Albera Tortoise Breeding Centre, in Garriguella

What it is

The Centre de Reproducció de Tortugues de l'Albera breeds in captivity the native tortoises of Catalonia, which are endangered, to return them to the wild. It is at the sanctuary of the Mare de Déu del Camp, in the municipality of Garriguella, about 15 minutes by car from Peralada. It is run by the Associació Amics de la Tortuga de l'Albera, under an agreement with the Generalitat and the Albera Natural Site, and has been open to the public since 1994.

Its main species is the Mediterranean tortoise (Testudo hermanni hermanni). The Albera range holds the last natural population on the Iberian Peninsula. The centre has released more than 3,000 individuals in the Albera and almost 700 pond turtles in the Ter basin, the lake of Banyoles and the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà. Tortoises born in Garriguella have also been released in the Garraf and Montsant natural parks.

What you see

• The Mediterranean tortoise in a recreation of its natural habitat, within the area where the species lives.
• The two native freshwater turtles of Catalonia.
• More than twenty species from the Mediterranean basin and other parts of the world. Many are exotic tortoises that have been abandoned, escaped or confiscated, which the centre takes in.
• Egg-laying, hatching and the care of the young, depending on the time of year.
• An audiovisual that explains how work is done to conserve threatened species.

The panels and the audiovisual are in Catalan, Spanish, French, English and German. Allow about an hour for the visit.

Opening hours

The hours follow the tortoises' activity:

• 21 March to 30 June: 10:00 to 13:00. Closed Mondays.
• 1 July to 31 August: 10:00 to 15:00, every day.
• 1 September to 31 October: 10:00 to 13:00. Closed Mondays.
• 1 November to 20 March: closed to the public.

The centre warns that on some days, or part of a day, it may close because of bad weather or because the tortoises are not active.

Price

The centre's website does not publish the entry price. Ask first by phone, 972 55 22 45, or at [email protected]. The centre also offers the chance to adopt a tortoise to support the project.

When to go

Go in the morning: it is when the tortoises are most active, and the spring and autumn hours only cover the morning. In spring and autumn, cloudy, rainy or cold days they hardly move and you may see few. In summer avoid the hottest hours; arrive at 10:00.

Getting there

From Peralada, follow the road towards Garriguella and, once there, the signs for the sanctuary of the Mare de Déu del Camp. The practical way is by car.

With children

It is one of the visits that works best with small children in the area: short, outdoors and with animals you can see up close. Older ones can follow the explanation about conservation and the audiovisual. If you are interested in the Albera, the same day you can do the Requesens circular walk, in the same range.