Discover Viver: Hiking Trails and Culture

Hiking

The circular route bears the full title “Un tomb fins al Castellot de Viver” and is 2.2 kilometres long. Its starting and finishing point is the car park near Sant Miquel de Viver. The hiking route to Castellot de Viver is considered short and easy. It leads to anthropomorphic graves carved into the rock.

Along the route, visitors can see the remains of Castellot de Viver, which is described as a pre-Romanesque fortification. The Mirador de Vilanova offers exceptional views of Castellot de Viver. Castellot itself is a rounded rock measuring approximately 8.5 metres in height, 8 metres in width and 14 metres in length.

Culture

The present-day church of Sant Miquel de Viver dates from the 17th century. It replaced the earlier Romanesque church. Its main nave is built in the Renaissance style, while the side aisles feature Late Gothic forms. Thus, the building preserves both the later date of construction and the different architectural forms of its various sections.

Near Mas Albesa, a necropolis contains at least 14 graves. Five of them are carved into the rock; further graves were built from stone slabs. A separate footpath, approximately 250 metres long, leads from Mas Albesa southwards over the ridge to this necropolis.

The former Castell de Viver is associated with the ridge at Castellot de Viver. Remains of stone and wooden structures have survived on this ridge. The structures are predominantly defensive; a necropolis carved into the rock has also been preserved there.

Sant Miquel de Trulls was a simple chapel. It belonged to the parish church of Sant Miquel de Viver and stood within the area of the former castle of Viver. A signposted track leads for approximately 500 metres to the farmhouse where the church is located.

Viver celebrates its main festival in honour of the Holy Trinity. The tradition of the Ball de cascavells is part of this main festival.

Other places: Sant Pere De Riudebitlles, La Garriga, Gurb, Castellví De Rosanes, La Ràpita, Valldoreix, Viladrau and Navàs.

Landscape

Viver lies in the valley of the Riera de Merola and on the slopes that drain towards the Llobregat. The ridge at Castellot de Viver provides the terrain setting for the surviving remains of the former Castell de Viver and the necropolis there.

Geographical Setting

From Viver, a path leads behind the modernist Vilanova de Viver estate and over the ridge. It reaches the few surviving remains of the former Castell de Viver and continues to Castellot de Viver.

From Mas Albesa, a footpath approximately 250 metres long leads southwards over the ridge to the necropolis.

To the higher-level travel overview: Barcelona.