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Photo courtesy of www.riba-roja.com

Riba Roja d’Ebre

Riba Roja d’Ebre – A Hidden Gem

If you find yourself on the AP7 heading south along the Costas, and you have time for a little diversion, why not head inland and take a meander to a quaint village called Riba Roja d’Ebre? This small and friendly little place, sits majestically above the River Ebro, and seems to almost reign supremely over the quiet water. It has a magical charm which once you have visited, seems to get under your skin, and then draws you back there, time and time again.

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First noted in 1163 this semi-rural Catalan riverside village suffered badly at the hands of General Franco, and the area is full of narrow streets and hidden alleyways steeped in history. The local church reminds the residents of every quarter hour that passes by with a mournful but strangely comforting toll. As long as the bell is ringing, you know all is well. Around lunchtime each day, a quaint loudspeaker system, operated from the town hall, alerts the neighbourhood to any major event. If an old timer dies unexpectedly in the morning, then, by mid-day, most residents of the village should know. A very “Heath Robinson” style of communication, but again, strangely comforting.

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The main street cuts across many other interesting little alleyways, but it eventually takes you down to the church, which presides over the village square, and to Potas bar, where locals go to enjoy their cerveza and bocadillos. Day to day shopping is taken care of by a few family run minimarts, and a sweet smelling bakery, whilst just a few miles away in the nearest town of Flix, you will find more mainstream supermarkets.

But these are all incidental to the main attraction of the area which has to be the River Ebro. Rising from springs in the Cantabrian Mountains, it flows some 565 miles through to the delta on the Mediterranean coast at Tortosa which sits midway between Barcelona and Valencia.

Fishing rods and net EOS

But it is the swims nestled along the banks of the Ebro, at Riba Roja which offer anglers one of the best opportunities of catching the fish of a lifetime.

It doesn’t matter if you are a novice, or seasoned angler, the experienced fishing guides who live and work alongside the banks of the River Ebro, can put you onto big carp, and huge Wels catfish and with their help and expertise, you certainly won’t be talking about “the one that got away.”

For more information on how to find a fishing guide and some affordable accommodation just click here.

But Riba Roja d’Ebre is not just all about fishing. The area is also a ‘go to’ destination for bird watching, walking and cycling holidays, and just outside Riba Roja d’Ebre you can even enjoy a clay shooting holiday. Shooting in Spain. Who knew!?

ClayShooting
There is so much to do in and around Riba Roja d’Ebre, as it is just a couple of hours from the Costa Dorada, why not take a few days away from your seaside resort and enjoy some more rural activities, and enjoy the best of both worlds whilst you are on holiday in Spain.

Text courtesy of Jane Walters