Sant Bartomeu del Grau: Romanesque Architecture, Trails and Nature

Sant Bartomeu del Grau brings together Romanesque churches, Baroque-Neoclassical architecture, natural formations and cycling routes. When looking for a hotel, it may help to consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on architectural history, the landscape or one of the routes described here. The places and activities offer different starting points, so you do not have to fit every theme into a single outing.

Landscape and Nature

Mirador Roc Llarg is a lookout point offering exceptional panoramas of the area around Sant Bartomeu del Grau. Baumes del Molí de la Codina is of great geological, ecological and scenic value. It was formed by a stream eroding the limestone as it passed through it. The formations provide badgers with a natural refuge and offer nesting sites to individual pairs of eagle owls.

Churches and Architectural History

Església Vella is considered the origin of the village and preserves traces of a Romanesque church dating from the 10th century. It has been documented since 961. Església de Sant Bartomeu del Grau offers a different architectural style: it is Baroque-Neoclassical. Its bell tower was designed and built between 1780 and 1787 by the brothers Joan and Josep Font of Manlleu.

Sant Genís Sadevesa and Sant Jaume de Fonollet are also Romanesque churches, but the architectural features described for each are different. Sant Genís dates from the 11th and 12th centuries and has a semicircular apse and a Lombard blind-arch frieze. Sant Jaume de Fonollet has a single-nave barrel-vaulted church, an apse and Lombard blind arches. Those interested in Romanesque architecture will find several specific features to compare, such as the blind-arch frieze at Sant Genís and the barrel vault at Sant Jaume.

Routes and Activities

The Ruta del romànic links the Romanesque monuments of Sant Bartomeu del Grau. It begins at Església Vella and continues to the church of Sant Jaume de Fonollet and the church of Sant Genís Sadevesa. Església Vella also lies along the GR-3 long-distance hiking trail. The Romanesque heritage route and the GR-3 are therefore both connected with Església Vella, but serve different purposes when planning your route.

For cyclists, the Centre-BTT route names are important: both Route 7 of Centre-BTT Plana de Vic and Route 7 of Centre-BTT Lluçanès pass through Sant Bartomeu del Grau. The Plana de Vic route is classified as difficult. The Lluçanès route runs alongside the Sorreigs Site of Natural Interest; a large part of its course shares the PR C-46 hiking trail. When planning, therefore, pay attention to the name of the Centre-BTT, not just the route number.

Triescape SBG offers scavenger hunt, geocaching and escape room formats for discovering the culture, history and surroundings of Sant Bartomeu del Grau. This is a different way of exploring local themes from visiting churches or natural formations.

Events Throughout the Year

The Fira Natura i Muntanya is scheduled for the first weekend in March. The programme includes tourist, cultural, craft and gastronomic offerings, as well as leisure and sporting activities, including an orienteering race. Since dates and programme items may vary from one edition to another, check the details for the relevant edition before travelling.

Caramelles are traditional Catalan songs associated with Easter Sunday and Easter Monday in Sant Bartomeu del Grau. If you would like to include them in your travel plans, check the dates for the year of your trip. This will help you distinguish these time-specific events from the churches, landscape features and routes that can be described year-round.

Discover more destinations: La Pobla De Claramunt, Sant Salvador De Guardiola, Carme, Olesa De Bonesvalls, Sant Pere De Vilamajor, Bellprat, Olèrdola, Llerona.

Go to the main travel overview: Barcelona.