The Montseny natural park - Barcelona

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The Montseny natural park has a mixed landscape with Mediterranean terrain and Central European nature. The park, which is located in the province of Barcelona, has a unique biodiversity and displays various historical traces left by man over time. The Montseny natural park is a biosphere reserve and a world heritage site.

The park is located on the high plains between the counties of Vallès, Osona and La Selva. It is a mountainous block with a high characteristic profile, visible from many parts of Catalonia. The park is known for its beautiful landscapes and stunning views. Its name comes from the Latin "Mont Signus" (Mount Signal), and is in reference to the steep relief.

Flora and fauna in the Montseny natural park

The differences in temperature and humidity in various zones in the park explains its wide diversity of vegetation. There is a host of Mediterranean vegetation in the lowlands (including oaks and pines) and in the rainy mid-mountain areas (including mountain oak). There are Central European environments at altitudes over 1,000 m (beech and spruce), and even sub-alpine environments on the mountain summits (scrubland and grassland).

The confluence of these factors in a rugged terrain, surrounded by streams and cliffs, has created an extraordinary variety of habitats. Many species of vegetation, including Segimon Sant grass, sundew and gentian, among others, contribute a significant ecological value to these regions.

Closely related to the distribution of vegetation, the fauna of the Montseny natural park is also characterized by Central European species (in highland areas of the massif) and Mediterranean species (in the lower parts). As a result, the park has an incredible diversity of both flora and fauna. About 270 different species of vertebrates have been recorded in the park. The nature of the Montseny forest largely determines the fauna living in it. Wild boar, foxes, civet cats and the common dormouse can be found in the oak forests, as can birds such as the goshawk, rendajo and robin. The oak forests are also home to various types of amphibians, reptiles and fish.

However, rarer wildlife species (of Central European descent) have been found in more isolated locations within the park, such as the red frog, the Montseny newt (the only vertebrate species endemic to Catalonia) and the water shrew. Other typically Central European species in the park include the hare, dormouse, the coastal alpine meadow pipit, the bullfinch, green lizard and the Pyrenean snake.