Arbolí: Nature, Climbing and Holiday Apartment

Around three quarters of Arbolí’s municipal area is covered by Mediterranean pine forests. The long-distance GR 7 trail runs through the municipality, while a PR hiking trail leads through the village of Arbolí. The Mirador de Arbolí is located on the Cingle Blanc along the road to La Mussara. In clear weather, it offers views of the Ebro Delta and the Balearic Islands.

Nature and Trails

Arbolí has numerous climbing routes and recognised sectors for bouldering. Canyoning takes place in the Barranc del Gorguet. Encordat offers a bookable introductory climbing course in Arbolí. El Refugi is a climbing interpretation centre that also operates as a bar-restaurant and offers accommodation with bunk beds. The different types of activities can be considered separately in personal planning according to route, course or gorge.

Hiking trails, climbing activities and canyoning thus represent different ways of experiencing the municipality. The GR 7 runs through the municipality, while the PR trail passes through the village; climbing routes and bouldering sectors are separate offerings, while the introductory course and the gorge each represent their own activity formats.

Culture and Festivals

The Festa de Sant Pau in Arbolí takes place on the Sunday after 15 January and includes a communal breakfast and a live performance. Arbolí’s Festa Major takes place on the first weekend in October and includes two days of activities. The Fira Rural was held every other year, featuring a hunting-dog competition and stalls run by craftspeople.

The parish church of Sant Andreu dates from the late 18th century. Sant Andreu is a neoclassical church with three naves, a choir and a bell tower. The former parish house of Sant Andreu is now used as a mountain refuge. The Ermita de Sant Pau above Arbolí is said to have already existed in the 13th century and can be reached via a paved forest road.

The church, former parish house and Ermita thus represent different architectural and historical layers of the place. The public festival formats are complemented by events with distinct characteristics, including a breakfast, live performance, activities, a hunting-dog competition and craftspeople’s stalls.

History of the Place

Arbolí’s former industrial heritage includes four paper mills and a grain mill, which are now derelict or abandoned. The Castillejos military camp was established in 1950 in the forests of Arbolí, also extended across areas of La Febró and La Mussara, served the university militias and reached 4,000 men in summer.

A former settlement in the municipality of Arbolí lies on the northern slope of Puig de Gallicant (1,008 m), above the valley of the Siurana River. In the 13th century, the area was an important centre of the Cathars.

Industrial history, military history and the former settlement at Puig de Gallicant thus belong to different historical traces within the municipality. Alongside the preserved or repurposed sacred buildings, they reveal the history of the place in several chronological layers.

Local Offerings

Liana_Espai de territori operates a shop with tasting offerings in Arbolí.

Other Places

Other places: Sant Jaume Dels Domenys, Bellmunt del Priorat, Solivella, Els Guiamets, Riudecanyes, Tivissa, Sant Jaume D'enveja, Conesa

To the overarching travel overview: Tarragona.