Flix, Ribera d'Ebre

About the place:

Have you ever seen the court of the storks? At Sebes’ nature park (Flix), from January to March you will be able to hear the characteristic sound of pikes and be able to attend the dance of matching of the stroks. And if you have luck, you will also be able to see the white and hairy horses coming from the French region of the Camargue, which graze in the marshes and keep the population of wattle in line, making a zone of feeding for the storks that breed in Sebes possible.

If you like the birds you have two points where you will be able to enjoy them, but you have to have patience. At the wooden passage of the lagoon you will find aquatic birds, as the western marsh harrier. At the wooden passage of the forest, between poplars many species of birds nidify like the green woodpeckers. And if you like the aromatic herbs like rosemary or thyme, you will find them on the way to the observatory of the storks.

An excursion to enjoy the nature and the birds near the river!

Direction tips:

The route starts at the Mas Director, the point of information located at 2,3 km from the entry of the Park. The path that brings to the entry of the park is loacted at the C12 exactly in front of the bridge of the reservoir, if you come from Lleida; if you come from Tarragona (going through Flix), you will have to cross the bridge of the reservoir and to go to the round point that there is in front of the industrial zone, to come back towards the bridge and to take the path on the right. You will be bordering the Ebro river with on the opposite side a centennial industrial landscape of manufacturing colony set up by Germans where chlorine still continues being manufactured.

In the Mas Director you can park the car and continue on foot. At the left side of the building looking from the door you will find the entry of the wooden passage that will bring you to the Llacuna. It is an easy itinerary of 5 minutes. Afterwards you can take the car, the bike or to continue on foot about 1,4 km until the wooden passage of the Bank forest. To arrive there you have to take again the path in opposite direction of the entry of the park. On the right side of the entry of the second passage there is a parking zone (if you bring bicycles, you Hill also have to leave them here). We will enter into the forest of poplars and faunístic shelter by an other wooden passage. The itinerary is very short but very pleasant. We trn back to continue some 10 minutes on foot or by bike at the path until the Observatory of the storks, lifted 3 meters above the level of the zone of marshes. From here we can see also the meadows where the horses graze. The itinerary ends here.

The best season:

winter, autumn, summer, spring

Timetable:

Nature Park of Sebes: open all the year (Mas Director open Saturdays from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00, and Sundays from 9:00 to 14:00). Boat: from sunrise to sunset (Sundays and free days, from the 15/11 until the 15/02, service until 14:00)

Lunch tips:

What do you think of continuing the route and cross the Ebro in a catboat, to end up having lunch near the river? Go back to the entry of the park and cross the bridge of the dam at the C12 towards Flix. Alter passing the bridge you have to turn in left and take the C/Costa Graner. You have to continue until the end of this street (which changes into the Av. Circumval•lació). On the right you will find the C/Sant Jordi. Turn to the left  in the second street (Sant Joan). On the right you will find the promenade of the Ebro. At about 300 meters you will find the boat. Jaume, the boatman, will pass you and your vehicle, from sun to sun, for free and with the only condition of helping him with the tasks of cabling. At the other side of the river, you’ll find a zone of poplars with facilities to make fire and stonen tables to enjoy tasty meals in a natural environment. And fishers, you will find calm waters so you can try to capture some.

More info:

Difficulty: very easy
Type: linear route (aprox. 3 km)
Duration: aprox. 40 min
Accessibility: tracks and wooden passages (the wooden passages are accessible for prams and wheelchairs even though there are narrower stretches where people have to be careful)
Recommendations: for cold days take coats with you; whith good weather, use lighter clothes; use  good footwear and take water with you.

If you want you can also do the visit in carriage. You can book the carriage calling to  977 265 112.

Photo: © Juan Revillas, ExploraTgn.cat