Since its first edition in 2014, the Rock Fest in Barcelona has rapidly established itself as one of Europe's leading rock and metal music festivals.

The line-up gets better every year, and includes such big names as Aerosmith, Deep Purple, Ozzy Osbourne, ZZ Top, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Alice Cooper.

Today, I'd like to introduce you to this exceptional festival.

Rock Fest in Barcelona: article summary

Rock Fest Barcelona: Festival site and stages

Rock Fest Barcelona takes place at Can Zam Park, an 11-hectare park in Santa Coloma de Gramanet. on the outskirts of Barcelona.

The festival is built around two identical main stages set up side by side (Stage Rock on the left and Stage Fest on the right).

This type of layout offers two floors with 2 advantages. Firstly, it eliminates the classic festival dilemma of having to choose between two bands playing simultaneously.

Well-oiled organization! 

The bands play almost continuously one after the other throughout the day. While a band is playing on stage, the team prepares the other scene for the next act.

You can choose to move with the crowd from one stage to the next, or reserve a prime spot right in front of one of the stages.

There's also a third, smaller stage at the back of the site, called the Rock Tent Stage. Here, lesser-known, local bands play. When the bands finish on the Rock Tent Stage, at around 3:30 a.m., they're ready to go, DJs take over.

A timed scene

Most artists are on stage for 60 minutes, with the headliners playing for an hour and 45 minutes. Everything is very well organized to ensure that each group starts on time. The exact schedule can be found on Rock Fest website a few weeks before the event.

The best way to make sure you don't miss anything is to install the Rock Fest application on your phone. At first glance, the application is just a mobile version of the website, but it has a very useful function.

If you click on the name of a group in the running order, it is added to your calendar. You will then receive a message reminding you that they are about to play 1 h before the concert.

Rock Fest in Barcelona: collect multicolored bracelets

Before entering the festival site, one-day tickets and three-day passes are exchanged for wristbands at the entrance.

Once you have your wristband, you are free to enter the festival site as often as you like. Please note that you must also keep your ticket with you in case you are asked to show it.

If you have a three-day pass, you can also pick up your wristband at the Fnac in Paris. Plaça de Catalunya. It is located in the El Triangle shopping center and offers this service on the Wednesday before the festival, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The different installations at Rock Fest Barcelona

In addition to the three stages where bands perform throughout the day, there are also a number of facilities that are sure to please rock fans.

For example, there's an autograph tent where you can meet the bands, get autographs and take photos with your idols.

The autograph tent schedule is normally posted on the app and website shortly before the festival.

If you don't get to see your idols at the autograph tent, there's a guitar, a giant drum kit and a guitar-shaped throne where you can take a selfie with your friends to remember the event.

You'll also find a small area with food trucks selling food. By music festival standards, prices are quite reasonable. In fact, you have to between €7 and €8 for a bowl of noodles, burger, kebab, falafel or bocadillo. There's a covered area with tables where you can enjoy your meal seated in the shade.

Finally, there are two large bars in the middle of the site where you can enjoy a cold beer, as well as mobile beer vendors circulating among the crowds. so you don't have to miss a single moment to grab a beer.

What's not allowed at the festival

You may not bring your own food and drink onto the site. All festival-goers are searched at the entrance. Fortunately, drink prices are not too high.

In 2019, a half-litre bottle of water cost €1 and beer sold for between €3 and €9. You can also sneak off-site where you'll find volunteers with coolers selling cans of beer for €1.50!

How to get to Barcelona Rock Fest

The advantage of Rock Fest is its location and ease of access. Can Zam has its own stop on the L9 North line of the Barcelona metro.

It takes about 45 minutes to get to the festival site from downtown Barcelona. The metro station is right in front of the festival entrance. You'll see the stages and hear the music in the park below you as you leave the station.

The north-east L9 to lines L1 and L5 at La Sagrera and I recommend that you choose a hotel close to one of these stops.

The metro runs until 2 a.m. on Friday nights, all night on Saturday nights and until midnight on Sundays and weekdays. So you won't have to no trouble getting back from the festival.

Barcelona's Rock Fest is a veritable institution for all metal fans. However, if you have a bit of time before or after the festival, I'd advise you to visit the city. It would be a shame to miss Barcelona without discovering what it's hiding.

Provincial capital of southern Catalonia, Tarragona is a place full of activities with friends or family.

This place sums up everything people love about Spain's Mediterranean coast.

Here you'll find a collection of UNESCO-listed Roman archaeological sites dating back to the time when it was Iberia's most important city.

From ancient monuments to PortAventura, I'll show you everything the city has to offer.

Activity in Tarragona: article summary

Tarragona Amphitheatre

The Tarraco amphitheater was an exquisite setting, carved into a steep slope between the Roman walls and the Mediterranean. As you leave the Part Alta, this elliptical arena lies before you, framed by the azure sea.

