The Valles Orienal is placed among the mountain ranges of the Coast and Prelitoral Area, in the Prelitoral Depression Catalan Area .
It has two natural parks namely Nature Reserve of the Montseny, world-wide reserve of the biosphere and Corridor of the Montnegre, which starts at Llinars del Vallès.
The climate and vegetation is typically Mediterranean, with a predominance of oak, pine and cork oak, but we can find forests of oaks in the zones of the Montseny and Montnegre. In the Montseny we can also find forests of beeches and firs.
Although these are the best known, there are other great places to enjoy nature wich are included in the Plan of Spaces of Natural Interest of Catalunya (PEIN) such as the Sierra del Montnegre (divided into the Maresme and the Selva), the Conreria, Sant Mateu and Cèllecs (also includes Barcelona and Maresme), the Cliffs of Bertí, Moianès (deepens the Bages) and the Sauva Negra (shared with Osona).
The situation of the Montseny, very close to the metropolitan areas forced to take measures for their protection at the beginning of the 20th C.. At 1928 was created the Patronage of the Mountain Montseny
and between 1977 and 1978 was declared Natural Park. In the same year, the UNESCO included it in the Biosphere Reserve for its natural values and landscapes. In the same way, the Nature Park Corridor of Montegre is protected by law with a special plan of protection from 1989, at year 2000 was created a Consortium for the Rural Area of Gallecs to ensure the preservation and enhancement of cultural values, productive and scenes of the rural space of Gallecs, placed among the towns of Mollet del Vallès, Parets del Vallès, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Palau-Solità i Plegamans, Montcada and Reixach and Lliçà de Vall.
Due to industrial development, land for agricultural use has been reduced in recent decades. Currently dominated by rain-fed agriculture devoted mainly cereals, vegetables or the vineyard. Industrial growth has led to the creation of large industrial estates and growth the capital of the region, Granollers, Mollet or Parets del Vallès, on the other hand, the core of typical masies scattered on the mountains tend to disappear.
Apart from the ideal place for nature lovers, the county also has an ancient history with ancient monuments, as well as distinguished thermal centers located between Caldes de Montbui and the Garriga. It also has a Mediterranean cuisine of quality.
It is necessary to remark the modern equipment like the Racing Circuit of Catalunya, in Montmeló, opened in 1991 promoted by the Generalitat and the RACC (Real Club Car of Catalonia) where sport activities like the Great Grand Prix of Spain of F-1 and the Great Grand Prix of Catalonia of Motorcycling are given place, both rated for the World Cup.
