Author Archives: Ernest Torquet

The Routard Guide in the spotlight!

What is the Guide du Routard ?

The Guide du Routard is a popular French travel guidebook for independent travellers. It provides practical information on accommodation, restaurants, transport and places to visit, which you can usually find at affordable prices. The tone is friendly, sometimes humorous, and the advice is generally based on real-life experiences. It covers many destinations around the world and is updated regularly.

Creation of Le Routard and how does it work ?

Le Routard is a famous collection of French travel guides, created in 1973 by Philippe Gloaguen and Michel Duval. The first wanted to offer an alternative to traditional guidebooks, with practical advice on travelling on a budget. Inspired by his own travel experiences, he wanted to help young people discover the world in a free and authentic way, outside the tourist circuits. The guidebook quickly established itself as a reference for those who prefer to travel independently, freely and economically.

Le Routard is based on an authentic approach to travel. The authors travel anonymously to test accommodation, restaurants, means of transport and sites to visit. This guarantees a certain independence of spirit and genuine sincerity in the advice given. 

Today, Le Routard covers more than 150 destinations around the world. As well as paper guidebooks, it has a website offering up-to-date content, discussion forums, user reviews and booking services. It remains true to its original spirit: helping travellers to enjoy authentic experiences, far from the beaten track.

How to be included in Le Routard ?

The criteria for inclusion in the Routard are not yet known. To be listed, a request must be made by email or post, specifying the recommended establishment. The person in charge of the survey will visit the establishment on their next trip to the country or region in question, completely anonymously, in order to decide whether or not to include the establishment in the next guide.Once the new guide has been produced and if they are recommended in it, establishments can purchase a ‘Recommended by Routard’ plaque and sticker from CLAD Conseil.

Le Routard in Barcelona, the Catalan capital reveals its secrets

Barcelona is a vibrant, artistic and sunny city, ideal for curious travellers eager to discover new things. Thanks to the Routard, you can explore the Catalan capital in an authentic way, far from the overly touristy itineraries. The guide invites you to lose yourself in the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, admire the modernist facades of Passeig de Gràcia, or enjoy a sunset from the heights of Parc Güell.

On the cultural side, the Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, is a must-see, as are the Casa Batlló and the Palau de la Música Catalana.

Market lovers will love a stop at La Boqueria, near the Ramblas, or the much less touristy Mercat de Sant Antoni. For a nature break, a stroll along the Barceloneta seafront or a climb up to Montjuïc Castle offers a breath of fresh air and an unbeatable view of the city.

The Montjuïc district, on top of a hill, offers a beautiful green escape with its gardens, Olympic site and magnificent views over the city and the sea. Le Routard strongly recommends a visit to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), housed in the impressive Palau Nacional. This museum holds a remarkable collection of Romanesque, Gothic and modern art, representative of the richness of Catalan culture.

With its useful tips and reliable addresses, Le Routard allows you to experience Barcelona intensely, soaking up its unique energy and warm atmosphere.

Born Bike Barcelona is once again featured in the Guide du Routard. Since 2021 and for the third year running, our company has been winning over travellers with its warm welcome, local commitment and original routes. Located between the Barceloneta and Born districts, the team offers tours in several languages, accessible to all, to discover Barcelona in a different way, with its historic streets, sunny beaches and modernist masterpieces. A real must for those who want to combine culture, freedom and soft mobility.

The Carnival of Barcelona: Pedaling to the Rhythm of the Celebration in February

As early as the 8th of february and up to the 14th, Barcelona brings forth a wave of colors, laughter, and boundless energy with one of the most anticipated events of the year: Carnival. Celebrated with enthusiasm throughout the city, the Carnival of Barcelona offers a unique experience that combines festive traditions and modernity. An original way to partake in the festivities while adopting a healthy and eco-friendly mode of transportation is to join the practice of cycling during this jubilant period.

Every year, the Carnival of Barcelona transforms the city into a lively spectacle, where streets are adorned with extravagant costumes, frenzied dances, and contagious music. Residents and visitors are invited to cast aside inhibitions and immerse themselves in an atmosphere of infectious joy. At the heart of this effervescent celebration, the bicycle proves to be a fun means of transportation, allowing one to navigate through bustling streets with ease.

