The
Seu Vella de Lleida, the former cathedral, is without doubt one such emblematic feature of the
Lleida region. It rises majestically from a city hill, its vigilance extending beyond the river Segre to include a region, replete with towers, bell towers, watchtowers, and vantage points, from which a bird's eye view can be enjoyed of all the districts in the plain of Lleida.
The Beacons of the West route will open your eyes to all this heritage and turn your gaze to the heavens
to bring together the landscape and history of Les Garrigues, La Noguera, the Pla d’Urgell, La Segarra, El Segrià and L’Urgell.
One of the stops on the way is the parish church of
Santa Maria de Linyola, also known as the cathedral of the Pla d’Urgell. After climbing the 125 steps of the spiral staircase, you are greeted, at a
height of thirty metres, with descriptive panels describing the
360° view of Urgell's large esplanade.
The secular bell tower of Os de Balaguer is another of these beacons along the route and, furthermore, every last Sunday in April, the
Catalan National Campanologists' Convention is held. The route, which everyone can follow at their own pace, also passes through
Santa Maria de Balaguer, with one of the most interesting observation points over the plain of L’Urgell; the church of the
Assumpció de Maria, the main church and the largest one in
Borges Blanques, crowned by a beacon that was used to show the surrounding villages that the flour mill was working and that the harvested wheat could now be brought in; and
Pilar d’Almenara, in Agramunt, a watchtower from the late 11th century, built on the highest point of the
Almenara mountain range.
The
convent of Sant Bartomeu, which stands vigil over the
Vall del Corb, located beyond the urban centre of
Bellpuig, also forms part of this route. It has a collection of
Catalan and Aragonese ceramic plates that used to contain the oil used for administering the last rites. In
Tàrrega, the church of
Santa Maria de l’Alba and its tower with a square floor plan also form part of the route, as does the
Gothic church of
Santa Maria in Cervera, rising to some fifty-metres.
There is a
passport for the Beacons of the West route and those following it can add to it the adhesive stamp from each visit. With the passport, discounts are available from those participating in the initiative.
An excursion proposed in collaboration with the magazine
Descobrir. 
