Discover Vacarisses: Culture, Nature and Historic Trails

Culture and history

El Castell de Vacarisses is an emblematic heritage building whose history dates back to the 10th century. It currently houses the Biblioteca municipal El Castell, the municipal library, on the first and second floors. The Vacarisses information point at the Biblioteca El Castell provides information about the Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac, tourism in Vacarisses and local businesses; it also hosts art exhibitions and exhibitions about the history of the municipality and its surroundings. On the ground floor is the Sala dels Cups, a large room for events such as conferences, exhibitions and concerts. Since the end of 2010, the Vacarisses heritage map has recorded more than 150 heritage elements, including buildings and natural features.

The parish church of Sant Pere de Vacarisses is a Neoclassical church with a single nave, transept and side chapels. The historic Molí de can Còdol is a flour mill beside the Riera de can Còdol, also known as the Riera de Sanana, about 200 metres from the Can Còdol farmhouse, and retains almost all of its characteristic features. The Festa Major of Vacarisses takes place on the first weekend of August. The Festa Major Petita is celebrated around 26 May for the local feast day of Sant Felip Neri; as part of it, the Baixada de la Vaca takes place. The historic Torrota is an upright structure with rounded forms that seems to watch over Vacarisses from its viewpoint.

More local pages: Santa Susanna, Tavèrnoles, Mediona, Castellbisbal, Sentmenat, Montmeló, Les Roquetes and Castellterçol.

Nature and trails

Vacarisses is located in the Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac. The Serra de Collcardús forms part of the protected Montserrat–Roques Blanques–Riu Llobregat area; in Vacarisses, this area covers 982.63 hectares. Casa Nova de l'Obac currently houses exhibitions about the nature park, an information point and meeting rooms. The grounds around Casa Nova de l'Obac include nature park facilities and Mediterranean holm oak forest. Casa Vella de l'Obac has an information board about the Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i Serra de l'Obac.

The SL-C 51 La Torrota de Vacarisses trail starts at Plaça de Joan Bayà. It runs mainly through Mediterranean woodland and offers panoramic views from the ridge. The SL-C 63 La font de la Portella trail includes a roughly 720-metre section between Casa Nova de l'Obac and Obac Vell that is partly suitable for people with reduced mobility; approximately 20 minutes are allowed for this section. A roughly 500-metre section of the Camí Romeu between Can Serra and the Palà/Xoles settlement has benches and offers direct views of Montserrat.

The historic Camí Romeu led from Barcelona and Terrassa to Montserrat and is now signposted as the GR 96 with yellow-and-red markings. At Font de l'Orpina, there is a small picnic area beside the spring. The Font de l'Orpina area also features a waterfall created during the construction of the trail, with aquatic plants, spring orchids, ferns, mosses and lichens. As part of the proposed expansion of the nature park, the ZEC Serra de Collcardús in Vacarisses and Viladecavalls would serve as an important terrestrial ecological connectivity corridor between the Sant Llorenç and Montserrat nature parks.

Local production

Formatgeria La Frasera produces traditionally made artisan cheese from goat's milk. A visit to La Frasera includes a walk around the grounds and the opportunity to see the herd of goats. Visits to La Frasera incur a fee and require advance booking.

To the main travel overview: Barcelona.