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Puigventós, to the east of the massif of Montserrat, is an area with a major heritage value thanks to the diversity of its natural environments and its position on the Catalan pre-coastal mountain range, between the Llobregat valley and the Vallès, very close to the metropolitan area of Barcelona.
The Puigventós range forms an essential part of the landscape as a natural space that connects neighbouring ranges, like a veritable biological corridor within the pre-coastal range. |
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What is surprising about Puigventós is its biological wealth. The huge variety of rocks that form the range have allowed different different vegetation communities, such as oak , rocks as varied as slate and schist, limestone, conglomerates - identical to those of Montserrat also known as red earth- have facilitated the formation of oak groves, woods of Aleppo pine and holm oak, Mediterranean brushwood, savannah meadows and colonies of rock vegetation with abundant botanical rarities.
Flora in the reserve is quite diverse given the size of the area. Although generally speaking it contains species that are typical of Mediterranean environments, it does have some singular attributes. Perhaps the most significant aspect is the great variety of orchids which can be found in the reserve, and a dozen species have been discovered merely around the Pla del Fideuer. Other rare geophytes can also be found in the reserve, including white daffodils (Narcissus dubius) which are an endemic plant in eastern Spain and southern France. Equally worth of mention is the presence of the Fritillaria pyrenaica. There are also some species which can be found in the reserve near their latitudinal limits. Thus there are some of the most southerly versions of Euro-Siberian plants together with the northernmost variants of species from the southern part of the Mediterranean basin. Along similar lines the reserve contains species which, in addition to being locally marginal, reach much lower altitudes than they normally do. Examples of the foregoing include: Teucrium pyrenaicum, Solomon's seals (Polygonatum odoratum), Hypericum monotanum, Poa flaccidula, Saxifraga callosa subsp. catalaunica, Campanula affinis speciosa and Pyrenean violets (Ramonda myconi). |
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Topped by the summit of Puigventós at an altitude of nearly 600 metres, the range extends to the sanctuary of Sant Salvador de les Espases, on top of the mountain of Sant Salvador. The dry stone constructions, which have been preserved to a greater or lesser degree, form part of the architectural and scenic heritage of this area.
There is a large number of rock types in the area, including slate and schist, limestone, conglomerates identical to the ones to be found in Montserrat Mountain, and clays - Olesa de Montserrat Town Hall. 937 780 050
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Each of the environments referred to has its own characteristic and adapted wildlife. Puigventós, where it has a hunting area. Other regular visitors include ravens, eagle owls and other predators.
Bonelli's eagle is one of the more notable species inhabiting Puigventós. Mediterranean fauna typical of dry, open environments is particularly abundant. |
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How to get there? |
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- You can get to the area along a number of different mountain tracks and paths. The most-used one runs from Olesa up the Creu de Beca Valley to the Pla del Fideuer. Here it links up with another which runs westward from the BV-1211 (Olesa-Vacarisses) road beneath the Pla del Mimó. Two more interconnected tracks lead to the Mas de Puigventós and the Turó de la Gronya, from both Olesa and the BV-1211.
- A route starts at the Coll de les Espases car park and recreation area and leads to the Pla Fideuer. Here you can take a path on the left up to the hermitage of Sant Salvador de les Espases.
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