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This tour gives you the chance to get to known
these villages in the Baix Camp area: Riudoms, Mont-roig, Montbrió, Botarell and a
hamlet near Vilanova d’Escornalbou called L’Arbocet.
These villages on the plain are full of interesting
places to discover and are often on the routes between the coast
and the
mountains. They have their own history and personality, even though
these are often forgotten. Some of them were sources of inspiration
to famous artists like Joan Miró and Antoni Gaudí,
whose works display many factures belonging to this landscape:
the contrast of light, the reddening skies, the animals, the shapes
of the rocks, the colours of the fields and so on. Joan Miró once
said, “The colour is the colour of the chapel of La Rica,
and that which gives its name to the village. The bluer colour
is the sky over Mont-roig. The green is the green of the carob
trees and the yellow is the jewel of Mont-roig, its flowers and
small plants.” This itinerary aims to mix historical and
artistic aspects with leisure and relaxation.
Itinerary: Set out from Reus towards Riudoms
along the T-310. In Riudoms we recommend you visit: the Antoni
Gaudí house
and museum, the ancestral home of the great architect’s family,
which was restored and opened in 2003- The church of Sant Jaume,
by the well-known architect Pere Blai (1553-1620) who together
with Jaume Amigó introduced the renaissance style into Catalonia.
The façade of the church is considered one of the finest
examples of this Italian artistic style. The chapel of Sant Antoni,
atop a small hill in the upper part of the village, has an ornate “Churrigueresque” –style
altar screen dating from 1743. The chapel is surrounded by a flat
area known as the Pla de Sant Antoni, which on feast days is largely
closed off for dances and shows. The Mas de la Calderera is the
farm where, according to the people of Riudoms, the architect Antoni
Gaudí was born and spent many childhood summers. The farm
was the summer residence of the Gaudí family and the architect
often went there to immerse himself in his beloved natural surroundings
which so inspired him. It is currently private property, though
it enjoys legal protection.
The next village to visit is Montbrió del Camp, further
along the T-310. Of interest here is Cal Figuerola, a Modernist
(Art Nouveau) house with a beautiful garden. There is also a spa
centre. This should be followed with a stroll through the village,
where you can see the Cal Cantó museum, the Sundial Route
and Cal Reverter, another Modernist house on the Carrer de la Riera.
There are two options on leaving Montbrió. The first is
to take the T-313 to Botarell, 2km. (just over a mile) from Montbrió,
where you can visit the renaissance-style church of Sant Llorenç,
built between 1617 and 1622. The boundary stone at the entrance
to the village is believed by some experts to be a megalithic monument.
Botarell’s old fountain, the Font Vella, is of great antiquity,
and the village is believed to have sprung up around it due to
its plentiful, clear water. Also worth seeing is the Pi de la Mallafrena,
a spectacular pine which is eighteen metres (nearly sixty feet)
in height.
Botarell also has some interesting farmhouses.
These include the Mas del Gerro, built in the Modernist style,
the Mas d’en
Duran, of medieval origin, with its fine wall paintings, the Mas
del Vernis, built in 1737, the Mas del Giol, made up of three buildings:
the owners’ home, that of the tenant farmers and the church
dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows and the Mas d’en Perdiu,
refurbished in 1910 by Rubió, a disciple of Antoni Gaudí,
who designed a spectacular fireplace.
The other option is to go on to L’Arbocet. Take the T-310
out of Montbrió towards Mont-roig and turn off onto the
T-321 towards Vilanova d’Escornalbou, turning off at L’Arbocet.
This small village has just two streets, called Baix and Dalt (bottom
and top), both leading to the church square.
The church of Sant Joan Bautista dates from
the early 17th –century.
On the Carrer de Baix is an old round defensive tower, which is
where the village is believed to have grown up. At the southern
end of the same street is a square tower of later construction.
These two towers give L’Arbocet something of the look of
a large castle from the outside. It is a quiet, picturesque spot
in which to commune with nature, as well as a perfect place to
stop and enjoy some traditional local cooking.
Whichever of the options you choose, the next
village to visit is Mont-roig del Camp, along the T-310. There
are several places
to visit. First is the church of La Mare de Déu de la Roca,
mentioned in documents dating back to 1230 and situated less than
four kilometres (three miles) from the village. Above the church
is the chapel of Sant Ramon, built in 1826, which still servers
today as a landmark for sailors. The old church in the centre of
the village, with its renaissance façade and gothic rose
window, has been converted into a space for the development of
art and culture. The sanctuary of the Mare de Déu del Peiró,
built in the mid- 18th century, is on the old route to Falset.
This is a setting-off point for the Ruta del Carrasclet long-distance
footpath, named after the famous Catalan bandit and guerrilla fighter
who operated in this area, Pere Joan Barceló i Anguera,
born in Capçanes in 1682. During the War of the Spanish
Succession he fought against king Philip V of Spain on the side
of archduke Charles of Austria. After the war ended he went to
live in Hungary. This route runs through the Baix Camp and the
Priorat, passing over the Llaberia hills.
Mont-roig also has the Ruta Joan Miró, a trail laid out
by the local tourist office in the footsteps of the great artist,
which includes various places connected with him. Among them is
La Masía, the farmhouse where Miró enjoyed long stays
and which is reflected in many of his paintings.
The route ends in Mont-roig. Return to Reus via the T-310.
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