Avià – Churches, Routes and Nature

The Hotel d’Entitats on Plaça Abat Oliba houses a permanent museographic exhibition explaining the development of the municipality from prehistoric times to the present day.

Culture and History

In Avià’s historic centre, an arch belonging to the medieval entrance gates has been preserved on Carrer Portal.

The construction of the first Sant Martí d’Avià church is attributed to Count Guifré and is dated to the years 879 to 897; on 12 January 907, it was consecrated by Bishop Nantigís of La Seu d’Urgell.

Since its origins as a parish church, Sant Vicenç d’Obiols belonged to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll; Count Guifré donated the church to the monastery in 888.

Next to Sant Vicenç d’Obiols church are several anthropomorphic tombs carved into the rock dating from the Romanesque period.

Sant Serni de Clarà is a single-nave Baroque church; its lintel bears the inscription „ANY 1630“.

Santa Maria d’Avià has a two-arched bell gable; the entrance on the south side consists of two round arches made with voussoirs.

At the ruins of Molí de Minoves, two La Ferté millstones, a hulling mill, a bread oven, a water channel, a sluice gate and a basin have been preserved.

Routes and Discoveries

The Ruta de les 3 esglésies connects Avià’s three oldest churches and can be completed on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback.

The marked section of this route essentially follows the GR1 long-distance trail between Obiols and the Riera de Clarà.

AviART is an orientation, semi-urban route through Avià’s town centre and the La Creu neighbourhood, where works of art in public spaces can be viewed.

The Ruta ramadera connects L’Espunyola, Avià, Olvan and Sagàs along a 32-kilometre route divided into three sections, which can be travelled on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike.

On Avià’s water route, visitors can discover mills and other features belonging to the municipality’s past.

Festivals and Rural Trails

Avià’s Earth Route conveys the history of an agricultural area; its agricultural use is considered to have continued from the Neolithic period to the present day.

The Festa del Segar i el Batre combines practical demonstrations of traditional harvesting activities with a craft market, a photography competition and a presentation of traditional activities.

The Festa del Segar i el Batre takes place on the second Sunday in July.

The Dansa del segar i el batre is a tradition performed at the Festa del Segar i el Batre and is considered a characteristic feature of the celebration.

The former factory and colony of La Plana is explained on an information panel at the roundabout at the entrance to the town; the open-air site is located directly behind the bridge and is easily accessible.

Other Places

The following places are also available for further exploration: Granollers, Vilalleons, La Múnia, Collsacreu, Barcelona, Les Corts, Els Hostalets De Pierola, Vallirana.

Nature

Estany de Graugés is a six-hectare artificial lake with a depth of 2 to 18 metres, fed by the waters of the Riera d’Avià.

In the dels Tres Hereus natural area, forests alternate with fields used mainly for growing cereals; the natural area covers a total of 343.46 hectares, of which 35.96 hectares lie within the municipality of Avià.

To the higher-level travel overview: Barcelona.