Abbey town over hills to Tibidabo / Barcelona
basics
| grade |
easy |
| region(s) |
Barcelonès
|
| walking distance |
16 km / 9.9 miles |
| walking time, excluding breaks |
4.15 hr |
| travel time there and back |
0.45 hr |
| travel costs there and back per person |
€2.16 / £1.71 / $3.34 (rates from ECB) |
the walk
Standard route
- Coffee and buns followed by stroll through Sant Cugat. Late C19th/early C20th industrial/commercial architecture (market, ceramics factory, wine co-op), Renacentista professionals (butcher, aceituneros, farmer) and C12th-14th monastery (1, 2, 3, 4). Old path out of centre past Catalan suburban dream. Dense natural forest (8K hectares). Secret springs, ruinedand restored chapels and the occasional clearing (1, 2). Ibero-Roman kiln.
- Grand turn-of-century basilica (Gothic chapel built on top of Catalan-Byzantine one) (512m, even better views).
- Spooky funfair pioneered by money-laundering snakeoil salesman, Dr Andreu.
- Option: nice rustic café with good snacks / lunch.
- Foster’s 1992 telecomms tower, early (Alpine-style) C20th villas.
- 158m descent to town in 1906 funicular.
Options
- Replace 6. with extension of a few more kms along to end of ridge. Outstanding views of Barcelona and the Llobregat delta to the south. Excellent rose gardens. Optional visit to transexual streetwalkers and Barcelona FC’s Camp Nou stadium.
|
Sources inc Jordi and the 1:20K Alpina Serra de Collserola map. Photos: the Dr Andreu tin and Tibidaboare from eBay auctions.
general enquiry
Hitting go! on this form sends me email telling what you're interested in. I'll then send you more information and a price, generally €30 per person + €20 fixed. There are ample discounts for large families or individuals with potential for generating interesting conversations with lazy old men along the way--star soccer players, pigeon fanciers and women in search of a haircut spring to mind. Minimum prices apply. Even cheaper walks here.
617.039.956
(last-minute emergencies)