Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel el Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d'Urgell
Facts in brief
Official star rating 4
Location The hotel is just outside La Seu d'Urgell in the Catalan Pyrenees
Annual opening All year
Closest airport Barcelona
Distance from airport The hotel is 2-hours' and 15-minutes' drive from Barcelona Airport
Hotel facilities and services
2 Restaurants, Bar and Salon, Wine Cellar, Wellness Centre, Spa, Gym, Beauty Salon, Indoor and Outdoor Swimming Pools, Bicycles, Babysitting, Laundry, Room Service, Airport Transfers, Helicopter Access, WiFi.
Complimentary
Free access to Castell de Ciutat Wellness Centre, WiFi.
Land sports
Trekking, Golf, Horse Riding, Rafting, Canoeing.
Out and about nearby
Cadi-Moixeró National Park, Andorra, Barcelona.
Sports nearby
Jogging, Nordic Walking, Hiking, Horseriding, Golf, Tennis, Fishing, Hunting, Water Sports, Skiing.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 7 nights
From about
£1,380
Holiday Code EXH1491
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel el Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d'Urgell
Hotel El Castell de Ciutat is a charming four-star Relais & Chateaux property which takes the style of an alpine lodge, hugging the hillside above the historical town of La Seu d'Urgell. Basking in rugged isolation, the long, low-lying buildings are overshadowed by evergreen trees, while the ancient ruins of a Roman fortification add a tangible sense of history to this landscape. The astounding views are maximised at all turns, with vast windows and terraces taking in rolling scenery of the Urgellet Valley, where the Cadí Moixeró natural park is framed by distant, snow-dusted peaks. While the hotel itself was named after the historic remains behind, the signature restaurant of Hotel El Castell de Ciutat borrows its name from the family who have run it since the 1960s. Tàpies Restaurant exudes an undeniable romance, its elegant interior accompanied by excellent service, striking vistas and a menu of fresh, regional produce including truffles, wild mushrooms and local cheeses. , the design theme of the hotel is utterly in keeping with the setting, including the bar and salon where fireside warmth is supplied to a cosy library space. Guestrooms are typical in their pine-clad style, all looking out over the valley below with Superior rooms benefitting from the addition of a peaceful terrace. Personal touches give a homely ambience, whilst the complimentary mini bar allows guests to help themselves to drinks throughout the day. Families are welcome at El Castell de Ciutat, where suites have space for extra beds. For total relaxation, guests can seek the services of the Wellness centre, which has indoor swimming pools, a gym and an array of spa treatments. The outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi are both set in the hillside with lovely views over the surrounding countryside. Bicycles can be rented by the day, while nearby include hiking, horse riding, fishing and water sports at the Olympic canoeing centre located in La Seu d'Urgell. After a day of alpine activities in the Pyrenees, Hotel El Castell de Ciutat is a welcome retreat with the opportunity to combine with a trip to Barcelona or even a hop to nearby Andorra.
Room descriptions
Hotel El Castell de Ciutat has 38 rooms including 3 suites and a the very special Castel Suite in the ruins. In-room facilities include air conditioning, telephone, radio, TV, minibar, hairdryer, safe and WiFi.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 7 nights
From about
£1,380
Holiday Code EXH1491
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel el Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d'Urgell
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to El Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d'Urgell, Expressions Holidays includes scheduled flights with British Airways from London to Barcelona. Flights may be available from other UK airports with Easyjet, Jet2 and TUI for example. If you are combining this hotel with stays elsewhere, you may want to consider flying into one airport and out of another. We can arrange this for you. The hotel is about 2 hours 15 minutes’ drive from the airport and we recommend that we book for you either a private car transfer or a hire-car, depending on the itinerary.
Additional information
Children: Babysitting service on request. Highchairs available in the restaurants. Cots and extra beds available upon request.
