La Selva del Camp: Historical Heritage, Crafts and Festivals

The Camí del Rec follows the historic waterway that supplied La Selva del Camp and the grain mills located along its course with water. The path thus also points to the former use of the water and to the mills that stood along this route. The Riera de la Selva rises at Les Tres Aigües, where the Font Major, Salt and Gatellar ravines converge.

History

The Castell de la Selva was built between the late 12th and early 13th centuries and served at times as a residence for the Pabordes. Following the completion of the second restoration phase in 2011, the Castell de la Selva became a multifunctional municipal space. The building therefore brings together its medieval origins, its former use as a residence and its later municipal use.

The Convent de Sant Agustí was founded in 1598 on the initiative of the municipality and built with the help of donations. These donations included a contribution from Rafael Ripollès. The foundation thus combines municipal initiative with private support from donors.

L’Hort d’Iglésies is a historic country house that Josep Iglesias commissioned at the beginning of the 19th century. Inside, the house preserves a collection of paintings depicting various scenes from classical mythology. The building thus combines its function as a historic country house with a collection whose subjects derive from classical mythology.

The construction of the new Sant Andreu church also forms part of the town’s architectural history. It began on 10 November 1582. Pere Blai undertook to complete the new building within eight years for 8,000 pounds. The construction work probably continued until 1686, but the façade remained unfinished.

Crafts

At the Centre d’Interpretació dels Ollers: Ca l’Hipòlit, visitors can see the original workshop. An exhibition there presents the historical development of pottery in La Selva del Camp. The history of the craft is therefore conveyed at this site through the preserved workspace and an exhibition on the development of the trade.

Festivals

La Selva del Camp celebrates Carnival at the beginning of February with the arrival of King Carnestoltes. The central Carnival event is a parade on Saturday afternoon, during which groups, comparsas and penyes present their floats and costumes. The festival calendar therefore includes both the arrival and the more specifically timed Saturday-afternoon parade.

Els Tres Tombs is a traditional festival held at the beginning of the year in La Selva del Camp. Horses and carriages from all parts of the Països Catalans take part in this festival. Alongside Carnival, it is therefore another early-year festival whose participants are associated with horses and carriages from throughout the Catalan region.

Transport

La Selva del Camp has a stop on the Reus–Lleida railway line. The town is therefore connected to a railway line linking Reus and Lleida.

Other places: Bràfim, Alforja, Vila-Seca De Solcina, Prades, Ginestar, La Figuera, La Galera, El Vendrell

To the higher-level travel overview: Tarragona.