Vallmoll: Castle, Church Art and Historic Paths

Culture and History

Vallmoll is home to the Portal de la Creu, the town’s only surviving medieval gate; originally, the old town wall had three gates. Vallmoll Castle preserves two towers, including the Torre d'Homenatge. A large part of the castle moat has survived. Some of the completed rooms feature elements from different periods and styles. The 2021 restoration project renovated the two towers of the west wing. On 18 March 2021, the taller tower was accessible via an internal cantilevered staircase from the second level of the adjacent tower.

Several inherited features come together at the castle: two towers, the largely preserved moat, completed rooms with architectural elements from different periods and styles, and the taller tower, which on 18 March 2021 was accessible via an internal cantilevered staircase from the second level of the adjacent tower.

The Ermita del Roser is a 16th-century building that houses a Renaissance altarpiece by the French painter Jean Bas, dating from 1580. The restoration by Josep Maria Jujol gave the Ermita del Roser its distinctive architectural details. The Church of Santa Maria was built between 1772 and 1775 in the classicist-Baroque style, based on a design by Joan Antoni Rovira and under the direction of master builder Salvador Guinovart. Its single-nave interior has five vaulted sections with lunettes, a polygonal apse and a bell tower beside the façade. The church also contains a remarkable ensemble of wooden sculptures created by the village priest Mossèn Torrell. Casa Ballester was built in 1855 and comprehensively restored in 1992 as a cultural facility.

Older Settlement Traces

The Iberian settlement of Els Garràfols yielded a silo, sections of walls, fragments of dwellings and, above all, pottery. A Roman villa lies beside the Torrent de Vallmoll. The historic settlement of Vallmolls developed between the castle and the road from Tarragona to Valls.

Vallmoll’s traditional dryland farming includes grapevines, carob trees, almonds and hazelnuts. These four crops are identified as components of traditional farming in the town and stand alongside the architectural and archaeological evidence of its settlement history.

Local Paths and Festivals

Vallmoll has short local routes that are well signposted and usually focus thematically on nature, history or rural architecture. The El Camí route runs via the Camí del Cementiri to Vallmoll and continues towards La Masó after crossing the Riu Francolí. Topographical guides or explanatory leaflets for some local routes are available from the town hall.

Vallmoll’s winter Festa Major honours Sant Sebastià and takes place on 20 January. The summer Festa Major honours the Mare de Déu d'Agost and takes place on 15 August.

Other Places

Other places: Pratdip, Vila-rodona, Albarca, Riba-Roja D'ebre, Sant Jaume Dels Domenys, Pira, Llorenç Del Penedès, Arnés

For the higher-level travel overview: Tarragona.