Discover Vic: Art, History and Routes

Culture and Art

The Museu Episcopal de Vic opened in 1891 and is internationally regarded as a reference for Catalan Romanesque and Gothic art. The masterpieces on display include Romanesque and Gothic painting as well as sculpture. This focus is complemented by collections of goldsmithing, textiles, wrought ironwork, glass and ceramics. As a result, different forms of sacred and applied-art design are presented side by side in the same museum: paintings and sculptures are complemented by textile, metal, glass and ceramic works.

The collection therefore combines several art forms and materials without moving away from its focus on Romanesque and Gothic painting, sculpture and applied art. In particular, the combination of goldsmithing, textiles, wrought ironwork, glass and ceramics broadens the view beyond individual works of art and makes the range of Catalan art on display within the museum visible.

Vic’s sacred architecture also preserves several clearly distinguishable periods. The cathedral has a Romanesque crypt and a Gothic cloister from the 14th century. La Pietat is a Baroque church in Vic. Its architectural ensemble includes significant archaeological finds and restored sections of historic walls. Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque structures therefore represent different historical forms of expression at various locations throughout the city.

The cathedral combines the Romanesque crypt with the Gothic cloister from the 14th century. La Pietat complements this architectural spectrum as a Baroque church; its finds and the restored sections of historic walls form part of the same ensemble. In this way, sacred architectural forms, archaeological evidence and preserved historic structures can be encountered in Vic.

The Casino in Vic houses a Modernist ballroom in a 19th-century mansion. The venue combines the ballroom with the architecture of a historic residence and complements the sacred buildings with an example of Modernisme. The architectural sequence mentioned therefore extends from Romanesque and Gothic sacred spaces through the Baroque La Pietat to the Modernist Casino.

Market and City Life

The Mercat de Vic takes place every Tuesday and Saturday in El Mercadal, also known as Plaça Major.

Routes and History

The signposted Ruta Turística in Vic connects 30 stops and takes approximately one hour. The number of stops and the approximate duration give the signposted route a clear time frame.

The guided Vicpuntzero experience includes the Capella Fonda archaeological site. Vicpuntzero also includes an immersive audiovisual experience about the history and art of Vic. Together, these two components combine an archaeological site with an audiovisual presentation of the city’s history and art.

For regional activities around Vic, the Centre BTT Plana de Vic provides more than 200 kilometres of signposted mountain-bike routes. The Centre BTT Plana de Vic thus complements the historical and cultural sites with a signposted route network for mountain-bike activities in the surrounding region.

The Armats procession takes place in Vic every Palm Sunday and begins at a church. Both the annual date linked to Palm Sunday and the start at a church are therefore part of this local procession.

Other Places

More places for planning your trip: Palafolls, Els Prats De Rei, Santa Eulália De Riuprimer, Sant Sadurní D'anoia, La Roca del Vallès, Pallejá, Guardiola De Font-Rubí, Gelida.

To the higher-level travel overview: Barcelona.