It was built in the late 100s and could accommodate 15,000 spectators. The basement of the amphitheatre is clearly visible, from where gladiators and wild animals would have been hoisted to the arena floor.

Activities in Tarragona: visit the cathedral

One of the great things about Tarragona's Romanesque and Gothic cathedral is the way it appears to you in the city's narrow streets. The surrounding streets, such as Carrer de la Merceria and Carrer Major, are compact alleyways with traditional stores, antique dealers and restaurants.

And then on the Plaça de Santiago Rossinyol, everything opens up and you can see the magnificent Gothic façade. I recommend a visit to the diocesan museum to see Renaissance tapestries and Roman artefacts recovered during excavations of the cathedral between 1999 and 2001.

Aqueduc des Ferrères

Five minutes north of Tarragona, spanning a pine-forested valley, lies a 250-meter section of an aqueduct that carried water from the Francolí river to ancient Tarraco.

The monument has 36 arches and rises to a height of 27 metres. above the valley. If you don't mind the heights, you can walk along the specus, where the water used to flow, even though the walls of this structure are no higher than your thighs!

The quarry is full of vegetation, as the high walls have created a microclimate with high humidity.

Activities in Tarragona: Tarragona Walls

On the west side of Part Alta, you can climb the original Roman walls and walk around the ramparts. Medieval coats of arms and 18thᵉ century cannon emplacements appear alongside original Roman towers and stones with inscriptions dating back 2,000 years.

The most interesting thing is how the lower parts of the walls are uneven and much older. Much of this stone is actually megalithic, which helps to reinforce the base properly.

The National Archaeological Museum

It wasn't until the mid-19ᵉ century that the city realized what it had and excavations began at all the different sites around Part Alta.

Almost all the objects discovered during the excavations are on display here, and there's a rich assortment of Roman sculptures, ceramics, clothing and coins. They even managed to preserve a 2,000-year-old peacock fresco found in the amphitheatre.

The mosaic room also deserves your attention, with its superb representations of Medusa and the muse Euterpe.

Activities in Tarragona: visit Part Alta

The highest part of Tarragona is also the oldest part of the city.

For hundreds of years, right up to the end of the Middle Ages, the town's entire population lived there.

Here, you can stroll between small houses with exposed stone walls. Some double as museums, like Casa Castellarnau, a XVᵉ century Catalan Gothic manor house with a pretty patio.

Le Serrallo

To see Tarragona's old fishing district, you can head for El SerralloThis unpretentious harbor-side neighborhood is also home to some of the city's best fish restaurants.

Halfway up the hill is the recently restored Mercat Central, a central feature of daily life in the city, housed in a century-old modernist building.

Activities in Tarragona: PortAventura

Considered one of Europe's most visited theme parks, PortAventura is just a ten-minute train ride from the train station. Renfe of Tarragona.

PortAventura is divided into several zones. There's a whole Sesame Street-themed zone, for example, with eleven rides for the young ones.

For older children and adults, there are roller coasters such as Dragon Khan, which offers up to eight loops, or the Hurakan Condor, which takes you on a free-fall ride of over 100 meters.

There are also shows for all ages, a water park and golf courses. Finally, you can spend some time in Ferrari land. Find out more about this exceptional theme park, I suggest you read the article I wrote on this subject.

Tarragona is a must-see if you're visiting Barcelona. It has a special charm that would be a shame to miss. You can also take advantage of your visit to this town to learn more about the history of Catalonia. You can enjoy a complete cultural tour of this region.

Make a excursion to Palma de Mallorca is a unique opportunity to discover the beauty of this place.

In fact, Spain has over 150 islands, but these 5 Balearic Islands are the only inhabited ones.

The languages spoken here are Spanish and Catalan.

Today, I'm going to tell you all about this island just a few kilometers from Barcelona.

Excursion to Palma de Mallorca: article summary

What's Palma de Mallorca famous for?

Palma de Mallorca has 200 beaches of all sizes. Famous for its active community, it offers numerous seaside restaurants, bars and cafés. In addition to beautiful beaches, Palma de Mallorca also boasts magnificent mountain views.

Cyclists love Mallorca's gentle roads. The roads are safe, making it a real cyclist's paradise. It also has a lively nightlife that attracts tourists from all over Europe. A stay in Palma de Mallorca promises you a fabulous time on an island just a short distance from the mainland.

Excursion to Palma de Mallorca: which part of the city has the best beaches?

Don't forget that there are 200 beaches on Palma de Mallorca! To make it easier to find your way around the island, there are 4 that are well worth a visit!

Playa d'Alcudia beach is located in the north of Majorca. Your children can play in a special playground that includes gym equipment and a pretty stream that runs alongside the restaurants and hotels.

