Prades Mountains
Encyclopedia
Prades Mountains, also known as Muntanyes de Prades, is a large calcareous
mountain massif straddling the comarcas of Alt Camp
, Baix Camp
, Conca de Barberà
, Garrigues
and Priorat
, in Catalonia
, Spain
. These mountains have characteristic large and rounded rocky outcrops. They are mostly heavily forested with oak
and pine
trees, and the non-endemic chestnut
tree has adapted to the local forests.
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). The 731 m high Tossal de la Creu is a visible landmark from the Poblet Monastery
, located at the feet of the range.
The Francolí River has its source in these mountains as well as other minor locar rivers.
, Alcover
, L'Aleixar
, Alforja
, muntanyes d'Almoster, Almoster, Arbolí
, Capafonts
, Cornudella de Montsant
, L'Espluga de Francolí
, La Febró
, Montblanc
, Mont-ral
, La Pobla de Cérvoles
, Prades
, La Riba
, La Selva del Camp
, Ulldemolins
, Vallclara
, Vilaplana
, Vilanova de Prades
, Vilaverd
, El Vilosell
and Vimbodí i Poblet
.
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:...
mountain massif straddling the comarcas of Alt Camp
Alt Camp
Alt Camp is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain.It is one of the three comarques into which Camp de Tarragona was divided in the comarcal division of 1936.- Municipalities :Populations are for 2001.*Aiguamúrcia - pop. 648*Alcover - pop. 3966...
, Baix Camp
Baix Camp
Baix Camp is a comarca of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. It is one of the three comarques into which Camp de Tarragona was divided in the comarcal division of 1936....
, Conca de Barberà
Conca de Barberà
Conca de Barberà is a comarca in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.-Municipalities:*Barberà de la Conca - pop. 434*Blancafort - pop. 412*Conesa - pop. 123*Espluga de Francolí - pop. 3,687*Forès - pop. 60*Llorac - pop. 128...
, Garrigues
Garrigues
Les Garrigues is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is Les Borges Blanques. Its symbol is an olive branch, Les Garrigues being the center of olive cultivation in all of Catalonia...
and Priorat
Priorat
Priorat is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigious wine of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated as Montsant...
, in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. These mountains have characteristic large and rounded rocky outcrops. They are mostly heavily forested with oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
trees, and the non-endemic chestnut
Chestnut
Chestnut , some species called chinkapin or chinquapin, is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The chestnut belongs to the...
tree has adapted to the local forests.
The range runs in an east to west direction and is part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
The Catalan Pre-Coastal Range is a system of mountain ranges running parallel to the Mediterranean Sea coast in Catalonia. It is part of the Catalan Mediterranean System. Its main axis runs between the Catalan Transversal Range and the Serra de l'Espina, which connects with the Ports de...
. The main peak is Tossal de la Baltasana
Tossal de la Baltasana
Tossal de la Baltasana is a mountain of Catalonia, Spain. It has an altitude of 1203 metres above sea level....
(1203 m), other summits are Mola d'Estat (1127 m), Mola dels Quatre Termes
Mola dels Quatre Termes
Mola dels Quatre Termes, also known as Mola d'Estat, is a summit in the Serra del Bosc range, Prades Mountains, Catalonia, Spain. It has an altitude of 1117 metres above sea level....
(1117 m), La Mussara
La Mussara (Vilaplana)
La Mussara is a mountain of Catalonia, Spain. It is the highest peak of the Serra de la Mussara, a subrange of the Prades Mountains.Located north of the town of Vilaplana, La Mussara has an altitude of 1055 metres above sea level....
(1055 m), and Punta de la Barrina
Punta de la Barrina
Punta de la Barrina is a mountain of Catalonia, Spain. It has an altitude of 1013 metres above sea level....
(1013 m). The 731 m high Tossal de la Creu is a visible landmark from the Poblet Monastery
Poblet Monastery
The Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Poblet is a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1151, located at the feet of the Prades Mountains, in the comarca of Conca de Barberà, in Catalonia . It was founded by Cistercian monks from France on lands conquered from the Moors...
, located at the feet of the range.
The Francolí River has its source in these mountains as well as other minor locar rivers.
Municipalities
The Prades Mountains are a large massif with many smaller subranges extending over the following municipal terms: L'AlbiolL'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.-References:...
, Alcover
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....
, L'Aleixar
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.-References:...
, Alforja
Alforja, Baix Camp
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 outside of its perimeter.The Prades Mountains are located in the...
, muntanyes d'Almoster, Almoster, Arbolí
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...
, Capafonts
Capafonts
Capafonts is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
, Cornudella de Montsant
Cornudella de Montsant
Cornudella de Montsant is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat inCatalonia, Spain. It is situated in the north-west of the comarca below the Montsant range and the...
, L'Espluga de Francolí
L'Espluga de Francolí
L'Espluga de Francolí is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
, La Febró
La Febró
La Febró is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
, Montblanc
Montblanc, Tarragona
Montblanc s the capital of the Catalan comarca Conca de Barberà, in the Spanish province of Tarragona.The Prades Mountains are located in the vicinity of this municipality.-History:The area around Montblanc has been inhabited for thousands of years...
, Mont-ral
Mont-ral
Mont-ral is a municipality in the comarca of Alt Camp, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.The Prades Mountains are located within this municipal term.-History:Mont-ral was part of the Montblanc Vegueria until 1716...
, La Pobla de Cérvoles
La Pobla de Cérvoles
La Pobla de Cérvoles is a village in the province of Lleida and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
, Prades
Prades, Baix Camp
Prades is a municipality in the comarca of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.The main monuments are Santa Maria church in the town, as well as the Ermita de l'Abellera shrine located in an escarpment, outside the town's perimeter....
, La Riba
La Riba
La Riba is a municipality in the comarca of Alt Camp, province of Tarragona, Catalonia, in north-eastern Spain.The Prades Mountains are located in this municipality's municipal term.-References:...
, La Selva del Camp
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...
, Ulldemolins
Ulldemolins
Ulldemolins is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat in Catalonia, Spain.This town is located among rocky mountains, the Serra de la Llena, the Serra de Montsant and the Prades Mountains....
, Vallclara
Vallclara
Vallclara is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.-References:...
, Vilaplana
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...
, Vilanova de Prades
Vilanova de Prades
Vilanova de Prades is a municipality in the comarca of Baix Camp, 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 range meets the Prades Mountains.The town appears mentioned for...
, Vilaverd
Vilaverd
Vilaverd is a municipality in the comarca of the Conca de Barberà in Catalonia, Spain.The Prades Mountains are located in the vicinity of this municipality.-References:...
, El Vilosell
El Vilosell
El Vilosell is a village in the province of Lleida and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
and Vimbodí i Poblet
Vimbodí i Poblet
Vimbodí i Poblet is a municipality in the comarca of the Conca de Barberà in Catalonia, Spain.The Prades Mountains are located in the vicinity of this municipality.- Sights :...
.