Previous state
The Costa Brava, a stretch of coastline in northeastern Catalonia, attracts nearly five million tourists each year, making it one of the European Union’s most popular destinations. This significant influx of visitors adds to the pressures it already faces due to climate change.
The paths that run along the coast in this area are known locally as the camí de ronda. The path included in this project is five kilometres long and connects the city of Palamós with the Castell Beach nature reserve. It traverses a unique Mediterranean mosaic of agriculture, forests, fishermen’s huts and discreet mid-20th century housing developments. Although the landscape is protected, it suffers significant habitat degradation due to the heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Aim of the intervention
The aim of the project was to connect the existing sections of the coastal path into a single route linking the city, the nearby beaches and the nature reserve. This continuous path should help to preserve and enhance the coastal landscape for decades to come. The project sought to transform the path and its landscapes into a “grand site” that would celebrate the area’s scenic and cultural heritage. Another goal was to reduce seasonal tourism by creating inclusive green infrastructures that can be enjoyed all year round, fostering a better relationship between society and the environment.
Description
The first of the project’s key actions was the restoration of degraded habitats to create a richer and more refined landscape mosaic. This entailed the removal of invasive plant species from rocky cliffs to protect the EU’s endemic coastal communities, and the diversification and rejuvenation of pine forests into holm oak woodlands on hillsides that were overgrown or encroached by cars. Another key action was the transformation of coastal walkways into mixed cork and holm oak woodlands with rich Mediterranean undergrowth, and the restoration of open coastal scrub habitat clearings through management and planting. In urban areas, the density of Aleppo pine forests was reduced to mitigate the risk of fire, and efforts were made to transition the forests to holm oak and cork oak, which were already present in the understorey.
At the same time, a panoramic coastal path of more than 4.75 kilometres was restored, linking the centre of Palamós to the Cap Roig Natural Park and creating an eco-social infrastructure that would preserve nature, promote health benefits and highlight the value of the area’s natural, scenic and cultural heritage. The path includes 3.6 kilometres of new footpaths, connecting previously fragmented sections. The Castell Beach car park was also relocated and is now integrated into the agroforestry mosaic, and the former area was returned to agricultural use.
In addition, 14 specific projects were carried out in critical areas to restore parking areas, design transitions between town and trail, and create rest areas. Forty-two adapted crossings were created along the route, as well as 19 new viewpoints with discreet interventions but spectacular views. Finally, the project aimed to enhance the coastal landscape with minimal need-based interventions that would celebrate the materiality and uniqueness of the site.
Assessment
Despite accommodating many users –both locals and tourists– the landscape and nature surrounding the new path are recovering and people are increasingly changing their habits, choosing to walk daily and enjoy the sublime landscape, leaving their cars at home. Overall, the project stands out as an example of social infrastructure, nature restoration and landscape heritage conservation achieved without major investment and with limited resources. The project demonstrates a remarkable ability to preserve the landscape with minimal intervention and the potential to extend the urban experience into the natural landscape, seamlessly integrating the two.
[Last update: 06/11/2024]
