Valldoreix: History, Art and Nature

If you’re looking for a hotel in Valldoreix, you can combine your stay with local history, art, hiking or sports. The area’s highlights range from an Iberian settlement and a Visigothic necropolis to trails in the Parc Natural de Collserola. To plan your visit, consider what interests you most: a particular historical period, a clearly described circular walk or a sporting activity.

History, Architecture and Art in Valldoreix

Castell de Canals lies west of Valldoreix. It was first mentioned in a document as a castle in 1160. At that time, Bertran de Canals swore an oath of allegiance to the Count of Barcelona, Ramon Berenguer IV. At Puig Madrona in Valldoreix is the Poblat iber del Puigmadrona, an Iberian settlement. Another archaeological site is Monmany 35, a Visigothic necropolis dating to the 7th century that has only been partially excavated.

Can Monmany lies at the foot of Puig Madrona and is considered the most significant masia in the entire Valldoreix area. Its present-day appearance dates to the early 1880s, when the former farmhouse was converted into a stately residence. The estate’s history also includes its agricultural use, particularly wine production and pine cultivation. Pine nuts and bark were collected; the bark was used in textile dye works in Barcelona. Here, architectural history and the agricultural past come together in a tangible example.

Another highlight is the large sculpture Diàleg monumental in Plaça de l’Estació, created by Ariane Patout and René Müller. Alongside archaeological sites and architectural history, sculpture and the names of the artists are also part of Valldoreix’s cultural scene.

Hiking Trails and Outdoor Activities

Valldoreix is an FGC station cited as a gateway to Parc Natural de Collserola. The nature park offers a total of twelve downloadable hiking routes, taking visitors to springs, valleys, trails and scenic masias. If you’d like to plan a specific tour with stated details, the circular route Cases d'estiueig noucentistes a Valldoreix is an option: it is rated easy, is 6.4 kilometres long and is listed as taking three hours. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Padel is another activity to consider: the courts at Complex Esportiu de Valldoreix can be reserved by anyone interested. As availability and booking conditions may vary, it’s best to check them in advance.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

The area’s offerings provide different options for planning your day. The historical highlights, meanwhile, differ mainly in period and type: an Iberian settlement, a necropolis, the documentary mention of a castle and the development of an agricultural estate. When choosing what to focus on, you can decide whether you’d rather explore a particular period of local history, plan some time outdoors or combine both with a visit to the sculpture.

Discover more destinations: Vallgorguina, Torelló, Sant Pere De Riudebitlles, Mas Ram, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sallent, Canet De Mar, Pujalt.

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.