Playa de Muro beach is located just outside Alcudia. It is considered to have the longest beach of all the Balearic Islands.

Palma Nova beach is located in the southwest of Majorca, known for its "party atmosphere", where visitors enjoy the beach bars.

Sant Elm beach is located in the south-western part of Majorca. It is divided into 2 zones. One has fairly smooth sand and the other sand with sandy gravel.

How many days do I need to spend in Palma?

Two days would suffice if you just want to discover Palma. However, most travellers prefer to spend at least 4 days in this little paradise.

Find out more about Joan Miro. This famous Spanish sculptor and painter already has many places to visit in Barcelona. However, he loved Mallorca, so there's also a museum dedicated to him on the island.

I also recommend that you visit San Juan gourmet market. The menu ranges from hamburgers and Thai cuisine to French and Japanese dishes. You can also sample delicious seafood and llonguets, the island's typical bread rolls.

Finally, you can linger in Palma's old town or "El Casco Antiguo". It's full of must-sees, and you'll discover sites such as :

• La Seu Cathedral
• The Almudaina royal palace
• Es Baluard museum of contemporary art.

A true journey back to medieval times.

Excursion to Palma de Mallorca: where are the best places to stay?

There are over a hundred hotels on Majorca. So you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to spending your nights on the island. If you're not sure which one to choose, here's a guide a short list of the city's best hotels.

Posada Terra Santa

Postada Terra Santa is housed in a 500-year-old historic manor house. It is classified as a "boutique hotel". It is adjacent to the XIIIᵉ century cathedral and just a few minutes' walk from the sea. In this hotel, you have access to a gym, restaurant and library. All you need for a pleasant stay in Mallorca.

HM Balanguera

While the HM Balanguera hotel is nothing special, it does stand out for its location. It's very close to the city center, and most of the must-see sites are within walking distance. So you don't have to waste time in transit. between the hotel and the city center.

Le Palma Suites Hotel Residence

The Palma Suites is located in the old town. It has been decorated in Nordic style and features underfloor heating, in-room breakfast and a gym. Stores and bars are nearby. It also offers an incredible view of Palma from its rooftop.

Is Mallorca a good place for nightlife?

There are restaurants and bars all over the island. However, many are located in the main square. The more "international" style bars can be found in La Llonja, while the more privately themed bars can be found in Apuntadors, Sant Joan and Carrer de Jaume Ferrer.

Let's not forget the marinas in the harbors. The restaurants have outdoor seating that gives you a perfect view of the sunset, then you can go partying in the town's various bars.

Bars in the old town tend to stay open until 1 or 2 a.m., so if you're looking to extend your evening, you'll have to head for the marina.

Excursion to Palma de Mallorca: is the island family-friendly?

The whole island is very child- and family-friendly. Your children can enjoy the beaches and restaurants. Children in Majorca have the habit of staying up late. You can also visit the city and its many museums with your family, take a trip to the mountains or go cycling on Mallorca's quiet roads.

A trip to Palma is unique if you want to discover a different side of Catalonia. With boats departing daily from Barcelona, you'll have no trouble getting to Palma. this magnificent island to spend a few days on vacation.

The village of Castellfollit de la Roca is perched atop a cliff between two rivers.

Located in the volcanic area of northern Catalonia, it's a must on your itinerary.

Today, I'm going to tell you all about this place.

Castelfollit de la Roca: article summary

Castellfolit de la Roca: a highly photogenic spot

You'll want to stop even before you reach the village center. Indeed, from outside the walls, you can take a photo of this incredible village.

Its unique location perched on the cliffs where the Fluvià and Toronell rivers meet makes for a spectacular sight. You'll probably want to immortalize it with your camera.

Visit the Sanctuary of Cós

If you like hiking, embark on this 8 km round trip to Sanctuay del Cós. The route includes a number of panoramic points. From here, you can enjoy spectacular views over Castellfollit de la Roca and the surrounding volcanic area of La Garrotxa.

It's the perfect place to go hiking in Castellfolit de la Roca. If you like walking, I've written for you you a complete article on the various places to see around Barcelona.

Discover the old town of Castellfolit de la Roca

Given its unique location, it's easy to see why the first inhabitants would have chosen to settle here.

Dating back to the Middle Ages, the old town consists of a small network of narrow roads and small squares. Wandering through the streets of the old town, the sense of intimacy and proximity is such that you'll feel right at home. that you could forget the edge of the cliff.

Visit the ancient church of Sant Salvador

Perched on the edge of the cliff, the church of Sant Salvador dates back to the 11th century, although unfortunately little remains of its original Romanesque design. For centuries, it was the center of community life in Castellfollit de la Roca. It was also a working church until the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

Try your hand at local cuisine

The volcanic area of La Garrotxa is famous for its hearty gastronomy, rich in local ingredients such as Sant Pau beans and wild mushrooms. There are a small handful of traditional restaurants in Castellfollit de la Roca.

