Holiday cottages Alt Penedès

If anything defines Alt Penedès, it is its popular and long winemaking tradition : it is the region that produces the most wines and cavas in Catalonia. An economic and cultural activity present in the area for centuries. The climate is unbeatable, mild; the territory has the cradle of the Litoral and Prelitoral mountain ranges. The caress of the maritime atmosphere, restrained by the mountains, and the extensive space of the plain, make the land of Alt Penedès, rich in phosphorus, extremely suitable for the development of quality wines and cavas.

And this strong wine tradition has been maintained over time, covering the territory with nearly 300 wineries, some with modernist designs. If you are a big fan of the wines made with the Xarel·lo, Parellada or Macabeu variety, you have an appointment with the different producers in the area. Don't miss Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, known as the “capital of cava”. Spend incredible winemaking days very close to the holiday cottages in Alt Penedès!

Although wines and cavas define a large part of Alt Penedès, they are not the only interesting feature of the region. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, with the introduction of new grape varieties, the wine industry enjoyed a great economic resurgence. This contributed to the construction or improvement of wineries, which further boosted the economy. These changes were requested from renowned architects, who left both their personal and modernist traces of the time. If you like architecture, during your stay in the holiday cottages in Alt Penedès you will enjoy these places:

• Cellars with a historical trace: Caves Freixenet and Codorniu are two examples. Combining all the character of the region, these two wineries constitute a great experience. You can visit them, and if you do, you will realize the great presence of modernism in Alt Penedès.
• The different modernist buildings: in Alt Penedès you will find several cities and towns that keep vestiges of the architectural trend. Examples are Gelida, a small town with numerous modernist facades. Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, where after the phylloxera of the 19th century, modernism gained a lot of strength. Or Vilafranca del Penedès, where you can see this stream at many points of interest.

A clear advantage of staying among the vineyards or in the magnificent corners of Alt Penedès and its holiday cottages is the ease you will have to enjoy Vilafranca del Penedès. In the capital of the region you can enjoy the culture of wine, an indivisible part of the city and very well represented at the VINSEUM. Also of the great modernist examples, such as those you will find in the pharmacy buildings and Casa Guasch, Can Freixedes or Casa Miró. But not only that, and the fact is that Vilafranca del Penedès is also mixed with the medieval Gothic of the Basilica of Santa Maria and other interesting points.

In addition to these cultural and architectural jewels, Vilafranca del Penedès offers a wide variety of events. Festivals, castles, and markets are present in its calendar. If your stay in the holiday cottages in Alt Penedès coincides with any of the indicated dates, you will be lucky enough to enjoy it in a land where culture and tradition are deeply rooted.

Wine culture is always present and, in many cases, with the vineyards in the background, in Alt Penedès you will also find monumental complexes and castles. Scattered throughout the region, you can enjoy, for example, the Olèrdola complex or the Sant Martí Sarroca complex.

• Sa Roca is the medieval complex of Sant Martí Sarroca, one of the best preserved in Catalonia. It consists of the Romanesque church of Santa Maria and the castle of Sant Martí, built between the 10th and 12th centuries. Due to its location, the views are unbeatable.
• As for the archaeological and monumental complex of Olèrdola, you will soon see that it is very special. You will find prehistoric vestiges, Roman remains and medieval buildings, as well as other surprises that will make you imagine all these periods of history.

The extensive fields of vineyards are the protagonists in the region, being an area where nature predominates. In addition, during your stay in the holiday cottages in Alt Penedès, you can enjoy the Foix marsh and other natural spaces, such as the paths between fields or the Miravinya project.

Experiencing the Alt Penedès, tasting the wines in the cellars is very good, but you can also enjoy the beautiful vineyards where the essential element to obtain this drink is grown: the grapes. If you like to walk in nature or ride a bike, you can enter the Camins del Vi and del Cava. These are routes on foot or by mountain bike that have the vineyards as protagonists, and can often be combined with other activities or proposals from the wineries. An essential activity!

At the southern end of the county is the Foix marsh, in the municipality of Castellet i la Gornal. It was built with the purpose of providing a source of irrigation to the surrounding fields. Staying in the holiday cottages of Alt Penedès you can enjoy the town, from where several hiking routes start with the marsh as its protagonist. Also visit the beautiful castle of Castellet, a 10th century building declared a Cultural Property of National Interest.

To enjoy the nature of the area even more, you can go inside the Miravinya, a project where, through five viewpoints, you will discover impressive panoramas of the Alt Penedès. The journey, however, will have to be made by car (or bicycle, for the more athletic), since the viewpoints are far from each other. However, take the opportunity to also discover the nuances that the changing landscape takes on.

Alt Penedès is a region where Catalan culture is breathed in every little corner. Staying in a rural accommodation is a good idea to enjoy it! In addition to all the wine tourism activities that can be carried out, there are other activities and celebrations. Of course, wine is a major protagonist of many festivals, such as the Fil·loxera, which is celebrated in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia around September.

However, the medieval market of Castellet, in June, and the major fiesta of Vilafranca del Penedès also have a good reputation. Event where, by the way, you can enjoy the famous Castellers de Vilafranca. A wide range of activities to let your imagination run wild during your stay in the holiday cottages in Alt Penedès.