Villages with charm

1. History and hiking in Mura

Located in the Sant Llorenç de Munt natural park, the village of Mura (Bages) offers dozens of activities for hiking lovers. One highlight is the 17th century Puig de la Balma farmhouse, the location for the award winning film, Pa Negre, a unique and historic setting where visitors can enjoy an authentic rural experience. They can also visit a museum with an extensive collection of tools and utensils used in the daily tasks and wine making of this old country house, generation after generation.

2. Calella and the sea

The coastal line of Calella de Palafrugell (Baix Empordà) is by itself a picture postcard landscape. Port Bo, the Torre de Calella and the Cap Roig castle are attractions that are top of the tourist list, along with guided visits based on Josep Pla’s work, as well as the botanical garden of Cap Roig, and the local coastal path.

3. The Montsonís castle

Montonís (Noguera) has a very well preserved 15th century castle, which has been inhabited by the same family for 30 generations, a town centre of cobbled streets, and the outstanding Romanesque church of Sant Urbà and Santa Maria de Montsonís. An old bakery, the abbey and the old town hall complete the singularity of this hamlet of Foradada.

4. Peratallada

In Baix Empordà again, the village of Peratallada stands out for its medieval architecture. Its architecture, the walls, and the castle-palace, with the base of its walls cut into stone, turn it into a unique place.

5. Castellar de n’Hug

In the county of Berguedà (Barcelona), where the Llobregat river is born, lies this little village known for its annual international sheepdog contest. Its charm comes from the visual harmony of its natural landscape and the picturesque traditional houses made of stone, Arabic tiles and wood.

6. Taüll

In the valley of Boí, in Alta Ribagorça (Lleida), the village of Taüll is home to two Romanesque churches declared world heritage sites by UNESCO: Santa Maria and Sant Climent. Nearby, there’s the Aigüestortes national park, and the lake of Sant Maurici, along with a network of over 60 kilometres of mountain trails and itineraries for mountain lovers.

7. Prades

This village in Alt Camp, in the Tarragona region, also known as the Red Village due to the reddish sandstone that characterises many of its buildings, was listed as a place of Cultural Interest (BIC) in 1993, for its historical sites. The remains of its 12th-13th century castle and the Romanesque chapel of Sant Miquel, the wall with defence towers, the Renaissance fountain and the church with its apse are just a few of its main attractions. The Prades potatoes, known locally as ’trumfos’, is a product of high quality, recognised with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).

8. Rupit and the Castle

Rupit i Pruit (Osona), located in the middle of mountains, rivers and woods, stands out for its 10th century castle and its medieval cobblestone streets, and the Sant Miquel church. There are daily guided tours, which can be complemented by visits to a baker’s where they make neules, a traditional local delicacy.