BEAUTIFUL VIDEO ABOUT BARCELONA CREATED BY ARTIST ROB WHITWORT

Discovery Barcelona Actively

TOP SKYLINE BAR BARCELONA

The best

Skyline bar de Barcelona

The summer has finally arrived and with it the chance to eat and drink outdoors, there is simply nowhere better to do so in Barcelona than the numerous terraces that come into their own during the warmer weather. Whether they be located on the streets, its rooftops or parks everything just tastes better in the great outdoors. Increasingly the city’s hotels provide some of the best options for sampling Barcelona’s terraces (mostly on their rooftops) with their laid back gastronomic offering, cocktails, panoramic vistas, music and shimmering pools. The best time to visit is undoubtedly at sunset when the temperatures calm down and the city is painted with a palette of tenuous golden light reflected by the Mediterranean Sea and its clear blue and indigo skies. B-Guided’s recommendation this summer for natives and visitors alike is to catch the nearest lift, get off at the roof terrace, order a cocktail take in the view and 
surrender yourself to the Barcelona night
Adventure tours are a good way to discover Spain.

 GRAND HOTEL CENTRAL

Located on the roof of Barcelona’s Grand Hotel Central on Via Laietana this terrace has truly exceptional panoramic views over the old city, the Mediterranean and just about everything else. Equipped with an infinity pool (lit from below), terrace seating over various levels, a DJ and impressive sound system the terrace is open to the general public from 8.30 pm through 0.30, everyday until October 31^st.  Cocktails and bar food served including coca bread and cured ham, Gazpacho with Basil and a variety of sandwiches like the Chicken Provencal on chapata bread and the Very British Bikini. Access to the terrace is provided from the lobby of the hotel via the lift arriving on the 9^th floor.

NUBA BAR

Architecturally speaking Nuba is hands down the most beautiful terrace in the city, situated on a citadel like outcrop (a refurbished Masia or Catalan farmhouse) within the Saint Gervasi area of the city the terrace is accessed via the restaurant shaded by a perforated metal canopy supported on tall spindly metal columns sheltering the dining area and cocktail bar below. Designed by local celebrity interior designer Estrella Salietti with Futur2 the canopy allows the terrace to be enjoyed whatever the weather, at night the lighting and surrounding vegetation convert this into Barcelona’s hippest hangout where VIPs and the beautiful people rub shoulders. Opened till 2AM weekdays and till 3AM Fridays and Saturdays.

OHLA HOTEL

Located on the top floor of the Ohla Hotel renowned for its design and gastronomy (Saüc restaurant directed by Xavier Frnaco which possesses a Michelin star) the terrace is equally spectacular with its privileged views over the casco antiguo (the old city) and the Eixample. A 360º view over the entire metropolitan area. The terrace has a glass fronted plunge pool, comfortable sofas with canopies and a cocktail bar with a special food and cocktail menu designed specially for Ohla. Open to the genral public from 6.30 PM through till 1 AM, on Sundays there is live Jazz between 7 and 9 in the evening. The terrace operates till the end of September.

W HOTEL

Located at the end of Barceloneta’s beach at the foot of the W Hotel (or Hotel Vela as it’s known locally) there is simply no better view of the Mediterranean in the city than this vast open air expanse of timber decking. Organised around a substantial swimming pool equipped with terrace furniture and canopies the terrace is an extension of the hotel lobby. From sunset onwards on Sunday evenings during the summer months an international line-up of Djs will convert this into Barcelona’s most spectacular outdoor venues, see their web for further details; en www.w-barcelona.es/calendar, nights with the breeze coming in from sea, salt in the air and smell of the sea.

HOTEL OMM

Situated on the corner of Passeig de Gràcia with Rosselló the Hotel Omm’s roof terrace faces directly over the sculptural roof of La Pedrera, Gaudi’s seminal architectural masterpiece that has become synonymous with the city over the years. The terrace is or organised linearly with a central cocktail bar at its heart under a tall timber pergola with a pool at one extremity and an ample sitting area at the other. Open to the general public from 7pm to 1am This is one of the most welcoming terraces in the city centre and its location makes it the ideal spot to start off Barcelona nights.

HOTEL MAJESTIC

The world renowned Majestic is one of the city’s premier hotels and one of the very first hotels here to raise the bar in terms of Barcelona’s international reputation. With an impressive art collection and commitment to excellence in gastronomy and service. The newly refurbished terrace is open to the public from 9 AM through till 2 AM during the season (till mid October), at other times of the year is closes at 8 in the evening. Guests and visitors alike can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as drinks on the terrace. The design created by Antonio Obrador recalls an outdoor room with tables, chairs and lounge seating organised around a pool surrounded by colourful murals and panoramic vistas of the city.

Making Tracks Travel offers you Spain’s best Bike tours. Please, contact us for more information. 

From Barcelona

Discover the unknown France by bike

Bike ROUTE: Les Cevennes

Les Cevennes in France is an ideal place for a cycling destination. It has routes that awaken the senses with varied landscapes. It’s a warm climate, lacking in extreme temperatures, allowing you to enjoy the sport throughout all the year. Dare to discover the secrets of Les Cevennes by pedaling.

