Saldes: Hiking Trails, Mountain Views and Cultural Heritage

Saldes combines hiking trails around Pedraforca with viewpoints and historic buildings. This means you can plan a trip around a range of different interests: routes wind through mountain landscapes, while churches, castle complexes and early medieval history offer other themes to explore during your stay.

Hiking Trails for Different Interests

The “Pedraforca pel Coll del Verdet” route begins at the Refugi Lluís Estasen mountain hut. You can reach it by car from the Mirador de Gresolet or from a point below the hut; marked connecting paths are also part of this route. Check mountain conditions before setting out.

For a different route, choose “Ascensió al Pedraforca des de Saldes,” which begins and ends at the Centre d'Interpretació del Massís del Pedraforca. The “De Saldes a Gresolet” route starts at Plaça Pedraforca, passes below the Mirador de Gresolet and follows ravines along Pedraforca’s north slope. These starting and ending points provide a clear way to distinguish between the route descriptions.

The Palomera nature trail is divided into three routes: “Riera Salada,” “Bosc de Palomera” and “Fauna de Palomera.” Information panels along the entire trail explain the surroundings and the effects of human use of natural resources; the trail also includes viewpoints and suspension bridges. Other linear trails each offer their own landscape highlights: one leads from a restored open-pit mine to Prat del Reu, at the foot of Pollegó Inferior, and approaches the massif’s south face. Another runs from Santuari de Gresolet through Torrent de les Mulleres to Collell, passing large beech and fir trees.

Viewpoints and Mountain Scenery

Castell de Saldes was built in the 11th century on a rocky outcrop at the foot of Pedraforca. From there, the view stretches across the Saldes River valley, Cadí, Pedraforca and Serra d'Ensija. Mirador de Gresolet offers a different perspective: its viewing balconies sit on a rocky outcrop at the foot of Pedraforca, overlooking the mountain, Serra d'Ensija and the eastern part of the Cadí mountain range. Pedraforca’s north face is also visible from Gresolet.

Gresolet Forest and Pedraforca are part of Parc Natural del Cadí-Moixeró, established in 1983. A route to the monumental trees of the Gresolet Valley leads to the more accessible specimens in the Molleres and Gresolet valleys. Avet de les Molleres de Gresolet stands at an altitude of 1,630 metres and is considered one of the tallest fir trees in Catalonia. Access to Mirador de Gresolet has been adapted for people with reduced mobility; before visiting, check whether the specific access arrangements meet your needs.

Local Character and History

Església Sant Martí de Saldes stands in the centre of the village. Its rectangular building has three naves. In Feners, the medieval layout has been preserved despite later alterations; the settlement is documented as far back as 1289. Two parallel rows of houses form its layout, and the outer walls of the houses served as defensive walls.

The monastery of Sant Sebastià del Sull also has an early history: it was built at the end of the 9th century as a retreat for the priest Daniel. The monastery lies five kilometres from Saldes. The route follows the forest road towards Gresolet and a right-hand turnoff near the Refugi Cal Ferrer mountain hut. As road conditions can change, check them before driving.

Dolmen de Molers is located at an altitude of 1,225 metres in the municipality of Saldes, near Molers and a few metres from the road from Maçaners to Sales. The access path begins beside the cross at Cal Xisquet on the road de l'Obaga. At Santuari de Gresolet, the present-day building and the adjacent hostel date from the 17th century. Since 1959, the sanctuary has housed a well-preserved, 55-centimetre-tall polychrome wooden statue of the crowned Mare de Déu de Gresolet seated on a throne; it dates from the 13th century.

Exhibitions and Seasonal Experiences

The Centre d'Interpretació del Massís del Pedraforca i de la Mineria de Saldes has a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Pedraforca massif, with twelve backlit information panels on fauna, flora and geology. The Centre Astronòmic del Pedraforca has an astronomical telescope, a solar telescope and a digital planetarium.

At TULIPMANIA, you can join guided tours of the flower-growing fields and pick a bouquet directly from the field. Tulip season is in spring, while dahlias are in season in summer and autumn. Seasonal opening times and workshops may vary, so check in advance that your planned dates are suitable. Workshops on planting seasonal flower bulbs are available, as is an astronomy activity among the tulips.

Discover more destinations: Argentona, Sant Pere De Ribes, Prats de Lluçanès, Canoves, Capolat, Montseny, Sant Pere Sallavinera, Centelles.

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.