Spain
Passionate, sophisticated and devoted to living the good life, Spain is a country more diverse than you ever imagined. The home of Remsa for over 45 years find out why Spain is worth putting on your bucket list.
An Epic Land
Spain’s diverse landscapes stir the soul. The Pyrenees and the Picos de Europa are as beautiful as any mountain range on the continent, while the snowcapped Sierra Nevada rises up improbably from the sun-baked plains of Andalucía; these are hiking destinations of the highest order. The wildly beautiful cliffs of Spain’s Atlantic northwest are offset by the charming coves of the Mediterranean. And everywhere you go, villages of timeless beauty perch on hilltops, huddle in valleys and cling to coastal outcrops as tiny but resilient outposts of Old Spain. That's where the country's charms are most likely to take hold.
A Culinary Feast
Food and wine are national obsessions in Spain, and with good reason. The touchstones of Spanish cooking are deceptively simple: incalculable variety, traditional recipes handed down through the generations, and an innate willingness to experiment and see what comes out of the kitchen laboratory. You may experience the best meal ever via tapas in an earthy bar where everyone's shouting, or via a meal prepared by a celebrity chef in the refined surrounds of a Michelin-starred restaurant. Either way, the breadth of gastronomic experience that awaits you is breathtaking and sure to be a highlight of your trip.
Art Imitates Life
Windswept Roman ruins, cathedrals of rare power and incomparable jewels of Islamic architecture speak of a country where the great civilisations of history have risen, fallen and left behind their indelible mark. More recently, what other country could produce such rebellious and relentlessly creative spirits as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Antoni Gaudí and place them front and centre in public life? And here, grand monuments of history coexist alongside architectural creations of such daring that it becomes clear Spain's future will be every bit as original as its past.
Fiestas & Flamenco
For all the talk of Spain's history, this is a country that lives very much in the present and there's a reason 'fiesta' is one of the best-known words in the Spanish language – life itself is a fiesta here and everyone seems to be invited. Perhaps you'll sense it along a crowded, post-midnight street when all the world has come out to play. Or maybe that moment will come when a flamenco performer touches something deep in your soul. Whenever it happens, you'll find yourself nodding in recognition: this is Spain.
Pamplona. The city where it all began for Remsa in 1970. The company was established by three independent businessman focussed on becoming a global aftermarket brake brand.
Capital of the fiercely independent Kingdom of Navarra and home to one of Spain’s most famous and wildest festivals. Yet even when the bulls aren’t thundering down the cobblestones through the centre of town, Pamplona makes a fascinating place to explore. With its grand cathedral, archaeological treasures and 16th-century fortifications, there’s much history hidden in these atmospheric medieval lanes. And with its lush parks and picturesque city centre full of vibrant eating and drinking spots, it’s easy to see why so many – Hemingway included – have fallen under Pamplona’s spell. The village also sees its fair share of pilgrims arriving on foot along the Camino de Santiago, a tradition that dates back many centuries.
In the early 80's as production reaches 1 million brake pads, Remsa opens a new factory in Madrid focussed on production of brake linings for trucks.
But, aside from brake pad production, no city on earth is more alive than Madrid, a beguiling place whose sheer energy carries a simple message: this city really knows how to live. A young city by European standards, the vibe here is adventurous and unpretentious but with an eye toward quality in all pursuits of life, from architecture and design to food and wine. On the cultural front, the Spanish capital is home to many of the country’s greatest national museums, including the masterpiece-dense Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen art museums. Building on their strength, at least a dozen other cultural institutions and attractions share the same sidewalks, and the surrounding streets are lined with commercial galleries. With chefs from across Spain and around the world joining the local talent, the city’s restaurants and bars are a major draw for gastronomes. Travel to Madrid to see its gorgeous architecture and plazas, many of which were constructed during the 16th and 17th centuries, and its lovely avenues and thoroughfares.
In 1992 Remsa launches a new international distribution centre in Corella to meet with the increase in global demand for its brake products. And, in 1996 a third Remsa brake pad factory opens.
Corella, a town of 7,500 inhabitants, lies in south-western Navarre in the region known as La Ribera. Among the fertile croplands of the Alhama valley stands a town with a tremendous winemaking tradition which also has an important artistic legacy; indeed, Corella is the reference point for Baroque architecture in Navarre. All the splendours of an era are there for visitors to see along its streets. First there are ancestral houses and palaces, such as those of the Arrese and Cadenas families, in the latter of which Queen Maria Luisa of Savoy, the wife of Felipe V, stayed to cure her tuberculosis. Then there are convents and churches, such as the parish church of San Miguel, and finally a stop to sample the delights of Corella's market gardens and its excellent wine, culminating with Holy Week, when the most baroque and colourful procession in the Ebro valley takes place.
Continuing it's expansion strategy, in 2002 Remsa opens a new brake pad factory, second backing plate factory and second international distribution centre opens in Olvega (Spain).
The city of Soria, with its Romanesque churches and 9th-century castle, is a 45-minute drive from the Mirador. The surrounding area is popular for trekking, climbing and mushroom picking.
Barcelona is an enchanting seaside city with boundless culture, fabled architecture and a world-class drinking and dining scene.
This city really does has everything; whittling down what to do in Barcelona will be your biggest challenge. From the breathtaking modernist architecture, to the art museums displaying works by the likes of Picasso, Dalí, and Miró, culture buffs will never get bored. Add the food markets, the unforgettable gastronomic experiences, the world’s best soccer club, and the vast, sprawling city beaches, and you can be sure there’ll be plenty to keep everyone happy in Barcelona. At the center of Barcelona’s old city lies the Gothic Quarter, a maze of narrow medieval streets packed with intriguing shops and cafés surrounding the Cathedral de la Seu, which is composed of Roman ruins and Gothic structures. Architecture buffs can’t miss Antoni Gaudí’s modernist structures, like Casa Batlló, La Pedrera, Park Güell, and his masterpiece, the still-unfinished Sagrada Familia. A walk down La Rambla is an unparalleled way to absorb the city’s energy. This tree-lined pedestrian street starts near Plaça de Catalunya and ends at Rambla de Mar, by the water. For soccer fans, taking a tour of Camp Nou, home of Barcelona FC, is a must.