 |
Access to the Maps server
These estates in the heart of the Prades Mountains, in the Alt Camp region, located in the Brugent Valley, are made up of centenary forests, spectacular cliffs and abandoned farms. There are many Scot's pine, riverside and Holm oak forests, some of which are practically virgin -, abandoned cereal fields, scrubland, etc., in an abrupt and spectacular landscape, which also includes the village of Farena, a small, well-conserved medieval urban centre surrounding the ancient castle and the Romanesque church. Its few permanent inhabitants have upkept the traditional mountain activities in this area, such as the hazelnut and cereal fields, market gardens and truffle collection. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Interesting species
Without a doubt, in terms of birds, the estate's emblem is a pair of Bonelli's eagles (Hieraaetus fasciatus), which nests in the area. There are also a great many more interesting species, such as the Peregrine hawk (Falco peregrinus), the Eagle owl (Bubo bubo) and the Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) but dippers (Cinclus cinclus) can also be easily observed in the sector of The Plains.
As for mammals, considering that the otter became extinct a few years ago in the area, our interest centres on the presence of a significant number of polecats (Putorius putorius) and the pygmy shrew (sorex minutus), although these two species are really quite difficult to observe.
|
|
|
| |
 |
Recommendations for the visit
We recommend following the asphalted road from the bridge at the start of the Mont-ral district, climbing up a bit from Mont-ral, a bit from la Riba until the village of Mont-ral itself, climbing up to Sant Pere Romanesque church, with an impressive view. From here you will enjoy the view of the Brugent valley and look out over a good part of the Prades Mountains, with the Motllats ¿model example of the high plains which are typical in the area ¿ and the Pou mountain range, one of the largest and best conserved forest masses in the country. Near Feliu Farmhouse you will be able to observe Vilalta Forest.
It is well worthwhile to climb up to the viewpoint of Farena village, near the old talayot, now called Casa Vilalta, to enjoy the beautiful view of Brugent and the White Wall of Farena, which includes Les Planetes and the Colomina. We also recommend stopping at the last bend in the road before reaching Farena, from where a short trip to Pi de les Piquetes can be made over a well-marked track, a monumental pine tree that prevails over the estate, since it is more than 25 m tall and even the cliff above the molí de les truites, with a good view of the whole valley. These are the sectors of Les Planes and Castelldeganyes, which are the largest in the whole estate after Vilalta Forest itself.
Another option is to climb up a dirt track from the confluence of the Riu Sec and Baridiam streams to La Bartra, from where you will see a magnificent scenic view of the Prades mountains, as well as the Escurçons mountain range, Tous Farmhouse and one of the estate's forests, which borders on this stream. The view is of a vast expanse of very well-conserved forests that alternate with more or less abandoned fields and farmhouses, mostly in ruins. |
|
|
| |
 |
How to get there?
|
| |
| From Valls, capital of the Alt Camp, or from Montblanc, in the Conca de Barberà, take road C-240 towards La Riba, turning off to the left as soon as the village begins. There, a bridge crosses the francolin and the road begins to climb towards Brugent ¿well signposted -, crossing the entire village and exiting towards Cap de Riba. Take road TV-7044 uphill, since there is no other. You will soon come across the Pinetell, and around 3 km later you will arrive at Farena. |
|
|
|
 |
Services
District council
(Tel. 977-60-62-87)
|
|
|
| |
 |
Where to eat?
There are a variety of restaurants in the villages of Farena, Mont-ral and Prades, which serve all the most typical dishes from the area. |
|
|
| |
 |
Where to sleep?
In the villages of Mont-ral and Prades we can find various guest-houses or mountain refuges. |
|
|
| |
 |
Typical products
There is a bakery in Mont-ral where you can buy wood-cooked bread and confectionery.
We strongly advise against buying "Pedra d'Alcover", its extraction is the main ecological problem in the Prades mountains. |
|
|
| |
 |
Others
We recommend a tour of the village of Farena, cobbled streets and well-restored houses, numerous day trips are also organised here.
Toll de l'Olla, upstream, on the road to Antoni Farmhouse, is a spectacular pool in the river Brugent, definitely worth a swim in the summer (this is legal, since the pool is inside the exclusion area of the Natural Interest Space.)
This section of the river Brugent is for "fishing without killing" within the area of intensive trout fishing. |
| |
 |
|
| Farena, a small medieval town located on a slope on the River Brugent. |
| |
|
|
back