Regional Natural Park of the Catalan Pyrenees and Cadi-Moixero Natural Park

Countries: Spain , France
Regions concerned: Ariège department (France); Autonomous Community of Catalonia (Spain); Principality of Andorra

The "Parc des Pyrénées catalanes" (137,000 ha) in the southernmost part of Languedoc-Roussillon, close to Andorra and Spain, benefits from a strategic location. It is partly in the rift valley of the Cerdanya and is adjacent to the "Parc naturel du Cadi-Moixero", one of the largest natural parks in Catalonia (41,342 ha) on the ridge line of the Pyrenees.

The Catalan park, located on the other side of the border (in the regions of "Alt Urgell", "El Berguedà" and "La Cerdanya" in Catalonia) was created in July 1983 in order to protect the "Serra del Cadí" mountains.

The two parks share similar landscapes, resources, history, a common language, celebrations (St. John’s Day bonfires, …), traditional practices (dances, religious processions), culinary arts, etc.

The existence of a common heritage and the geographical proximity of the two natural areas has enabled cross-border cooperation to develop during the 2000s. The Charter of the "Parc des Pyrénées Catalanes", validated by the French government in 2004, makes cooperation with bordering countries one of its main priorities.