Els Hostalets D'en Bas: History, Architecture and Routes

Els Hostalets D'en Bas brings together historic village architecture, archaeological traces and named routes. When planning your trip, you can choose different focuses: the architectural history of the village, a cultural event or a hike. The architecture is particularly tangible on Carrer Teixeda; the Camí Ral de Vic a Olot and the chapels complement the historic perspective with routes and landscape.

Village character and historic traces

Els Hostalets D'en Bas developed in the 18th century around an inn at the foot of the old royal road between Olot and Vic. The village’s development is therefore linked to a historic road connection. On Carrer Teixeda, restored terraced houses shape the streetscape. In front of each house is a threshing floor. The recurring sequence of house and threshing floor makes the street interesting as a whole; at the same time, each element offers its own architectural point of reference. The Conjunt dels Hostalets d’en Bas is listed as a historic-artistic ensemble. This brings both the shared features of the ensemble and specific details of a single street into focus.

A much earlier period is represented by the Zona de l’Aubert/Hostalets archaeological site, dated to the 6th and 7th centuries AD. Remains of several dwellings with different rooms and an oven were found at l’Aubert; stables may also have been part of the site. Finds also include pottery, bracelets, other jewellery and agricultural tools. Together, the dating and the different finds show how far back the village’s historical themes reach.

Cultural event and landscape

Dia de la Dalla adds a cultural highlight tied to a specific date. The festival takes place every year, usually in late May or early June. The programme includes a show-style competition in which more than fifty scythe mowers take part. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the current edition: the annual date may vary.

The landscape also offers different vantage points. In front of Els Hostalets D'en Bas, the Falgars cliffs stand out as a distinctive mountain feature. Capella Sant Simplici o Ximplí is a simple Romanesque chapel on a hill in an oak grove very close to the village. Meadows and oaks surround the chapel; from there, you can enjoy an impressive view of the Falgars cliffs. This is where Romanesque architecture and a clearly identifiable landscape come together.

Distinguishing routes and hiking destinations

The Camí Ral de Vic a Olot is 44 kilometres long, connects Vic with Olot and starts in the village of Els Hostalets. An old paved surface is particularly well preserved in the Les Marrades area. The route is signposted according to the Diputació de Barcelona’s signage system. This route therefore highlights both the historic connection between two cities and its starting point in the village, as well as a particularly well-preserved section of paving.

Other routes differ mainly in their destination and the level of effort explicitly described. A direct route leads from Els Hostalets to the chapel of Sant Miquel de Falgars. The route from Els Hostalets to Sant Privat is considered easy on foot or by bicycle. The “D’Hostalets a Sant Miquel de Castelló” hiking route leads from Hostalets to Sant Miquel de Castelló. If the level of effort matters to you, the description of the route to Sant Privat is a useful point of comparison; for the other two routes, the respective chapel destinations provide the directions. Check current waymarking and trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Ullastret, Can Jordi, Portbou, Sant Gregori, El Port De La Selva, Mont-Ras, Cruïlles, Sant Mori

For the broader travel overview: Girona.