Collbató: Karst Landscape, Montserrat Trails and Holiday Apartments

Nature

At the Cova del Salnitre, you can view a karst landscape at close range. Its formation dates back to rainwater acting on conglomerate and calcareous material over thousands of years. This makes it possible to understand not only the landform itself at this location, but also the very long period over which it formed.

The challenging circular route is called “Route 3. Collbató - Collbató”. It reaches a maximum elevation of 1,035 m, measures 12.510 km, and is listed as taking 3 hours and 57 minutes. As a circular route, it returns to its starting point in Collbató.

On Route 3. Collbató - Collbató, Collbató preserves part of the historic paved access path to the Sanctuary of Montserrat. The path thus connects the present-day route name with a traditional section of the access route to the sanctuary.

The Camí de l'Oli leads from Collbató to El Bruc. Its course passes through olive groves and along dry-stone walls in a rural landscape below the silhouette of Montserrat. Along the Camí de l'Oli, 16 interpretive, interactive, and analogue panels provide information about the world of olive oil. The panels complement the route with information about the local oil tradition.

Culture

The first organ workshop in Collbató was founded in 1925. The Orgue de Collbató has 1,545 pipes. It has two manual keyboards and a pedal.

The Orgue de Collbató was designed and built by the craftspeople at the Blancafort-Capella workshops in Collbató.

The visit “L'Orgue, el Rei dels Instruments” includes the Espai Temàtic dels Orgueners. The Blancafort organ workshop is also part of this visit.

Concerts featuring the organ alone take place in connection with the Orgue de Collbató. Other concerts combine the organ with other instruments. The programme therefore includes both organ-only concerts and performances with musical accompaniment.

The “Collbató Medieval” audio guides convey the origins of the town. Their evidence dates back more than 4,000 years. The audio guide’s name refers to the medieval perspective of its presentation.

History

The Molí de l'Oli Interpretation Centre explains the tradition of olive cultivation and oil production in Collbató. The period covered extends from the Middle Ages to the present day.

At the Molí de l'Oli, the olive varieties typical of the area around Montserrat are presented. They are called vera and palomar.

The Molí de l'Oli is not intended for open visits and can only be accessed by appointment. A visit to this centre therefore requires a prior appointment.

Visiting

For visits to the Coves de Montserrat, purchasing tickets in advance is mandatory. The admission requirement therefore applies before visiting the caves.

The access path to the Coves del Salnitre was reopened to pedestrians, while the road remained closed to vehicle traffic. Access therefore requires observing both the reopened footpath and the road closure that remains in effect.

You can find other places within the higher-level selection here: Veciana, Cardona, Valldoreix, Castellbell I El Vilar, Cantonigròs, Lluçà, Vilalleons, Castellví De La Marca.

To the higher-level travel overview: Barcelona.