Vilanova de la Sal: Historic Townscape, Saltworks and Routes

Vilanova de la Sal combines a medieval townscape, the history of a former saltworks, and named routes for cycling and walking. If you are choosing a hotel destination based on its cultural and outdoor activities, these themes offer concrete points to consider. You can ask yourself whether you are mainly interested in the town’s historic features or whether a cycling or walking route better suits your travel plans. The townscape and routes can be considered as distinct highlights.

Medieval Townscape and Saltworks

One of Vilanova de la Sal’s medieval entrance gates has been preserved. The town also retains the Sotinyes, which are characteristic of its medieval appearance. The portal and the Sotinyes provide two distinct points of reference for the historic townscape: the entrance gate is a surviving architectural feature, while the Sotinyes add another characteristic element. The town’s medieval character, therefore, is not limited to a single feature.

The Salí de Privà adds a different history to this townscape. It was a saltworks fed by a saltwater spring. While the gate and the Sotinyes are features of the medieval appearance, the Salí de Privà represents a former use of the spring. This distinction helps separate the town’s cultural themes: one concerns surviving architectural features, the other the former saltworks and its saltwater spring.

Local Tradition

A 2012 and a 2014 description of the monastery list the Aplec del Sant Cap as a custom observed annually on February 3. The event includes the residents of Vilanova de la Sal climbing to the hermitage of Sant Cap, a mass with the singing of the Goig for the saint, and a shared snack. The Aplec thus offers a different cultural point of reference from the surviving architectural features: it is associated with a specific date and a communal event. If this celebration is important to your travel plans, check whether it takes place in your travel year.

Cycling and Walking Routes

Bosc de Privà is a mountain bike loop that starts and ends at the reception point of the Monastery of les Avellanes. The route offers optional variants to Montalegre and the Camarasa Reservoir. The variant to the reservoir passes through the salt pans of Vilanova de la Sal and a small wooded area. These landscape features are therefore specific to this section of the route; Montalegre is named as another destination on an optional variant. As route conditions can change, it is advisable to check the current trail conditions before setting out.

The walking route “Entre Castells i llegendes” follows a different course. It leads from the Monastery of les Avellanes via the Camí de Vilanova and the cemetery path to Vilanova de la Sal. The route described therefore ends in the town, while the Bosc de Privà route is a loop that returns to its starting point. The difference is in the route: either a loop starting and ending at the monastery’s reception point, or a walking route leading to Vilanova de la Sal. This can help you decide which named routes to include in your plans, depending on the kind of route you prefer.

For the broader travel overview: Les Avellanes i Santa Linya.