Catalonia has a number of lesser-known natural and heritage sites, from Montserrat viewpoints and caves to oak forests and old vineyard remains. The places below, reported by Diari de Girona, offer a quieter way to see the region beyond its best-known landmarks.
In Montserrat, Roca Foradada is a triangular cavity formed by a partial collapse of the mountain range. The opening is nearly 10 metres high and acts as a viewpoint over Bages and Anoia. Another option in the same area is the Els Set Balcons de Montserrat route, which links seven natural viewpoints and can be reached by bike or on foot from Abrera, Castellví de Rosanes, Collbató, Esparreguera, Martorell, Olesa de Montserrat and Sant Esteve Sesrovires.
Further south, near Prades, another Roca Foradada has a circular natural hole about 10 metres high, formed by erosion. In Baix Camp, the Cova del Blai in Muntanya Blanca reaches 30 metres deep and contains stalagmites and limestone columns. It is unlit and can be slippery, so visitors are advised to bring a headlamp or torch and suitable footwear.
In L'Espluga de Francolí, one of the world's longest and deepest caves offers a visit through layers of history. It was inhabited from the Palaeolithic period to the Iberian era, and visitors can also join speleologist-guided tours of the underground river galleries. For official visitor information, see the town's tourism site and the cave's own pages: Espluga de Francolí tourism and Coves de l'Espluga.
For quieter woodland walks, L'Aulàs in Pallars Jussà has a forest of downy oaks and Portuguese oaks in the largest flat area of the Pre-Pyrenees. The article also points to the Masjoan Arboretum, on the northern side of Montseny and Les Guilleries, a private forest created by botanist Marià Ferrer Rierola and home to species from around the world, including giant cedars, oaks, chestnuts and lime trees.
Catalonia's landscape history also appears in the Vall del Flequer, near Mura and Rocafort in Bages. There, enormous dry-stone vats built between the 18th and 19th centuries were used to ferment grape must directly in the vineyard, a practical answer to the area's rough terrain. For more Catalonia coverage, see our news page.
