Vilaverd: Bronze Age, Ice Houses and Hiking Trails

At the Barranc del Mal Torrent, also known as Barranc del Povet, rock overhangs and similar sites feature pictorial representations dating from the Early Bronze Age to the Late Bronze Age III; the ravine is designated as a BCIN.

Landscape

The landscape of Vilaverd is considered forested and agricultural in character. It includes the foothills of the Muntanyes de Prades to the west, the Serra de Miramar to the east and the riverside vegetation of the Francolí. 378.13 hectares of Vilaverd lie within the EIN Muntanyes de Prades, which is also part of the Natura 2000 network. Part of the municipal area is included in the area of geological interest Esculls de la Riba, which is characterised by bioconstructed units of the La Riba unit with carbonate materials and dolomite deposits.

Culture and History

The Santuari de la Mare de Déu de Montgoi stands on a small hill next to the railway station and has always been a place of worship for the inhabitants of Vilaverd. Devotion to the Mare de Déu de Montgoi has been documented since the 13th century, while the present-day Santuari de la Mare de Déu de Montgoi appears to date from the 15th century.

The main façade of the Església de Sant Martí has a round-arched portal, a round window and two upper openings for the bells. The Festa Major de Vilaverd takes place in July for Sant Cristòfol. The winter festival in November honours Sant Martí, the town's patron saint.

The ice houses of Vilaverd are underground cylindrical stone structures with vaulted roofs. They were used to produce ice from layers of snow separated and compacted with straw. Outside Vilaverd, two well-preserved ice houses can be visited at the foot of the road, which was slightly rerouted to protect them.

You can find other places at the same destination level here: Vila-rodona, Torroja Del Priorat, La Vilella Alta, Maspujols, Cabra Del Camp, Colldejou, Godall and Riba-Roja D'ebre.

Hiking and Trails

The Ruta de les Antigues Guixeres de Vilaverd begins at Vilaverd railway station and passes the former gypsum quarries and old gypsum kilns of Vilaverd. Along the route, the Guixera del Tòfol, also known as dels Robusté, can be viewed from the outside.

The De Vilaverd al Clot de’n Goda route is a circular trail running along the boundaries of Vilaverd and through the valleys of the Francolí and Brugent. At Clot d’en Goda, it is signposted as a health-promoting trail; its section on the GR 7 bears the corresponding white-and-red markings of the FEEC long-distance hiking trail.

The Punta Cucurulla del mas d’en Just i les Garrigues de Vilaverd route is 10.780 kilometres long, takes approximately four hours, has a moderate to high level of difficulty and includes 629 metres of ascent and descent.

For the higher-level travel overview: Tarragona.