Autumn between the vines in L’Alt Penedès | Cultural Heritage. Goverment of Catalonia.

Getaways

 Santa Maria de Foix
Conjunt Monumental d'Olèrdola


1. Santa Maria de Foix (Àngela Llop)
2. Olèrdola

Autumn between the vines in L’Alt Penedès

Autumn is a marvellous time to visit the wine-growing regions with the fields ablaze with red leaves. And there is a lot of heritage to see associated with the production of wine.
AVINYONET DEL PENEDÈS

The Romanesque monastery of Sant Sebastià dels Gorgs in Avinyonet del Penedès is the starting point for this excursion to the Alt Penedès. It is a good place to start because it presides over a small town that is surrounded by vines as far as the eye can see, a prelude to the landscape throughout the excursion. Sant Sebastià dels Gorgs, which dates from the 11th century, is the district’s most iconic medieval building. It has a very interesting Romanesque bell tower and the northern wing of the cloister, with beautifully carved capitals, has survived.

VILAFRANCA DEL PENEDÈS AND PACS DEL PENEDÈS

The route continues to Vilafranca del Penedès where you can visit the Vinseum and find out more about wine culture thanks to their collection of 17,000 pieces of archaeological and ethnological items, art and ceramics. A wine event awaits you at the Família Torres wine cellar in Pacs del Penedès, which offers a number of visits and you can taste the wines and choose the ones you like.

OLÈRDOLA

The visit continues to Olèrdola with its ensemble of fascinating features where you can trace the tracks of humanity from the bronze age until well into the 20th century. This site is Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya (MAC) site and it forms part of the Iberian Route. It occupies a privileged position that commands impressive views over the Penedès district. There are the remains of a walled Iberian settlement, those of a Roman fortification and a medieval town with pre-Romanesque and Romanesque churches.

SANTA MARGARIDA I ELS MONJOS

The excursion ends in Santa Margarida i els Monjos with a visit to the Republican Aviation and Aerial Warfare Interpretation Centre (CIARGA). It is devoted to aspects of aviation during the Spanish Civil War. It is highly educational and combines original pieces in their setting alongside powerful multimedia resources.

*An excursion proposed in collaboration with the magazine Descobrir.