The Landscape Observatory of Catalonia, which forms part of the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, has launched the ‘Three stages, eighteen landscapes’ initiative to showcase the diversity of Catalonia’s landscapes to coincide with the Tour de France 2026 on 4, 5 and 6 July.

During its route through Catalonia, the Tour will pass through 18 different landscapes, turning the race into an international showcase for the region’s natural, cultural and heritage wealth. For this reason, the Observatory has produced a range of informative materials, including images from the Observatory Archive and a schematic map showing the route of each stage and the landscapes it passes through.

The initiative takes advantage of the Tour’s enormous media exposure to highlight the value of Catalonia’s landscapes, building on the work the Observatory has carried out over the past two years with the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya through the ‘Landscape of the Day’ feature published on the event’s official website.

Three stages to discover the diversity of Catalonia

The first stage, which runs entirely through Barcelona, covers some of the city’s most iconic urban landscapes over its 19.6-kilometre route, with the Mediterranean Sea, Montjuïc and the Collserola mountain range as its main landmarks.

The second stage, between Tarragona and Barcelona, covers 168 kilometres of the Catalan coastline, combining historic centres, tourist areas and architectural heritage. The route includes highlights such as the Castell de Sant Vicenç de Calders, the Castell de Calafell, the bell towers of El Vendrell and Cubelles, as well as the seafronts of Vilanova i la Geltrú and Sitges.

The third stage, between Granollers and Les Angles, covers 196 kilometres through a wide variety of landscapes, from the Plana del Vallès to the high mountains of the Eastern Pyrenees, passing through urban, industrial, agricultural, forest and river landscapes.

With this initiative, the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia reinforces its work to promote and preserve the landscape, using the global reach of the Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2026 to showcase Catalonia’s territorial diversity to millions of viewers around the world.