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Spain isn't the
first place to spring to mind when people think about a skiing
holiday. Apart from Switzerland, Spain is the most
mountainous country in Europe so maybe it isn't too surprising
that there are many ski resorts dotted around. The majority of these
resorts are situated in the North, high up in the Pyrenees mountain
range.
What may surprise
you is that some of the best skiing is located in the Sierra Nevada
mountains near the area called the "oven of Spain" on the
Costa del Sol. The Sierra Nevadas are close to the city of
Granada and only a couple of hours drive from Spain's Mediterranean
coast. The ski season in the Sierra Nevada resorts lasts from the
end of November, well into April and sometimes a bit later. The
words Sierra Nevada actually mean "snowy mountain range". The
highest mountain in Spain at 3,482 meters is the Mulhacen which is
one of the mountains which make up the Sierra Nevadas. Unlike
many other resorts, the Sierra Nevadas can have days or even weeks
of unbroken sunshine so coming back with a tan isn't unusual.
Snow conditions in
the Pyrenees can vary enormously from year to year as holidaymakers
flying over to Spain will testify. Some years only the very
peaks have visible snow. The main skiing areas of the
Pyrenees are situated in three provinces. Catalan, Aragon and
Andorra. They include the resorts of La Molina, Cerler, Astun,
Candanchu, Formigal, Grau Roig, El Tarter and Pal. Other resorts are
Panticosa, Baquiera-Beret Pas de la Casa and Boi-Taull.
There are also a
few lesser known resorts offering some good skiing, notably north of
Madrid in Valcotos, La Pinilla, Navacerrada and Valdesqui. Skiing
resorts, albeit small, can also be found in the wine region of Rioja
at Valdezcaray and also in Alto Campo in Cantabria. These
resorts are not mainstream and have fewer facilities than the main
resorts of the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevadas.
Many travel agents offer all inclusive holidays to the main Spanish
skiing resorts. There are also a few specialised companies offering
ski and sightseeing holidays in some of the smaller resorts.
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SKIING IN SPAIN |