The iconic parade of the Barcelona Carnival, also known as “La Taronjada,” is a burst of colors where decorated floats parade through the streets, showering confetti and candies. Moving around on a bicycle during this parade offers a unique perspective, enabling cyclists to experience the event more intimately. Many cyclists even participate in the parade themselves, adorning their bikes with festive decorations and adding an eco-friendly touch to the celebration.

The heart of the carnaval’s festivities will be the Born district (where you will also be able to rent bikes from our shop) aswell as other areas from the center of Barcelona

In addition to the main parade, many neighborhoods in Barcelona organize special events, costume contests, and open-air concerts during Carnival. Traveling by bicycle from one location to another allows attendees to fully enjoy this diversity while avoiding potential traffic or public transportation-related issues.

Barcelona’s Carnival is also known for its nighttime festivities, with evenings dedicated to fun and dancing. Using a bicycle as a mode of transportation makes it easy to move from one party to another without worrying about parking or traffic jams.

By encouraging the use of bicycles during Carnival, Barcelona not only promotes a sustainable mode of transportation but also an active and enjoyable way to participate in this exceptional celebration. Don’t hesitate to come and rent your bikes from BornBike Tours Barcelona so you can enjoy Barcelona Carnival by bike!

In conclusion, the Carnival of Barcelona provides an ideal opportunity to combine revelry and cycling. Pedaling to the effervescent rhythm of this celebration, participants can live a unique experience that blends tradition and modernity in an electrifying atmosphere. So, put on your most festive costume, hop on your bike, and let yourself be carried away by the magic of the Barcelona Carnival

22-23 October: The Barcelona Architecture Festival reopens its doors!

The city of Barcelona opens the 14th edition of the “48h Open Doors” architecture festival from 22 to 23 October 2022.

This year’s festival highlights all the disciplines and professionals that make Barcelona’s architecture a collaborative and global work.
The aim is to bring designers, craftsmen, users and architects out of the shadows to share their collaborative design secrets and to raise awareness about these professions that build Barcelona’s environment.

Planning :

Visits to the most emblematic places in Barcelona will take place in all areas of the city.
For example, in the Centre you can visit

THE “APARTAMENT PICASSO”.

This is a complete remodelling of a small, very isolated house into an open flat, where the spaces interact and nothing is designed at random

PICASSO

“NNWALLERY: VALÈNCIA-ROGENT WALL”

On the Carrer de València at the corner of Rogent street, you can find the work of DXTR (Dennis Schuster, Berlin), an internationally renowned urban style artist who combines applications on city walls with advertising campaigns for well-known brands. It will be an interactive mural of over 50 metres in length and 2.5 metres in height.

You can also search for all other exhibitions on the festival website at

https://www.48hopenhousebarcelona.org/els-edificis/

Enjoy your immersion in Barcelona’s architecture!

Las fiestas de Gràcia : a fantastic journey through one of Barcelona’s typical neighbourhoods

Every year for more than 200 years, the Gracia Fiestas are back from the 15th to the 21st of August to take young and old on a journey through the streets of this emblematic district of Barcelona.

A little bit of history :

The history of Gracia’s fiestas dates to the 19th century when the Vila de Gràcia became a neighbourhood of small craftsmen, tradesmen and workers, and then, following its annexation to the city of Barcelona, fiestas began to be organised to celebrate the religious feast of the Assumption of Mary on 15 August. Although these popular festivals had a strong religious character, they now only have a festive and playful dimension.

And now ?

It is a popular festival that lasts for a week and includes many activities such as concerts, workshops, shows and, most famously, a traditional decoration competition, the guarnits, of the different streets of the district that compete for the first prize. You can see the famous processions of giants and cabezudos (big heads) or correfocs (running lights).

In addition to the street decorations, you will be able to dance, enjoy live music and gastronomy in the neighbourhood squares until 2am on August 21st.

Note: the eco-responsible dimension of the fiestas de Gracia. Indeed, the guarnits give a second life to a lot of waste of the inhabitants of the district. For example, last year the Calle Progrés used no less than 12,000 egg boxes to carry out its project!

So don’t hesitate and come and discover las fiestas de Gracia !