From Lleida · 41.62° N · 0.62° E

The Sant Anastasi long weekend, the May Festa Major seen from outside, from Lleida

Three getaways with a night away and four day trips for 11 May, Sant Anastasi, Lleida's holiday: what works when it is a festival in your city and a working day outside, from the Lakes Train to Núria, Cardona, Alquézar and Sant Jeroni.

Map

7 ideas, picked for these days

The Tren dels Llacs on the track, with its locomotive at the front

Arnaucc · CC BY-SA 3.0

Day itinerary1 h 30La Pobla de Segur

Lakes Train, same-day return

The historic Lakes Train leaves on spring Saturdays at 10:40 from Lleida, so the Festa Major Saturday fits whole. It returns to the city at 19:00, in time for the evening events.

Romanesque church of Siurana on the cliff, with the reservoir behind

Stch2022 · CC0

2 nights1 h 30Siurana

A weekend in Siurana and the Priorat: cliff, reservoir and vineyards

In mid-May the Priorat vines have new leaves and the reservoir kayak opens on spring weekends. The 4x4 route goes out with a single vehicle: book it before the accommodation.

Cardona castle on its hill, with the collegiate church and the walls

Isidre blanc · CC BY-SA 4.0

2 nights1 h 45Cardona

Two nights at the Parador de Cardona, inside the castle, with the Salt Mountain and Solsona

11 May is a holiday only in Lleida: in Cardona it is a normal day, and if it falls on a Monday, castle and mine are closed. Do the getaway before the holiday; from May the castle closes at 19:00, and on Sunday at 15:00.

Romanesque portal of the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll, with its biblical reliefs

Cherubino · CC BY-SA 3.0

2 nights2 h 15Ripoll

A weekend in the Ripollès: Romanesque monasteries and the Núria rack railway

In mid-May Núria goes from snow to meadows, and midweek the Rack Railway is much emptier. If Sant Anastasi falls on a working day, it is the day to go up: buy the train online all the same.

McBodes · CC BY 3.0

Day itinerary1 h 30Alquézar and the River Vero

Alquézar: walkways, ternasco and cloister

The Vero walkways are done in May without the heat, and on a working 11 May in Aragon Alquézar has few people. The collegiate church and museum have visiting hours: start with the walkways first thing.

A cabin of the Montserrat Aeri above the valley

OleguerRo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Day itinerary1 h 30Montserrat

Montserrat: cable car and Sant Jeroni

May is the last month of the good season for going up Sant Jeroni, before the heat. On a working day the Aeri has hardly a queue, and the two-and-a-half-hour circuit is done with the air still cool.

The Plaza Mayor of Aínsa with its stone arcades

Jose Luis Filpo Cabana · CC BY 3.0

Day itinerary2 hAínsa and the Sobrarbe

Aínsa and Muro de Roda

In May Muro de Roda is seen with the countryside green and the Mediano reservoir below, and on a working day the Plaza Mayor in Aínsa is almost empty. El Bodegón de Mallacán is open all year: book all the same if you go at a weekend.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is Sant Anastasi a holiday outside Lleida?

No, it is the local holiday of the city of Lleida. In the rest of Catalonia and in Aragon it is a working day.

What is closed that day?

If it falls on a Monday, whatever closes on non-holiday Mondays: Cardona castle and the Escaladei charterhouse, among others.