Areas owned     Sot del Fuster   Access to the Maps server Sot de Fuster. Vilanova de la Barca, Segrià. (information in pdf format) The Sot del Fuster is highly conditioned by its proximity to the Segre, separated only by the slope of the river.     Fluvial space next to the river Segre, which is one of the last forest strongholds in the Urgell plain. The forest and wet riverside prairies are a true oasis in the deforested landscape of the plain, and become a stopover and reference point for water-bound migratory birds. Interesting species   Common alder (Alnus glutinosa), white poplar (Populus alba), willows (Salix sp. pl.), mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), grey heron (Ardea cinerea), purple heron  (Ardea purpurea), little egret (Egretta garcetta), white stork (Ciconia ciconia), kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), Cetti's warbler (Cettia cetti), golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus), penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus).   Since it is located next to the Segre, which is an important migratory route on the north-south axis, the Sot del Fuster is a stopover place for many migratory birds, both forest- and marsh-dwelling.     The bee-eater (Merops Apiaster) frequently reproduces in the slopes of the river.   Recommendations for the visit   Spring and autumn are the best times to visit the estate, since this is when the riverside forest has its greatest chromatic variety as well as being the times when there is the greatest number of migratory birds. Thick fogs are quite frequent in the winter. So, if you wrap up well you will also be able to enjoy a special landscape, in which the feathered branches of the trees stand out among the fog. In the summer we recommend avoiding the middle hours of the day, since it can get quite hot. It would be interesting to take binoculars and a guide to be able to identify the different birds you will find. Access to the area is signposted from Vilanova de la Barca     How to get there?     > Map server         > Search for route from:   (Google Maps) From Lleida, take the C-1313 towards Balaguer. When you reach Vilanova de la Barca turn off to the left and look for the road to Corbins i Torrelameu. At the exit of the village, just before crossing the river Segre, a road branches off to the left, which you must follow to the north, always trying to get close to the river, which will lead you to the Sot del Fuster by the path of the river Talús. Routes   Besides observing the reed bed and riverside forest, it is pleasant to walk along the river bank towards Térmens. This walk, which is a little over 2 km there and back, will allow us to get different views of the river and observe some of the most characteristic species in the sector.   Services    Vilanova de la Barca Town Council. Tel. 973 19 00 05 Segrià District Council. Tel. 973 23 06 86   Where to eat   There are several restaurants in the village as well as in the Racó d'en Pep recreational centre where you can taste the typical cuisine of the region   Where to sleep   Vilanova de la Barca has a couple of boarding houses. To the south of the district, in the Racó d'en Pep recreational centre, there is also a camping site.   Typical products   A farming area par excellence, which produces mainly food products. The great variety of sweet fruit is worthy of mention. Also typical of the region are the cassoles de pages (variety of casserole), also known as cassoles de tros, which includes every kind of seasonal ingredient, and is often the object of competitions. Other notable dishes are snails, cooked in various ways and escalivada pies.   Others   Lleida and Balaguer are prosperous cities with many tourist and cultural attractions. Lleida has, among others, the Seu Vella, built between the 13th and 15th centuries, which is visible, and therefore a compulsory reference, from anywhere on the Lleida plain. The most notable feature of Balaguer is the portico square of the Market, one of the largest in Catalunya.

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