Although they're not as gourmet as some of those you'll find in Girona or Olot, they do offer breathtaking views..

Discover the ruins of the bridge

Known in Catalan as the Trencat Bridge, the broken bridge has been condemned since its construction in 1908. Shortly after its construction, earth movements underneath led to the appearance of cracks and the bridge's closure.

It was then restored towards the end of the Civil War, but in 1940, huge floods caused erosion of two of its main arches, and it was rebuilt. the bridge has since been abandoned.

Take a tour of the Embotit Museum

El Museu de l'Embotit is Castellfollit de la Roca's museum dedicated to Catalan charcuterie. The museum opened in 1993, in commemoration of the town's first charcuterie, established 150 years earlier.

The museum traces the history of curing in Spain. Here you'll find many of the machines used to make charcuterie through the ages.

Soak up the view

If the view over the town is impressive, so is the view from the far end of Castellfollit de la Roca. However, this view is not suitable for those suffering from vertigo. In fact, the steep 160-metre waterfall at the end of the village opens onto the rivers below and the village offers breathtaking views over the valley.

Take a hot-air balloon ride

One of the best ways to soak up the views over the surrounding countryside of Castellfollit de la Roca is to enjoy a hot-air balloon flight. A typical balloon ride, you'll be able to see everything from the Mediterranean Sea to the Montseny mountains.

The village of Castellfolit de la Roca is a quiet place you can visit if you've finished all the attractions available in Barcelona. During your stay in Catalonia, don't hesitate to take a tour of this place. You'll be pleasantly surprised the beauty and charm of the city and the friendliness of its people.

The mountain Montserrat and its monastery The Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria is about 45 km northwest of Barcelona.

If you want to get off the beaten track, this is a place I highly recommend.

Today, we're off to discover it!

Montserrat monastery: article summary

How to get to Monserrat Monastery

From Place Espanya station, the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat) R5 (Barcelona Manresa) train leaves every hour from 8:26 am. The journey to Montserrat takes around 1 h 30. You can then continue your journey by cable car (Aeri de Montserrat) or cog railway (Cremallera de Montserrat). to the monastery of Montserrat.

If you prefer to get there by rental car, take the A2 freeway and then the N2 national road to the Montserrat junction. Allow approximately 70 km by car from Barcelona city center.

Take advantage of your visit to hike in Montserrat Park

From the monastery itself, it's about 300 metres to the summit of Montserrat. From here, you can follow several well-marked hiking trails through the Montserrat Natural Park.

Several hiking from the upper funicular station to the abandoned hermitages. In all cases, you'll enjoy breathtaking views of Catalonia.

Visit the monastery of Montserrat

The Montserrat monastery itself is not a particular attraction from an architectural point of view. Many tourists come just for the statue of the Black Madonna, patron saint of Catalonia. The 12th-century figure is enthroned above the high altar in the monastery's basilica.

In his honor, some 50 choirboys from the "Escolania de Montserrat" monastery boarding school sing religious hymns every day from Monday to Saturday at 1 p.m. by the monastery school boys' choir, and on Sundays and public holidays at 12 p.m.

In the Montserrat Monastery Museum, you can see works by important artists such as Dalí, El Greco, Monet and Giordano. You'll also find archaeological and liturgical exhibitions.

In the lower part of the monastery area, there's a restaurant where you can eat and drink.

The story of Montserrat

The mountain of Montserrat has had religious significance since pre-Christian times. Before Christ, a temple was built here by the Romans to worship Venus.

It is said that hermit monks built various hermitages on Montserrat. The monastery was then founded by enlarging the hermitage of Santa Maria in 1025.

Miracles, attributed to the Black Madonna found in the XIIᵉ century, make this place a pilgrimage destination. The monastery owes its strong growth to these attributed miracles.

The monastery's basilica was built in the 16th century, during the period of transition from the monastery to the monastery. between Gothic and Renaissance. The Black Madonna is preserved in the basilica.

Many famous people have made pilgrimages to Montserrat: Pope Benedict XIII, Columbus, Cervantes, von Humboldt, Kings Fernando and Isabella, Carlos I, Felipe II and Louis XIV.

On his second voyage in 1493, Christopher Columbus named an island in the West Indies Montserrat.

In 1811, the monastery was largely destroyed by Napoleonic troops.

What are the opening hours?

The site opens :

• Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Weekends and public holidays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The basilica opens :

• 7.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How much does admission cost?

To enjoy all aspects of the monastery, you must count :

• 7 € per person

To take the funicular from the Monastery to the top of the mountain, you will also have to pay 7 per person.

The Monserrat monastery is a very pleasant place to visit. Here you can see the Black Madonna and relax in a peaceful setting, away from the crowds of Barcelona's streets.