Ulldemolins: Renaissance church, gorges and Sant Bartomeu

Culture and history

The church of Sant Jaume d’Ulldemolins is considered one of the most complete Renaissance buildings in Catalonia. It was built between 1584 and 1591 under the direction of Pere Blai.

The Ermita de Sant Antoni i Santa Bàrbara is an irregularly shaped, single-storey building. It is built against the rock of the mountain. The hermitage has accommodation for 20 people and a camping area. There is also a bar service, as well as public tables and fire pits.

The Ermita de Santa Magdalena was founded in 1558. It features murals by Josep Juncosa from 1662.

The dates mark different phases in the creation of the cultural sites mentioned: the founding of Santa Magdalena in 1558 was followed by the construction of Sant Jaume between 1584 and 1591 and the murals of Santa Magdalena from 1662.

The Santuari de la Mare de Déu del Loreto preserves a vow made by the village at the end of the 17th century. It was made after protection from the locust plague of 1685.

The Aplec de Sant Bartomeu is the most important festival of the Ermita de Sant Bartomeu and takes place on 24 August.

Landscape and trails

The Congost de Fraguerau is the valley of the Montsant River between the Montsant and Llena mountain ranges. This valley features conglomerate cliffs and lush vegetation.

Cadolles Fondes is considered an exceptionally beautiful place where the Montsant River has hollowed out the rock and created a cliff on both sides.

The landscape therefore brings together the river valley of the Congost, the conglomerate cliffs and the rock formation of Cadolles Fondes, hollowed out by the Montsant. The Ermita de Sant Bartomeu lies in a side gorge of the Congost de Fraguerau and not in the main valley described. It may have been built in the 13th century on the site of an older hermitage.

In the Congost de Fraguerau, the Ermita de Sant Bartomeu lies downstream from Ulldemolins. It can only be reached on foot.

Allow three hours for planning the route to Sant Bartomeu: Route 2 Ulldemolins–Sant Bartomeu passes the Ermita de Sant Antoni, Cadolles Fondes, the Congost de Fraguerau and the Ermita de Sant Bartomeu. The route therefore leads from the points near Ulldemolins through the natural area of the Congost to the hermitage located in the side gorge.

More destinations

Also discover Riudecanyes, Santa Bàrbara, Caseres, L'aldea, El Pont D'armentera, Vilaverd, Els Guiamets and La Bisbal Del Penedès.

Festivals and local cuisine

The Diada de la Truita amb Suc is an annual festival in Ulldemolins. The event is based on a traditional dish.

It began around 1982 as a street festival with a competition centred on this traditional dish. The festive character and connection with the local food have therefore been linked from the outset.

For the general travel overview: Tarragona.