Discovering Lleida

One of the added values of the Second European Congress, Sports and Intellectual Disability, is that it will be celebrated in Lleida, a thousand-year-old city combining perfectly the variety of cultures that has hosted through its history. Being dominated by the See, and being the capital of the region El Segrià and of the demarcation with the same name, Lleida is the demographic and economic centre of the area. Its commercial activity, based on the food and agriculture sector, and in the varied services sector, spreads out the Segrià region, and its neighbour regions.

Lleida is a modern city with good connections, and it counts on with many people’s festivities, and with a varied cultural offer. The cultural facilities, such as the new University Campus, one of the bests of its kind, which celebrated its opening ceremony in recent times, have launched extraordinarily the cultural life in this city.

Besides there are also a variety of routes to be done in the region, some great examples are: the highly recommended Monumental Route through the city, the Castles Route, and of course the Cistercian Route that runs through Poblet, Santes Creus, and Vallbona de les Monges Monasteries.

Lleida has the privilege of enjoying very important natural spaces in its area, such as the Natural Park of the Mitjana, the Natural Park of the Segre River or the gardens known as the Camps Elisis, already used by the Romans, and also the Horta, that is the green area that envelopes the city. This fantastic natural culture has promoted that Lleida grows holding important environmental and quality values within the frame of a city with a sustainable development. In addition, the Pyrenees of Lleida lead the adventure sports sector in Spain.

This year the city of Lleida has been chosen as the European City of Sports 2008 by the ACES (Association of European Capitals of Sports). This appointment is an award that recognizes the city schedules that link sports, health, education, an also social integration; therefore obtaining that Lleida becomes a city for all.