Montseny: Hiking, Heritage and Traditions

Get to know Montseny through its hiking routes, churches and recurring festivals. When looking for a hotel in Montseny, it helps to decide on the focus of your trip first: a shorter hike to a spring, a longer route to a hermitage or a visit centred on local history will each lead to a different day plan. The following places and traditions offer some specific ideas to help you plan.

Hiking routes with different durations

From Montseny, it takes about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace to reach the Font Ferrussa spring; you can extend the hike to around an hour. The route offers panoramic views of Turó de l'Home, the lower part of the Tordera Valley and Serra del Corredor. These approximate times give you an idea of how long a shorter or more extended hike might take.

Another option is the hike from Plaça de la Vila de Montseny to Sant Martí de Montseny. It follows the old King's Road to the hermitage, is just over four kilometres long and is described as moderately difficult. At a leisurely pace, it takes about an hour and a half. The route follows the GR-5 and shares part of its path with the Tourdera. Compared with the roughly 20-minute hike to Font Ferrussa, this route requires considerably more walking time; the estimates refer to different routes and destinations.

Festivals, exhibition and local history

The Vot de Poble is an annual pilgrimage to Sant Marçal, held on the Monday after Pentecost. The procession starts at Font Bona and leads to the hermitage, where a Mass and the renewal of the vow are part of the programme. The Aplec de Sant Martí takes place each year on the Sunday closest to 11 November. It includes a solemn service in the hermitage, the singing of Goigs and a shared meal, usually consisting of a rice dish. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these traditions or the Fira de les Esquelles, check the specific event dates in advance.

The Fira de les Esquelles celebrates occupations associated with sheep farming and includes guided tours of Les Esquelles d'en Jaume. The permanent exhibition is located in the Casal de Cultura in Montseny. It displays nearly 1,000 bells collected over the course of their lives by Jaume Traveria and Montserrat Garriga, who donated them to the town. The Punt d'Informació de Montseny organises visits to the exhibition and museum by prior arrangement.

The churches and historic buildings also offer different points of interest. Sant Julià del Montseny is a church of Romanesque origin in the town centre; the bell tower and part of a wall remain from the original building. Sant Martí de Montseny is a 17th-century hermitage. Sant Marçal de Montseny is an 11th-century church, expanded in the 12th century. The site was also a Benedictine monastery, documented since 1053. Sant Marçal lies at an altitude of 1,093 metres between Les Agudes and Matagalls, near Font Bona, the Tordera's symbolic source. The Estela de la Calma, also known as the Estela de la Sitja del Llop, has been classified as movable cultural heritage of national interest.

River landscapes and local products

The upper course of the Tordera runs from its source through the municipality of Montseny and past the town centre. Gorg de l'Home is a long pool in the river, bordered by large, steep-sided rock formations. Gorg de les Dones d'Aigua is also a long pool; a substantial waterfall, shady riverside vegetation and steep rocks define the landscape there.

At La Cort Montseny, you can buy and sample products made from their own harvest, including jams, preserves, chutneys and quince products. If you are travelling by bus, the Bus-Parc line 576 connects Santa Maria de Palautordera with Montseny. As timetables may vary by season, check the schedule for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Tavèrnoles, Castell De L'areny, Llinars Del Vallès, Caldes D'estrac, Vilassar De Dalt, La Pobla De Lillet, La Palma De Cervelló, Avinyonet Del Penedès.

For the wider travel overview: Barcelona.