Just 20 km from the Principality of Andorra is located the wonderful Spanish town of Seo-de-Urgel .The locals call Seo de Urgell "the Spanish gate to Andorra" and, even though it does not apply to Andorra territorially, they consider La Seo to be one of the Andorran cities .Of course, to take this touching affection should not be more than a joke .Until recently, Seo-de-Urgell was quite inconspicuous in the tourist plan town .Local residents led a measured way of life, engaged in dairy farming, developed the textile industry .But in recent years, the city began to actively develop as a tourist center, the benefit for this is all the prerequisites .Seo-de-Urgell is located in a surprisingly picturesque place, in the valley of the river Serg, and is surrounded on all sides by the Pyrenees mountains .In addition to the natural treasures of tourists, relics of great historical value are also attracted .
Seo-de-Urgell was the first capital of the county of Urhel. In the 9th century the residence of bishops and counts of Urzhel was located here. For several centuries these mighty Spanish princes were engaged in the expansion of their possessions in the Andorran valleys. Today Seo-de-Urgell is the center of the diocese of Urhel.
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How to get here
Getting to Seo-de-Urgell directly does not work, because Andorra does not have its own airport. Usually, tourists arrive at one of the airports in Spain or France, and from there take a regular bus to Seo-de-Urgell. The nearest airports are in Barcelona, Carcassonne and Toulouse.
To the south of Seo de Urgell is the airport De La Seu. Until 2008, it was used only for private transport, then it is acquired by the government of Catalonia, and since 2010 it starts to carry out commercial flights. The airport plans to go on regular and charter flights, but as of summer 2014 they were not included in the schedule.
Tourists who travel by car will travel to Seo-de-Urgell along the C-16 route.
Search flights to Barcelona (the nearest airport to Seo-de-Urgel)
Entertainment, sightseeing and sightseeing Seo-de-Urgell
As a rule, familiarity with the sights of the town of Seo de Urgell begins with a visit to the cathedral of Santa Maria de Urgell, located on the south side of the central square of Plaza del Oms. Founded in 1116, the cathedral of Santa Maria de Urgell is considered the oldest in Catalonia. Over the long years of its existence, it was repeatedly rebuilt, complemented by architectural elements, but after restoration work carried out in the early 20th century, the cathedral returned to its original form.
- On the market in front of the cathedral, buy a nice fresh olive.
- Take a few photos of the Pyrenees. From different points of the city unparalleled panoramic views of the mountains open.
- Visit the snow park of El Tarter Ransol.
- Drink a cup of the most fragrant coffee in the valley at Cafe dels Escoberts.
Art lovers will certainly take the opportunity to look into the Diocesan Museum, open at the cathedral. It houses an amazing collection of art objects and church relics dating from the 10th to 18th centuries.
Do not miss the church of San Miguel, built in the 11th century. It is located a stone's throw from the Cathedral. The main asset of this church is a delightful mural painting executed in the Romanesque style.
After getting acquainted with the main shrines of Seo-de-Urgell, you can stroll through the Old Quarter, famous for its picturesque buildings and the Episcopal Courtyard .A characteristic combination of gray buildings and mansions from the 15th and 18th centuries framing winding cobblestone streets creates here a unique atmosphere of the Middle Ages .Remind of the city's rich past and polygonal towers, and forged stairs, and coat of arms on doorways, and shutters on the windows of stone buildings .The central street of Carrer Major and its parallel oldest street Carrer dels Canonges should also be included in your cultural program .
Leisure
Rest in Seo-de-Urgell is in good demand among fans of active tourism. In the immediate vicinity of the town there are ski stations Sant Joan de l'Erm and Tuixent-La Vansa with trails of different lengths and difficulty levels. Sports activities are combined with recreational procedures offered by local spa centers.
In the summer months, the surroundings of Seo de Urgell offer excellent opportunities for hiking and cycling, as well as for rowing and fishing. By the way, it was here, on the river Segre, a park was built for water sports. During the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona, this park hosted canoe and kayak rowing competitions, and now the channel is used for training and world championships.