Peramola Council Opposes Climbing Ban at UNESCO Rock Art Site

Peramola town council is pushing back against new restrictions on rock climbing at Roc del Rombau, arguing that the sport can coexist with the protection of ancient rock paintings and archaeological sites there.

The Catalan Department of Culture recently designated a 36-hectare protection zone around the site, as published in the Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia (DOGC). The measure bans climbing in the archaeological area, along with camping and lighting fires. Details on the exact boundaries remain unclear, creating uncertainty for climbers who frequent the vertical wall.

The rock paintings sit about six metres above the base of the cliff, covering 110 square centimetres. Recognised as a Cultural Asset of National Interest (BCIN), they form part of the Mediterranean Basin's Rock Art (ARAMPI), added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1998. Catalan cultural heritage law treats such art as inseparable from its landscape, requiring safeguards for the surrounding environment.

Mayor Joan Puig called the protection zone "very restrictive" and said it could impact key climbing routes valued by the community. The council has requested a meeting with department technicians in the coming days to clarify the criteria behind the rules and their full implications. Puig noted that when UNESCO listed the site, fencing and informative signs were already installed. He has fielded calls from climbers across Spain, stressing that Peramola is a "world-class climbing hub".

"I believe it's right to regulate for the paintings and sites, but there can always be exceptions or specific points allowing all the mountain activities to continue," Puig said. He praised climbers as "respectful" of the heritage and expressed openness to working with authorities on any needed regulations.

The mayor pointed out that the council opened an autocaravan area nearly three years ago and launched a climbing and mid-mountain sports welcome centre two years ago in the former casino building, catering to international visitors.

Local climbers echoed these concerns. American-born Daniel Forgeng, who has lived in Catalonia for 13 years and now resides in Coll de Nargó, described the mountain as a "very important resource" that has always been respected. Ivan Cercós, from Solsona with 17 years of experience there, called the wall one of the world's most significant for high-difficulty routes. "Climbers have always coexisted with these paintings," he said, adding that their presence has helped protect the art.