Barcelona — Santes Creus — Mont Blanc — Poblet — Prades — Siurana — Celler Devinssi winery — Miravet — El Pinel de Brai
We have prepared for you an unusual road trip route through the mountainous part of the Catalonia region. Cistercian monasteries, the Templar castle, the winery of the famous Priorat region, picturesque mountain valleys, numerous serpentines, as well as delicious food and unforgettable experiences await you.
Distance – 271 km. All roads on your route are free if you follow the route.
Travel time – 4 hours 50 minutes one way without stops. With full stops – 10-12 hours.
When to go. In any season. In summer, the mountains are not as hot as on the coast (about +21+25). And the winter here is mild (average temperatures are about +7).
Book a car
1. Santes Creus
The first monastery on your way is Santes Creus, located 98 km from Barcelona. The monastery is part of the so-called “Cistercian triangle” (the other two monasteries are Poblet and Vallbona de les Monges, the first of which you will visit today). The Cistercians are a Catholic monastic order that advocates asceticism and seclusion.
Parking is conveniently located right next to the walls of the monastery, and to enter its territory, you will need to go down from the parking lot and pass by several gates. An adult entrance ticket costs 4.5 euros. The price includes an audio guide (also available in Russian).
2. Montblanc
The next point on the route is 28 km away – the medieval city of Mont Blanc. Its historical part is located within the fortress walls. The most convenient way is to leave your car in the parking lot near the walls and enter through the Bover Tower (torre de Bover). Admire the Gothic churches of Santa Maria and San Miguel (you can go inside if you wish),
fortress walls (XIV century),
Royal Palace, Convent de la Serra, walk through the Jewish area.
All attractions are located very compactly, without rushing you can get around them within an hour.
3. Poblet
A 15-minute drive away is another monastery that is part of the “Cistercian triangle” – Poblet. You can visit the monastery only as part of an excursion tour (without a guide, a ticket will cost 7.5 euros, 10 with a guide). From Monday to Saturday, tours start from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 15:00 to 17:25. On Sunday – from 10:30 to 12:25 and 15:00 to 17:25. Tours are conducted in Spanish and Catalan only. But when purchasing a ticket, you can take a plan of the monastery complex (also available in Russian).
For 24 euros, in addition to the excursion, you will be offered lunch at the monastery restaurant.
Up-to-date information can be found on the official website.
4. Siurana
Next you will have an hour’s drive to a small mountain village – Siurana. This tiny settlement is located in a very picturesque place, on a cliff, and consists of only a few streets. At the entrance to Siurana there are the ruins of an ancient fortress built by the Moors. You should allow about 30 minutes for the inspection.
5. Winery Celler Devinssi
Priorat is an ancient wine-growing region, currently considered the leading one in the country. The wines produced here are known far beyond its borders. There are a huge number of wineries in the region, but we would recommend you visit Celler Devinssi.
This is a small family winery that can be visited as part of a tour (there is even one in Russian). You can choose the content of the excursion, as well as its duration yourself.
Detailed information can be found on the official website. Please note that the tour must be booked in advance.
6. Miravet
Miravet is 35 km from the winery. The main attraction of the town is the relatively well-preserved medieval Templar castle. From the observation deck you will have stunning views of the surrounding area and the Ebre River valley. The entrance ticket costs 2.5 euros. Please note that you can pick up a guidebook in Russian at the entrance. Allow about half an hour to feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages and enjoy the views.
7. El Pinell de Brai
The travel time from Miravet to our next stop will be about 20 minutes. This is a very small town, surrounded on all sides by mountains. Its main attraction is the Cathedral of Wine (Catedral del Vi).
Standard admission ticket costs 5.50 euros. The price includes a guide to the winery facilities, an audio guide (also available in Russian),
as well as tasting of wine and local olive oil. Opening hours: from 10:00 to 14:30 and from 15:30 to 19:00 (Mon-Thu),
from 10:00 to 17:00 (Fri),
10:00 — 20:00 (Sat),
10:00 – 23:00 (Sun). You can also book a tour. Be sure to check the time of excursions on the website, you can also make reservations there.
Address: C/Pilonet 8, Pinell de Brai.