Discovering the entire Cévennes’s National Park is a great experience, only available for the most experienced bikers. Important note: in some stages may require logistical support such as energy food, mechanical repairs and body massage to recover in order to complete it. All this service is exquisitely supplied by Making Tracks Travel.

In almost all the tourist resorts such as Ales, Florac, St Jean du Gard park, there are hotels for you to regain strength. Here we describe three stages.

First stage: Aubrias - Florac. The first stage delves into the Cévennes, Les cevènnes a mountain range in south-central France. It is a protected nature reserve and National Park since 1970 with an area of ​​85,000 ha. The first part runs by the villages of Brésis and Aujac, following the course of the cèze river, from Capcèze to Saint Andre. The first col Villefort is long. At the 13 km mark are the first supplies. The village of Villefort, with “Lac” lake, offers spectacular views. You’ll start to understand why you’re in a natural reserve. Altier by Coll Tribes is at 40 km mark. You’ll pass Le Bleymard and La Combe sourde to Coll Finiels. This is a second Col headwind and we must strive to achieve the 1,541metres elevation gain at the 54 Km stage. In the village of Finiels we’ll appreciate meeting the second suppiers. The D20 road takes us to Pont du Montverd, through a nice descent to the town of Cocurès and finally Florac. At the hotel we’ll enjoy a rest and a good meal after the job well done.

Summary Stage: 

Date Saturday June 7 06/18/2014 

Start Time 10:110 

Distance: 83,986 km / 57.15 mi 

Total time 5:00:30

Average speed: 11.4 mph 

Elevation 4,229 C :: 

Temperature: 77.8 º F 

Second stage: Florac - Saint Jean du Gard. The intricate road network that runs through the volcanic mountains of Aigoual (1567m) and Lozère (1699m) are an ideal place to enjoy the road bike stage. The highest point, Mount Aiguoal, is a natural spot to view the Natural Park Les Cevennes. It is considered one of the best places to practice this sport. On Sunday, June 8, 2014 at 9h04 am in Florac we took the D907 road towards Racoules and Vébron. Through Frayssinet Fourques we went to the Coll Perjuret. At the 25 km mark, where we found the first supplies, we went to Coll Fourques, reaching the mythical Mont Aigoual (1567 m high). It makes us remember how in 1987 Silvano contini past through Mont Aigoual. There were spectacular views of the natural park as we continue to drop, thousand meters, to our supply point. Then a tough afternoon over the port Prat Peyrot “Coll” of 1226m and 1512m Serreyre. We continued down the road D986 through the L'Esperou and Valleraugue villages, to arrive at the Coll Pas at 75 km. Then we went down Les Plantiers, and L'Estrechure, Saumane. In total it was a mythical 100 km stage, finally making it to Saint Jean du Gard on the road D907. The end stage, we arrived in time to see the victory of Rafa at Roland Garros. We were thankful for the massages, dinner and rest.

Summary Stage:  Distance: 111.69 Km / 65.92 mi 

Time: 5:42:43 

Average speed: 11.5 mph 

Elevation: 1853m / 5,518 ft 

Calories: 4,747 C 

Temperature: 81.7 ° F

Third stage: St Jean du Gard - Saint Guilhem le Désert. This step runs througout medieval remains such as La salle, Colognac, Notre Dame London to Saint Guilhem le Desert. It's a tumbleweed route we did at a good pace with a couple of stops. Coll Bantarde and Saint Hippolyte du Fort, that despite being mini stages, were though. Les Cèvennes don’t make it easy for you. The arrival in Saint Guilhem le Désert on the day of the Pentacost celebration, we discovered one of the most beautiful villages in France, overflowing with joy and festivity. The end of this lovely bike ride is an interesting medieval world of humanity by UNESCO located in the path of Camino de Santiago (The Way). There the Gellone Abadia was declared a historical monument in 1840. We visited it in detail after a shower and a hearty meal. It was a trip to remember.

Summary Stage: 

Distance 63.6 km 

Time: 3h 31:49 

Average speed: 13.1 mph 

Elevation: 3,009 ft 

Calories: 3,322 C 

Temperature: 80.5 º F

Gràcia Festival: Street Festival August 

Each year in August the streets of Barcelona's Gràcia district come alive with a week-long fiesta that sees the barrio transformed. La Fiesta de Gràcia is an eagerly awaited event in Barcelona's busy calendar. If you are in Barcelona in August make sure that you head to the up-town district of Gràcia to see what this unique festival is all about.

 2014 Festa Major de Gracia street festival is Barcelona's biggest and most popular neighbourhood festival attracting about one and a half million visitors each year. On this pages you can find the top highlights of the programme and maps of the festival. The 2014 Gracia Festival opens on 15th August 2014  for the 198th edition. The Gracia festival is a colourful street festival that fills many streets and plazas of the Gracia area. The Gracia neighbourhood is located 20 minutes by foot north west of the city  centre of Barcelona in the direction of the hills to the west of Barcelona. The festival is from from 15th to 21st August every year. The first day of the festival on 15th August is a public holiday in Spain called Assumption day. The best time to visit the Gracia is in the evening from about 8pm, when it starts to get dark. The illuminations on most streets turn on at around 8.30 pm and the decorations look much nicer when illuminated. The first 2 days are always the most crowded so be patient and please be careful with the decorations which are quite fragile. 
More Information

 IMPORTANT message for visitors: Please note that this is fundamentally a festival for neighbours and residents, but Gracia is kind enough to welcome visitors. But in return they ask that you respect the neighbourhood and the decorations and be careful not to create disturbances after 1pm at night.

