la Vall del Bac – Churches, Hiking Trails and Landscape

La Vall del Bac is in the protected area of Alta Garrotxa, as is Castellar de la Muntanya. The riera de la Vall del Bac flows year-round; there are also churches on wooded slopes and trails through the surrounding area. Here, landscape and history sit side by side, though the historic buildings do not all tell the same story. In the municipality of la Vall de Bianya, the municipal area covers the western part of Alta Garrotxa and lies next to the comarca of Ripollès.

A valley with water and varied slopes

The riera de la Vall del Bac flows continuously, providing a clear point of reference in the landscape. The slopes offer another way to orient yourself among the churches: Sant Miquel de la Torre lies on the south slope of Puig Ou, while Santa Maria de Sacot is on the north slope of the Serra de Malforat. Sant Feliu del Bac stands on a small, fairly wooded hill on the north slope of the same Serra. These different locations help you distinguish the places mentioned as you get to know the area.

Its location in Alta Garrotxa is also important for orientation: la Vall del Bac belongs to this protected area and is also a village within the municipality of la Vall de Bianya. The municipality lies in the western part of Alta Garrotxa, next to the comarca of Ripollès. You can therefore view the place both as a destination with its own valley and church history and as part of a wider landscape region.

Churches and their stories

Sant Andreu de Porreres was once the parish’s main church in la Vall del Bac. The church is first mentioned in a document from 946. It lies at an altitude of about 818 metres on the south slope of Puig Ou. Today it is in very poor condition and is almost a ruin. Its former role as a parish church and its present condition are both part of its history; unlike a well-preserved church building, this place bears the marks of a very different story.

Sant Miquel de la Torre lies near the fortified house of la Torre. Until well into the 20th century, the church was known as Sant Miquel d’Avellanacorba. A document from 998 mentions it in connection with the transfer of the parish’s church tithe to the abbot of the monastery of Besalú. Together with the church’s Romanesque classification, this gives it a long historical arc: its former name and the document point to its medieval history, while the fortified house provides another notable point of reference in the description of the place.

Santa Maria de Sacot is also known as Santa Maria de Llongarriu and Mare de Déu dels Àngels de Llongarriu. It lies right next to the old manor house of Llongarriu on the north slope of the Serra de Malforat. You can reach the church on foot via the path opposite the Hostal de la Vall del Bac or along the track to the Llongarriu bridge. The first records of the manor house date from the 14th century. Those distinguishing buildings by their setting in the landscape will find a different point of reference here than at Sant Miquel de la Torre, on the south slope of Puig Ou.

Sant Feliu del Bac also combines a distinctive location with specific directions for getting there. One track passes through Llongarriu from the direction of la Vall del Bac; another follows the track that starts at Coll del Capsacosta on road C-153 and dates from 1991. Check the tracks’ current condition before setting out by car. This makes the drive a separate planning consideration, distinct from the routes to the churches described for walking.

Hiking and making time for the area

The Vall dels Sentits route runs from the Hostal de la Vall del Bac via the tower to Sant Andreu de Porreres. It is rated easy, is 7.30 kilometres long and is listed as taking three hours. The distance and duration give you a clear framework for planning your day; the walk links two of the defining points in the area’s history with a route through the landscape. Conditions and signage can change, so it is worth checking the latest route information before setting off.

Other hiking routes include the GR-1 and two paths through Alta Garrotxa: the route from Oix to la Vall del Bac and the Route del Tallí. The Oix–la Vall del Bac route leads into the valley, where there is an old inn and an open valley.

A regional event celebrating Farro

The Fira del Farro is an event held by the municipality of la Vall de Bianya in honour of Farro; it is scheduled for the first weekend in February. If you would like to plan your trip around this event, check the latest dates in advance. Alongside the churches and hiking trails, it offers another way to shape your stay—around cultural history, activity in the valley or a regional festival.

The churches offer different historical connections and hillside settings; the hiking trails have their own features and do not all have the same stated duration. If you mainly want to explore the area on foot, you can include the Vall dels Sentits route in your plans as a clearly specified option. For a stay focused more on cultural history, the former parish churches, their names and their locations offer specific themes around which to plan your days.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sant Privat D'en Bas, Salitja, Pontós, Salt, Celrà, Sant Feliu De Pallerols, Albanyà, Torroella De Fluvià.

For the main travel overview: Girona.