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 7 nights
From about
£1,380
Holiday Code EXH1491
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel el Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d'Urgell
About Catalonia and Eastern Spain
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to eastern Spain feature some of the best four and five star hotels in Catalonia and Valencia, including luxury beach resorts on the Costa Brava, mountain retreats in the Catalan Pyrenees and city hotels in Barcelona and Valencia. Eastern Spain is a diverse area with buzzing cities and mediaeval towns, rugged coastline and sandy beaches, soaring mountains and lush river deltas. There is a great wealth of historical and cultural sights throughout Catalonia and the Valencian community, both within the main cities and hidden away in the countryside. Although Barcelona is the main draw for visitors to eastern Spain, the rest of the region is well worth visiting and offers tremendous diversity. During a holiday in eastern Spain, visitors can trek or partake in mountain sports, relax on the beach and visit historic towns and cities all within the space of a few days. Catalonia itself is a unique region which provided inspiration for a number of famous artists such as Dali and Picasso, and retains a strong regional identity which is evident in its language, distinctive cuisine and lively local festivals. In the north is Catalonia, whose capital is the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Barcelona. With unique architecture and a rich culture, gourmet restaurants and lively bars, golden beaches and tranquil parks, it is not surprising that Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Europe. Away from the city there is an abundance of cultural and historical attractions as well as areas of stunning natural beauty. The entire region retains a strong regional identity, with its own commonly used language, distinctive cuisine and lively local festivals. Towns and cities including Girona, Tarragona, Vic and Lleida are home to a variety of highlights including mediaeval castles, cobbled old towns, ancient Roman ruins and modernist architecture. Stretching north towards the French border are the pretty coves, jagged cliffs and golden beaches of the Costa Brava, where you can still find wild and untouched stretches of coastline in between busy coastal towns. Meanwhile, inland are the snow-capped Pyrenees, a towering mountain range which forms the border with France and is dotted with remove villages, an ideal setting for trekking and partaking in mountain sports. Past the vineyards and rice fields of southern Catalonia is the Valencian Community, whose capital is Spain's third-largest city. Valencia has reinvented itself in recent years with futuristic architecture and a sophisticated port area which contrast with the historic buildings of the atmospheric old town. Further south are the sprawling beach resorts of the Costa Blanca, but if you head away from the Valencian coastline you will find craggy mountains, peaceful nature reserves, colourful citrus groves, traditional villages and ancient fortresses.
Highlights of Catalonia and Eastern Spain
Barcelona's Gothic quarter, a maze of narrow streets and plazas which is home to historic buildings including La Seu Cathedral. Modernist architecture throughout the region, particularly in Barcelona where Gaudí designed works including the Sagrada Familia church and Park Guell. Green spaces within Barcelona such as Montjuic, a fortress-topped hill, and Parc de la Ciutatella, a popular park with a zoo and several museums. The City of Arts and Sciences and the Fine Arts Museum in Valencia. Historic monuments within Valencia including a 15th century silk exchange and a Cathedral, home to a Holy Chalice which is said to be the Holy Grail. The Monastery of Montserrat, a religious complex in a spectacular setting atop craggy mountains with chapels, hermits' caves and numerous nature trails. Wineries in towns such as Sant Sadurní d'Anoia and Vilafranca del Penedès. Tarragona, a port city with fascinating Roman remains. The ancient walled city of Girona. Vic, a quintessentially Catalan town with an outstanding market. Cardona, a picturesque town with an impressive fortress. The renowned Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. Charming towns along the Costa Brava such as Cadaques, as well as those further inland such as the colourful town of Begur. Pretty villages in the Pyrenees, where visitors can also hike and partake in mountain activities. Wildlife in the wetlands of the Albufera Natural Park.
Festivals in Catalonia and Eastern Spain
March: Las Fallas festival of fire (Valencia), 23 April: Celebration of Catalonia's patron saint, April: Barcelona April Fair, May: Girona flower fair, 23 June: Midsummer's Eve Festival, July: Valencia July Fair, July/August: Begur Music Festival, August: La Tomatina tomato throwing festival (Buñol), 11 September: National day of Catalonia, September: Celebration of Barcelona's patron saint, September/October: Human tower festivals (near Tarragona).
Gastronomy in Catalonia and Eastern Spain
Cuisine in eastern Spain takes inspiration from both nearby France and from central Spain whilst making use of local ingredients available including seafood, fresh vegetables, meat and game. Paella, the rice dish which is known the world over originated in Valencia. Barcelona is home to some of Spain's best restaurants, with gastronomic chefs creating innovative cuisine and over 20 boasting at least one Michelin star. Typical dishes include unusual ‘sea and mountain' combinations which use both meat and seafood, ‘Pa amb tomàquet' (bread with tomato, oil and garlic), ‘Fideuá' (a variant of Paella with pasta), ‘Zarzuela' (a seafood stew), ‘Escudella’ (a stew containing vegetables, meat, rice and pasta) and ‘Crema Catalana' (a Catalan version of a Crème Brûlée).
Climate in Catalonia and Eastern Spain
Eastern Spain enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, although mountainous areas are somewhat cooler. Late spring and early autumn are great times to visit coastal areas as the weather is warm with temperatures of around 20 degrees centigrade, although some rainfall can be expected. Summer in the cities can be unbearably hot, but the coastline is cooled by sea breezes. Winter is generally mild with occasional rain and average temperatures of 10 degrees, whilst temperatures regularly drop below freezing in the Pyrenees and snow often falls.
