment to the territory is shown. In this area, therefore, there are already two Railway actions: the tourist service of the Tren dels Llacs and this route.

Finally, the Tren Granota, which circulates between Les Planes and the Sabadell and Terrassa stations, will be in circulation until December and will offer service on the next four Sundays: September 22, October 6, November 3 and December 1. On each trip, the train, declared a Cultural Asset of General Interest in 2023 by the Department of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia, stops at all intermediate stations, where travelers can get on and off the vehicle.

One of the best skies in Europe for astronomical observation

The Parc Astronòmic del Montsec is located in the Noguera region, in an extraordinary location considered the best place for sky observation in Catalonia. The low cloud cover in the area, the little light pollution and the altitude make the Sierra del Montsec the ideal place for the installation of a world reference center in astronomy.

The Park brings science to citizens to make known the greatness of a night sky with extraordinary characteristics that allows us to discover the secrets of the universe. For this reason, it is considered the most important astronomy equipment in Catalonia and also becomes a reference in the teaching and dissemination of space and universe sciences. It also offers the unique opportunity to observe the sun as a daytime activity, showing itself as a space rich in diverse experiences both day and night.

Among the wide range of events, this summer highlights the screening of Pink Floyd's iconic album 'The Dark Side of the Moon', in commemoration of its 50th anniversary. The Parc Astronòmic commemorates the legacy of the British rock band with an immersive experience with immersive music and images. The screenings that began last December will continue until November 16 of this year. Another proposal worth highlighting is the 14th edition of the "Music under the Stars" cycle, which takes place from July to December and includes a visit to the Park and a musical show.