Vilanova d'Escornalbou – Cultural Route and Historic Buildings

Vilanova d'Escornalbou combines a cultural route with historic buildings and an agriculturally shaped landscape. The cultural route comprises nine stations located close to one another. The Cooperativa houses an extensive exhibition of local handicrafts. Painting, ceramics, bobbin lace, crochet and natural soaps showcase different craft techniques and materials within this collection.

Culture and History

The parish church of Sant Joan dates from the late 16th or early 17th century. Fortification works from the wars of the 19th century are visible on its façade and bell tower. On the western side of the Corredor de la Vila, the same structure as in the 17th century is still preserved. The church and Corredor de la Vila thus represent different historical construction phases, which can be identified from their respective architectural features.

Cal Peirí is a building. The building dates from the end of the 17th century, and the year 1699 is inscribed on its door. Cal Peirí includes a defensive tower approximately 10 metres high with a machicolation. The year 1699 on the door supplements the dating of the building with a specific visible reference on the structure. Another group of defensive towers is located in Arbocet. These towers are among the best-preserved examples in the Baix Camp comarca. The historical traces are therefore distributed across individual buildings, fortified elements and preserved structures.

Landscape Between Fields and Forests

Agricultural areas shape the landscape around Vilanova d'Escornalbou. Olive, almond and carob trees grow there predominantly. Typical dry-stone walls are also present, visible as characteristic elements of the cultivated landscape between the growing areas. Below Escornalbou, the forests also include a small stand of cork oaks. Pine forests predominate there, so cork oaks and pines form different parts of the woodland. Fields, walls and the two aforementioned forest types characterise the landscape in its various areas.

Hiking and Mountain Biking

The municipal hiking trail crosses the quarry zone in the western half of the municipality of Vilanova d'Escornalbou. Another route is called Ruta de Vilanova d'Escornalbou a les ermites. It is an easy tour of approximately 5.6 kilometres and takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. The route is suitable for families with children and can also be ridden by mountain bike. The length, approximate duration and stated difficulty are just as relevant to tour planning as the chosen mode of transport. Hiking trails and mountain-bike routes should be checked against current trail conditions before setting out. For tours with a stated length, duration and difficulty, the required time window can be planned specifically before departure.

Getting There

Access to Vilanova d'Escornalbou is via the T-321, which is reached from the T-310. The T-310 runs between Mont-roig and Montbrió de Camp.

Further destinations: Nulles, El Lligallo Del Gànguil, L'arboç, Ginestar, La Senia, Escaladei, Santa Bàrbara, Benissanet

To the higher-level travel overview: Tarragona.