Day 2 - Leaving Poblet Monastery 
Route summary
£665.00 (2013)
7 nights B&B, 4 evening meals, 2 lunches, luggage transfers between hotels, short transfer at start and transfer to Reus at end
Medium - Hard
May to November
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Priorat (Spain)
Along monastery trails to the holy mountain
Full Description

A self-guided walking holiday in Priorat between two famous abbeys, from Poblet over monastery hill paths to Escaladei, and ending in wine country. Stay in medieval Montblanc, Prades, Cornudella, Poboleda and La Vilella Baixa.

 

Two monasteries and fine wine

This walk, only an hour from Barcelona, is a must for the cultured hedonist. Despite the relatively rain-free climate the streams flow all year, and coming across a remote bathing pool on a warm spring day, followed by chancing on some unvisited neolithic rock art, are delights truly to be savoured. The route crosses the hills between two fine abbeys - Poblet and Escaladei - the former thriving and active, the latter now being restored as an archaeological site of major significance. This is the abbey that put the "prior" in "Priorat" - as the abbey owned most of the land you walk through, including the fine-wine-growing land of the same name.

 

The footpaths through these glorious hills are well signed, and take you from Poblet abbey, via the medieval town of Prades, to the "Holy Mountain" - Montsant - from which you descend to Escaladei in its valley fastness, and are thus able to appreciate from above its extent and former majesty. The walk is not yet over though - the final day is really one for wine-buffs, through the major vineyards of the Priorat (Robert Parker made one vintage his wine of the century with 100/100 on his famous scale), to a final night by the old bridge in the beautifully positioned village of La Vilella Baixa.

Walked by On Foot staff: Simon, Debbie


 

Standard option (as per "Itinerary"): 7 nights, though extra winding down days at the end in Pilar's Art Deco home in La Vilella Baixa are recommended.  Combine with a trip to Barcelona.

Suggested shorter alternatives:  6-night miss night 3 or 7; 5-night miss nights 3 and 7 (end in Poboleda)

Highlights
  • Medieval Montblanc
  • The spectacle of 'light and stone' that is Poblet Monastery
  • Two nights in a stylish "Mas"
  • Ancient mills and secluded bathing pools
  • Lunch at Xavi's
  • The bustling town square at Prades
  • The cliff walk to the citadel of Siurana
  • Climbing the holy mountain - Montsant
  • A birdseye view of the Monastery of Escaladei
  • Priorat wineland
  • Final night in an Art Deco home by the old bridge

WE RECOMMEND: An extra night at the end at La Vilella Baixa to relax in comfort, and a stay in Barcelona at one of our hand-picked hotels or B&Bs. 

 

EATING AND DRINKING:  Dani at Mas L'Arlequi (nights 2 and 3) recommends stuffed aubergine with a Castell de la Comanda (Reserva 2006) D.O. Conca de Barberà.  Pilar in La Vilella Baixa loves her own garlic and bean soup with wine from her own vineyards, but can offer a stylish Onix Priorat for the sybaritic.
Route map
Route designed by
Joanna Thomas has lived and worked in Catalonia for many years, as architect, guide, multilinguist and mother of two.  A keen walker, she lives in a converted tower in the village of La Febro, in the centre of the route, from where she devises walks to rediscover her beloved Muntanyes de Prades.