Holiday cottages in the Alt Camp

Alt Camp has 23 municipalities. Its capital is Valls, considered the birthplace of castles. Its economy is mostly agricultural, with a large presence of dryland crops such as olive trees, hazelnut trees, vineyards, cereals and carob trees. Its communications both by motorway and by road are very good, so you can access the Holiday cottages quickly and safely.

The range of activities you can do in Alt Camp is very wide. The routes that you can do both on foot and by mountain bike will allow you to cross places of great natural beauty . The culture is also deeply rooted. You have numerous museums dedicated to different themes that you can visit with the family. If you like popular traditions then you must go to Valls and attend a castle day. Gastronomy is another of the most important activities in the region. Without a doubt, the Calçotada de Valls is one of the most well-known festivals.

One of the best-known buildings on the Cistercian Route is the Monestir de Santes Creus. Its beginnings date back to the year 1160 thanks to the patronage of Count Ramon Berenguer IV. Santes Creus is a Cistercian monastery that experienced its greatest splendor between the 13th and 14th centuries. In fact, the remains of the kings Peter the Great, James II and his wife Blanca d'Anjou rest in the church of the monastery.

His style is markedly austere following the model laid out by Bernat de Claraval l. However, the cloister has a distinct Gothic style and its capitals have a great artistic quality. Today no monks live there and it is only open for visits.

One of the best-known hiking routes in the Alt Camp is the one located between Alcover and the Glorieta river valley. It is a path that passes through Niu de l'Ágila, a natural area full of puddles and waterfalls . This route has the advantage that it is suitable for all ages.

The start of the route is at the Ermita del Remei, near Alcover. It is a Baroque building dating from the 18th century. The path is of great beauty and crosses pine and oak forests. At Niu de l'Àliga, children can have fun in the middle of nature and the more daring can take a dip in its cold waters.

The Xiquets de Valls are one of the best-known gangs of castellers. In Passeig dels Caputxins de Valls you will find a monument by the sculptor Josep Busquets that pays tribute precisely to this gang from Castella. The height of the monument is 11.70 meters and it has the shape of a pyramid. A castle construction is represented on each side. On one side of the monument you will also find the inseparable companions of the castellers such as the grallers and the timbalers.

Located in the historic building of Ca Batistó, in the Alcover Museum you will find two exhibitions of great interest. One is about fossils and the other is about bourgeois life. The museum was completely renovated, so its facilities are very modern. It is perfect if you want to visit with the family, as many educational activities are organized.

In the fossil exhibition, you will find unique specimens of Triassic marine fauna. In the Bourgeois Modernity and Literary Modernism exhibition you will take a tour through the life of a bourgeois family in the 19th century . It's a good opportunity to get to know what life and artistic culture was like at that time.

At the end of the 19th century, the inhabitants of Montferri visited the Sanctuary of Montserrat after the harvest, in gratitude for the year's harvest. It was Daniel Vives, a Jesuit who was born in Montferri, who proposed the construction of a sanctuary in the municipality. He commissioned the design of the sanctuary to the architect Josep Maria Jujol , a disciple of Antoni Gaudí. The works began on November 15, 1925. However, they stopped during the Spanish Civil War and did not start again until 1984. It was finally inaugurated in 1999.

Faithful to the modernist style, Jujol chose to give the building a texture that resembled the rounded shapes of the rocks that form part of the Montserrat mountain . The sanctuary building has an octagonal shape and is crowned by a cross. Its stained glass windows have a combination of colors of great beauty. As a curious fact you should know that the building has a height of 33 meters, like the age of Christ. In addition, it is oriented towards Montserrat.

For hiking lovers, Alt Camp offers numerous routes. One of the best known is the Ruta de la Capona in Pla de Santa Maria . It is a 1.7 kilometer route that is suitable for everyone. Some of its sections coincide with the Cistercian Route. This route allows you to enjoy a unique environment in which you can see ancient stone buildings that are authentic works of art. You can do this route both on foot and by bike.

One of the most emblematic monuments of Valls is l'Església de Sant Joan. Its construction took place between the years 1570 and 1583 and followed the Gothic church model. Unfortunately, with the start of the Spanish Civil War, it was badly damaged. After the end of the war, its reconstruction began gradually.

Its main facade is in Renaissance style and was renovated by Joan Serafini. The bell tower is neo-Gothic, has eight windows and an iron dome. The central nave is Gothic in style and has four stained glass windows, as well as 18 chapels and two stone thrones.

With lines reminiscent of Gothic art, the Celler del Sindicat Agrícola de Sant Isidre is a building with refined and elegant architecture. It was designed by the architect Cèsar Martinell. It consists of 2 ships of 21 by 18 meters that have no separation between them. Its facade is majestic, which has made it have the appellation of the cathedral of wine.

The activities you can do at the winery are numerous. On the one hand you have walks among the vineyards where you can discover a unique landscape. For the most gourmet there is the option of wine and cheese tasting.

This building has a long history, since its origin dates back to 1150. During the Carline Wars part of its structure was modified. It is located on the side of a hill that reaches the Gaià river. The original walls surrounded the houses that were part of the village core.

The structure of the castle consists of 4 portals which are the main access routes to the interior. On the other hand, the rooms were located at one end. The original tower structure has been reconstructed and enabled as a residence. Parts of the old medieval walls are still preserved today. From the castle you have exceptional views of Vila-rodona and the Gaià river valley.

The gastronomy you will find in Alt Camp is very varied. One of the most well-known dishes is coca con escalivada . It has a base of vegetables cooked in a wood oven such as pepper, onion and aubergine and is suitable for all tastes. Calçots are one of the best-known dishes of the Alt Camp. In Valls, the typical calçotada is celebrated. A party in which calçots are cooked and eaten on the grill with their sauce and complements. Undoubtedly, a real delight for the palate.