Making Tracks Travel offers you Spain’s best Bike&walking tours. Please, contact us for more information.

A different journey from Barcelona (Land of Wines)

Cycling or Walking

PRIORATO

BARCELONA LAND OF WINES

Enjoy a privileged location a few kilometers from Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea, the regions of Penedés, Priorat and Montsant which have personality and a rich cultural diversity that is reflected in its wide diversity of wines and cavas. Our route passes through vineyards, monasteries and the Mediterranean visiting the most representative wineries of the region, responsible for the worldwide fame of this area. You will be able taste wine and fantastic dishes which highlight the flavors of the wine.

You will see how it is born and mature grape, how they transformed into a wine of great flavor, achieved with dedication and effort of many generations of winemakers, which convert grape varieties in some of the finest wines and cavas world. This bike travel is offered to you to be unforgetable vacations.

                                        Impeccably organized by Making Tracks Travel

A spectacular location surrounded by the best wines from Spain

BETWEEN WINE, VINEYARDS, MONASTERIES AND MEDITERRANEAN SEA

You will enjoy Montserrat, the most famous mountain of Catalonia, its ninth-century Monastery and its Black Madonna, "La Moreneta".
 Wonderful lonely roads between vineyards and the most impressive monasteries in the region.
After this trip you will have tasted the best wines of the region and you will have visited the most important wineries.
An unforgettable journey by visiting the two regions responsible for the finest wines and cavas from Barcelona.

ITINERARY / ACCOMMODATION

DAY 1:VISITING MONTSERRAT AND THEIR MONASTERY. The journey from the foot of the mountain will take you through a panoramic road from where you will have a unique view of Montserrat, symbol of Catalonia. His famous mountain range known for its enigmatic forms,  where also is located  the Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Montserrat. It is one of the most important pilgrimage point in Spain, where the visit to the Black Madonna, "La Moreneta" you can't miss!

In the evening we will have welcome drink with your colleagues and guides.

DAY 2: BETWEEN VINEYARDS AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. You will leave the capital of Cava, Vilafranca del Penedés, and you will go through you  the vineyards and their famous brands like Freixenet, where you will visit its wineries and you will taste their cavas. The arrival of the sea come to the town of Sitges, famous for its beaches. According to the New York Times, the best urban beach in Europe is located in Sitges. Besides having the International Fantastic Film Festival.

DAY 3: FROM THE PENEDES TO THE PRIORAT Say goodbye Penedés vineyards while you visit the most famous monastery in the region, dating from the twelfth century, Santa María de Santes Creus. And entry to the Priorat where the quality of the soil and dry climate, create fabulous conditions for high quality wines

DAYS 4: THE PRIORAT, THEIR VINEYARDS AND MOUNTAINS. You will enjoy an area rarely visited by typical tourists, little known but responsible for the best wines. You will have the special feeling of solitude and peace among vineyards cultivated in terraced steep slopes.

You will visit the people who hold the designation of origin Priorat  in the village of Falset that have been visited by famous critics like Neal Martin, of Erobert Parker.com and guarantee the quality of the wines of Priorat. 

DAY 5 :SIURANA AND  POBLET  MONASTERY. This day takes us to Lake siurana and you will see fantasticsviews of the Serra of Montsant, Them uor next step of the day is to visit the village og prades and finish the journey in the  most spectacular manastery of the área. Poblet Maonastery was built in the XIV century. You can not miss its visit. In the Monastery of poblet there is the pantheon of the kings of the Catalan-aragonese Crown, declared World Heritage site by UNESCO.

DAY 6: DORADA COAST. The Sant Salvador beach provides the most pleasurable way to relax with direct access from the hotel Le meridian RA, also you can Explore Spa by Le Méridien invites discovery through a variety of treatments inspired by different cultures from around the world. Here at one of the largest spas in Europe experience Thalasso treatments,The Art of Beauty by La Prairie, one of Spain´s most extensive Ayurveda centres as well as a range of massage, beauty and wellbeing experiences.

Making Tracks Travel offers you Spain’s best Bike tours. Please, contact us for more information. 

Barcelona's Sagrada Familia will be finished in 2026, 

Barcelona's Sagrada Familia will be finished in 2026, according to officials of the Basilica. For now, you can see the Sagrada Familia virtually complete in an official video posted on YouTube. This will look Basilica.

Making Tracks Travel offers you Spain’s best Bike&Walking tours. Please, contact us for more information. 

THE MOST VISITED CHURCH IN THE WORLD

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
 – A large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Construction began in 1882 and it is incomplete till today. Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Making Tracks Travel offers you Spain’s best Bike tours. Please, contact us for more information.