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Access to the Maps server
From June, the Nature Reserve of the Mountain of Montserrat has an access point from the north-west: the recreational and parking area at Coll de Can Maçana.
This project has allowed a zone that was suffering from heavy erosion due to the proliferation of vehicles to be regenerated. The footpaths and trails that go to the most popular parts of the mountain leave from this point, such as Les Agulles, the Vicenç Barber refuge, the church of Sant Pau Vell, the Cadireta, the GR hiking trail, etc.
Coll de can Maçana, a property in the municipality of El Bruc, forms part of the Muntanya de Montserrat nature park, occupying almost 7% of the latter. It is the main access point for paths and agulles de roca (rock spires) in this part of Montserrat. |
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Landscape
Coll de can Maçana is located in the western part of Montserrat, essentially in the nature reserve area of the park. It includes a sector of the famous monoliths of conglomerate rock of the Agulles region, including those commonly known as La Foradada ("perforated"), La Cadireta ("chair"), La Portella ("door"), Els Pallers ("hayloft"), etc., because of their peculiar forms. This sector has the highest concentration of agulles in the massif, making it one of the most famous and striking parts of the mountain. |
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Vegetation
The vegetation is made up of the Mediterranean forest elements so characteristic of Montserrat that are still recovering from the forest fires of 1984 and 1986 (holm-oak woods and aleppo and black pine forests), and rupicolous plants typical of walls and canals, such as the endemic Rosette-mullein |
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Fauna
The region's fauna includes the peregrine falcon and the crow, which nest up in the cliffs, numerous forest and scrub birds, a range of warbler species', the melodious warbler or the rock bunting. Mammals include the wild goat - which has been reintroduced - predators such as the genet and beech marten, and the abundant wild boar. |
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History
Mammals include the wild goat - which has been reintroduced - predators such as the genet and beech marten, and the abundant wild boar. The area has a very interesting history as it was the first inhabited spot of the mountain with the Romanesque church of Sant Pau Vell (11th century), remains of the castle of La Guàrdia, and the prehistoric site of Cova Tapada. |
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Routes
The strategic importance of this property lies in the fact that it is the main point of access to the Muntanya de Montserrat nature park in the north-east sector, which is the starting point for many excursions, itineraries and climbing expeditions in the region. Numerous vehicles belonging to visitors are parked at this site, which has not been adapted for this purpose and does not currently have any protective measures. A collaboration agreement has been signed with the association Patronat de la Muntanya de Montserrat and the Town Council of El Bruc to manage the property and, more specifically, to adapt the parking and leisure area of El Coll de Can Maçana, based on a project drawn up previously to greatly improve access.
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How to get there
Access to the area from the south is from the town of Bruc. Here you take the BP-1101 road towards Manresa. Before the junction with the BP-1103, on the right-hand side you will find a turning for the Coll de Can Maçana recreation area. From the north you can get there from Manresa/Sant Salvador de Guardiola along the BP-1101 or from Monistrol de Montserrat along the BP-1103. In both cases you will need to head towards Bruc. After the two roads meet, take a turning on the left towards the recreational area. Here you will able to park and follow the signposted routes. |
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