41.31° N · 0.99° E · Prades
Prades is high up and far from cities, and the astronomy park makes use of this with sessions that start indoors and finish outside, looking through large telescopes. There is a session for families with small children, another for adults and children over 8 and another recommended from age 12.
Who offers it
Independent companies: you book with them, on their terms. Prices are as they publish them and may change.
Step by step
On the website you choose the date and session, pay by card and receive confirmation by email straight away.
At the visitor centre, on Carrer Muralla. Selene is designed for families with children under 8; Gaia, for adults and families with children over 8; Kosmic, from age 12.
Between one part and the other there is a free break. You can have dinner at a bar in the village or picnic in the outdoor areas, and it is the moment to put on warm clothing.
Sky observation with large telescopes. The last stretch to the observation point has no light.
The sessions are divided into an indoor part, with a projection and explanation, and an outdoor part, at the telescopes, with a break in between. If the sky clouds over, the outdoor part depends on the weather and you can come back another day to do it.
Prades is a village of reddish stone high in the mountains of the same name, inland in Tarragona, far from the light of the coastal cities. Its sky has Starlight destination recognition, and the astronomy park makes use of it with sessions for the general public: you start at the visitor centre with a show in a room and, once it is dark, you go out to the observation point to look through large telescopes with someone explaining what you are seeing.
The appeal is in the order. The session is scheduled so that, when you go out, it is completely dark, even though the indoor part still begins in daylight. Between the two there is a free break for a snack or dinner in the village.
Selene is a trip to the Moon with Dr Selene and Nix, designed for families with children under 8, and it also ends at the telescopes. Gaia tells the story of the formation of the Earth; it is a show for adults that works with children over 8. Kosmic is a tribute to Carl Sagan with images taken under some of the best skies in the world, and is recommended from age 12 because of the vocabulary. There is also an outdoor-observation-only option, which the park does not recommend as a first choice. For a longer night, the park also organises dinners under the stars with their own calendar.
The visitor centre is at Carrer Muralla 5, second floor, in the centre of Prades. From Barcelona you take the A-2 towards Vilafranca del Penedès and Montblanc, the N-240 to l’Espluga de Francolí and, at Vimbodí, the TV-7004 towards Vilanova de Prades. From Lleida, the AP-2 to l’Albi and then the LP-7013. The last 200 metres to the observation point have no light.
There are sessions all year in the website calendar, and no time slot is better than another. What changes the experience most is the moon. If you want to see the Moon in detail, go at first quarter. If you want a dark sky for galaxies and nebulae, look for new moon or waning moon. The park links to a lunar calendar.
Selene costs €15 for ages 2 to 5, €17 for 6 to 12 and €20 from 13. Gaia and Kosmic, €17 for ages 2 to 12, €25 for 13 to 64 and €23 from 65. The outdoor-only option, €20 for all ages. There are no discounts other than age ones, but gift vouchers are accepted.
The sessions go ahead even if the forecast is bad. If it is overcast or raining, you can come back another day to do the outdoor part or the part that could not be completed. The indoor part is held regardless.
Who it's for
You like looking at the sky but don’t know what you are seeing, you are travelling with curious children or you want a different night in the Prades mountains.
You want to observe on your own for hours with your own equipment, or you are with very small children who can’t stay awake until full darkness.
What to bring
Map
What you have around the starting point.
More to do
Itineraries
Tips
With a full moon faint stars are harder to see; with a new moon, better. To see the Moon, first quarter.
The session ends at night and the roads down have many bends.
Under 8, Selene. Kosmic, better from 12.
In the visitor centre you can’t eat or drink. For the break, bars in the village or a picnic at l’Abellera or the bassa.
Questions
From age 2 in the Selene session, designed for small children. Kosmic is recommended from age 12.
Selene, €15 to €20 depending on age. Gaia and Kosmic, €17 to €25. The outdoor-only option costs €20.
Only the age-based rates for each session. The website states that no other discounts apply.
On the park’s website, with limited places per session.
The session goes ahead anyway, and you can come back another day to do the outdoor observation.
Not inside the visitor centre. Outside, on a lead, yes.
With a new or waning moon, when the sky is darkest.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/prades/things-to-do/starry-night-astronomy-park-prades
