About this experience
This route is perfect for endurance mountain lovers with good physical fitness. You will face a significant ascent to the mountain ridge: along the way, you will conquer mountain passes, enjoy panoramic views from cliffs, and reach the atmospheric ancient town. A great highlight will be the encounter with magnificent birds of prey, and in the oldest restaurant, you will taste traditional soups and botifarró.
What to Expect
Ancient village houses
Your journey will start in the village of Aigüafreda. The mountain ridge you will ascend, rises just behind the last house. Along the way, I will tell you some interesting facts about the history of the village, its residents, and architecture. On the way, you will have the opportunity to have lunch surrounded by the ruins of a medieval castle, in a restaurant with traditional Catalan cuisine.
Protected Catalan mountains
The ridge we will head to is crisscrossed with trails left here by many generations of locals. The route goes through the Montseny Nature Reserve — above the picturesque gorge. This is a favorite nesting place for birds of prey — Egyptian vultures. If we are lucky, you will undoubtedly admire the sight of these birds soaring almost at the same level as the trail. Along the way, you will come across an old mill, ruins of bunkers, and other defensive structures left from military conflicts of the last centuries.
Immersed in the mountains
You will climb from 400 to almost 1100 meters above sea level and cross several mountain passes. Throughout the journey, you will be accompanied not only by breathtaking landscapes but also by the scents of Mediterranean herbs: rosemary, lavender, and thyme. We will make stops every hour for 20-30 minutes and a big one-hour break every 3 hours. And we will definitely choose a picturesque place to have a picnic with ham, fresh bread, olives, cheese, and other local treats.
A City from the Middle Ages
Mountain trails will lead you to the quaint town of El Brull, with its well-preserved medieval architecture. In this place, at the crossroads deep in the mountains, travelers have always found shelter in inns and a monastery. According to a tradition that has evolved over the centuries, the locals are very friendly to travelers and greet them with a sincere smile. Here you will see an old monastery with a garden of fruit trees, ruins of an ancient castle and a watchtower, and enjoy a magnificent panorama. And if you wish, you can visit the local restaurant, which has changed little over the centuries of its existence.
Who is this walk for
This route is suitable for active travelers from 16 years old: the ascent is not steep, there are sections with slopes of 20-25 degrees.
Organizational Details
- Distance of our route — 23 km, ascent — 700 m, difficulty level — difficult.
- To get from Barcelona to the village of Aigüafreda, you can take the train: R3 from Sants Estacio or Placa de Catalunya station to Sant Martí de Centelles station, where I will meet you. Trains run every hour and a half, the journey takes about an hour, the ticket costs around €8 round trip. You can also drive by car: road C-17 towards Vic.
- Snacks for the picnic are included in the excursion price.
- Lunch and dinner are not included in the excursion price (approximate prices: lunch — 10-15 €; dinner — 13-17 €).
