The Czech "bear" Kodiaq has already passed with us more than a thousand kilometers both in Russia and outside our country.
This time brought our toptygin into the proud, freedom-loving Catalonia. Barcelona - almost every person on our globe knows this city, who at least once opened a geographical atlas or with one eye looked at the World Cup or the Spanish game “Examples”. Yes, Barcelona is not only Gaudi, but also Messi. Disputes are already underway, which of them more glorified the capital city. But first things first.
We did not lose time on the masterpieces of Gaudi and the same unfinished building represented by the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia (Sagrada Familia). Firstly, they saw (and more than once), and secondly, you must agree, the place has been quite popsy for the past hundred years. Recall the construction, we recall, began in 1882. But not about him now.
Now about the secrets of the Catalan lands and how important it is for the Catalans to be free. There are many secrets. First we leave for Tossa de Mar (80 kilometers from Barcelona). This is a small town on the coast, where a large port used to be located, and a place where corks were made for expensive wines. There is also a fortress that protected the port from unwanted guests - pirates.
A lot of precious things and gold were brought here to buy cork (both raw materials and finished products). And while trade and targeted shooting at pirates here were the main "entertainment", then the mysterious guests in these places were almost unnoticed. You never know who will beat a wave to the shore. According to legend, the Templars “nailed” here. This, if not in the know, is such a spiritual and chivalric order. Known for his crusades and treasures, which the knights had, and then they were gone. Treasures that no one has ever found.
So, they say that the treasures were transported here to these shores, during the persecution of the members of the order. More precisely, part here, and part - to the shores of Britain.
Traces of the Templars in the form of various markers can be found here in the fortress. Unfortunately, many of them have disappeared. You can play in the patterns and calculate the location of the next sign, but we went further to the Monastery of St. Gerard of Avrilak. Legends lead here. It is on a mountain (360 meters above sea level) 15 km from the port of Tossa de Mar. Moreover, the road runs along a picturesque, but very dangerous track, which is a segment of the Catalan stage of the World Rally Championship (WRC). Skoda Kodiaq handled such an obstacle remarkably. The crossover is quite heavy, but it holds the road well, without disruption in skidding.
What is here in the monastery of Sant Grau (El Santuario del Santo Grau), which is located in the forests of Cadiretes? According to the same legends, here is a direct indication of the place where the Templar's gold is hidden. In addition, the relics of St. Gerard of Avrilak, which Maria de Montpellier brought to these places in 1200, rest here. Montpellier, recall, was the mother of King Jaime I the Conqueror. With a high degree of probability, the tags are located somewhere near the burial site. In those days, there was a fashion for symbolism, they say, "to carry with you to the grave." This was said not only metaphorically about knowledge, but also about other symbols in the literal sense of the expression. We didn’t pick the relics of Gerard. Yes, and would not let us in to them. Let not worry yet. It is necessary to analyze all the facts.
But not only the Templars' gold is famous for these places. Here is part of the so-called triangle (center) of the resistance of Catalonia. The ideas of freedom from Madrid are the cornerstone here. Next we go to San Mateu de Bajes, near Barcelona.
From this place we go to the Casteltalat observatory. It is over 900 meters above sea level. This scientific cradle of these places was built back in the year 1783. Now here you can also look at the movement of the planets through a telescope, but already modern.
Nearby is another interesting “exhibit”. This is the church of San Miguel. It was built in the X century from the stones of the castle of Casteltalat. There is also a bell tower of about the same years of construction. In general, if there is a desire, then the Templars' gold can be found by combining all the stories and legends, maps of the movements of the knights and the testimonies of monks.
Although, according to the local descendants of medieval Catalans, even under torture with red-hot iron, local monks are more likely to tell about the location of the gold of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union than about the gold of the Templars. But here it is not known which is better.
Unfortunately, the rain did not give us the opportunity to go around all the points that we have outlined, but we will not lose heart. We still have time to return here, and the Templars' gold is unlikely to exist without us. It will be especially interesting to ride on the “Cisterian Triangle”. There are more than enough riddles here. There is where to dig and how to sneeze on the multimedia steering wheel. There is enough historical dust for everyone.