December 28 – January 1
This year we are going to Catalonia to celebrate the upcoming new year! Five days of exploring some of the best natural areas of the region, including Siurana and the monastery of Montserrat.
| Wednesday, December 28 | Meet in Valencia (parking lot in front of Mestalla stadium) at 9:30 |
| Drive to Siurana (about 3 hours) | |
| Hike Embalse de Ciurana (medium, 10km, 275m+) | |
| Check in our guesthouse in la Febró | |
| Thursday, December 29 | Drive to Abarca (20 minutes) |
| Hike to Roca Corbatera (medium, 11.5km, 615m+) | |
| One more night in the same guesthouse | |
| Friday, December 30 | Drive to Tarragona (1 hour) |
| Visit the Ferreres Aqueduct | |
| Explore Tarragona + lunch in the old town | |
| Drive to Montserrat (about 1 hour) | |
| Check in our apartments in Montserrat | |
| Saturday, December 31 | Hike to Sant Jeroni peak (medium, 10km, 500m+) |
| Relaxing afternoon in Montserrat | |
| New Year’s Eve celebration | |
| Monday, 1st of January | Nice and easy hike to start the new hiking year (: |
| Return to Valencia (about 3.5 hours) |
Siurana
Come to Siurana and you will discover a little fairytale town that brings with it the memory of endless sieges and impossible conquests.
Located in an unassailable position over the river were needed knights of four counties to conquer it. The castle defended a frontier, which went from the hill “Coll de Balaguer” to Tamarit de Gaià. Conquered in 1153, after the defeat of Lleida and Tortosa, was the last bastion of the reconquest of Catalunya. If you look the cliff, you will guess why it was not conquered in three hundred years and why the end was so tragic.
Abdelazia, the Moorish queen, decided to jump down the cliff with her horse rather than being captured by the Christians. The animal in its last resistance in vain left on the rock, by the rest of the history, the footprint of the horseshoe. And with it, disappeared the last Saracen bastion of Catalunya.
Nowadays, we can enjoy a beautiful village of houses and cobblestone streets and the rest of the Saracens stronghold, located next to the village. At its feet a clean and calm water reservoir that offers you the possibility of practicing any kind of aquatic sports.
Montserrat
The monastery of Montserrat is one of the most magnificent spots in Catalunya. It is a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine monk mountain retreat about one hour Northwest from Barcelona.
Not only is Montserrat Monastery of significant religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery is simply breath-taking. If you enjoy hiking, there are also some interesting walks through the mountains where you will experience magnificent views of some of the most unusual rock formations in the whole of Catalonia. You can take a funicular to the top of the mountain, and from there you can choose a number of different walks, all with amazing views of the Catalonian countryside.
Hiking
Montsant is not the highest mountain in the Tarragona regions, nor is it the largest, even so the strength of its presence is unquestionable. It probably has to do with its orography, a compact massif, with most of its perimeter walled in by cliffs and rocky outcrops of Oligocene conglomerates. All the towns are outside, at its feet. The interior is the kingdom of the mountains. At the moment, in a country that is changing at great speed, Montsant has become an oasis. A good part of its values are precisely cultural, linked to the fact of building a territory practically empty of artificial elements. A mountain of hermitages, Montsant once again becomes a particularly suitable space for introspection, for the adventure of thought, for the emotion of unbridled nature and for the placid peace of intimate corners where one can collect one’s spirit. This proposal is an invitation to enjoy its views and its silences.
Montserrat is one of the most special places in Catalonia, due to its curious stones, its energy and its beautiful surroundings. And what better way to visit Montserrat than by visiting the most inhospitable and wonderful places that it hides inside. The plan is to climb the highest peak of the Montserrat mountains – Sant Jeroni. A hiking route that starts from the Monastery of Montserrat and that will allow us to observe the impressive views of the massif and a large part of Catalonia. On a good sunny day, you can see both the Catalan Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea.
Accommodation
Set in Febró, Cal Serret offers accommodation with a shared lounge, free WiFi and a shared kitchen. With city views, this accommodation features a balcony. Boasting a DVD player, the holiday home has a kitchen with a dishwasher, a microwave and a fridge, a living room with a seating area and a dining area, 5 bedrooms, and 6 bathrooms with a shower and a bath. Towels and bed linen are offered in this accommodation.
Offering a dramatic hilltop setting next to Montserrat Monastery, Apartamentos Montserrat Abat Marcet features well-equipped studios and apartments. They overlook the surrounding Muntanya de Montserrat National Park. Each apartment and studio at Apartamentos Montserrat Abat Marcet has simple, bright décor and heating. The seating area includes a TV, and the kitchenette has a microwave, fridge, oven and gas hob. Montserrat Abat’s à la carte restaurant offers traditional Catalan dishes. Set in Plaça Abat Oliba Square, the property has easy access to the monastery’s shops and cafés.
The price of the trip is 350 Euros per person. 150 euros paid in advance to reserve the spot; balance due by 10th of December (free cancellation till 15th of December). The price includes transportation, four nights of accommodation, insurance and a professional guide.
It is possible to sign up till 15th of December. Payments by Bizum or bank transfer are accepted.
You can use the button below to reserve your spot / get more info about the trip or contact us by e-mail to info@valenciamountainenthusiasts.com