Located on the outskirts of a historical picturesque farming village, which itself is situated on a mountain-top overlooking the beautiful wide valley of the Conca de Barberà in the northern limits of the province of Tarragona, where we offer you B&B-style accomodation, more-or-less vegetarian and non-smoking, in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. We offer an excellent self-service style breakfast 5€ a head.
In the lounge you will find a scrap-book, full of information on places to see and visit, a walk or a short car ride away.
The house is equipped with solar-heated hot water, which has electric back-up in case the sun doesn't shine in more than 2 days, which is extremely rare. There are either summer or winter duvets on all the beds. The windows are fitted with anti-fly screens, and there are virtually no mosquitos in the whole village. Each guest is provided with a hand and shower towel, which are checked before departure, as is the kitchen equipment. The flushes in the 4 separate WC's and the water taps are fitted with water-saving devices, and the central heating is a special low-consumption electric system.
The great advantage of staying up in our village and not down in the humid sweltering heat of the
coast in summer, is that although it may be as hot outside as the coast on a very sunny day, in the evening there is a delicious freshness, when one can open the windows and let the cool into the house, keeping them closed during the day, as the very thick s stone walls of the house keep a steady temperature of 23-23ºC in summer and with the heating on the rest of the year at a steady 18-20º.
Setting
This being a mountain-top village, there are unparallelled views over the wide valley of the Conca de Barberà right the way down to the sea 50kms away, and from behind the village we see the whole long chain of the Pyrenees, covered in snow except in summer.
So apart from a walk up to the top part of the village for the views and to visit the 1000-year-old Romanic church and wander round the old village, or taking a walk in the local countryside to visit the ancient spring or to pick aromatic plants, there many interesting visits to be made locally.
Our place is in the lower part of the village, which avoids being shrouded in clouds as is the top part when it's cloudy, but just as cool in summer, and is at more or less the same altitude as several local places that can be cycled to (we have 2 adult +1 child's bike we can hire you very cheaply) along the tracks improved by the windmill installers. The windmills provide great wondering for younger visitors, and although initially their presence scared off most of our local eagle population, recently we have been noticing the return of soaring great birds of prey in the skies over the Conca.
We are very lucky to have a few minutes drive away the brand-new 5-star thermal spring establishment of Rocallaura, extremely well-equipped and guaranteed to make you feel a new person in two hours. We have multi-ticket entries which reduce the price from 23 to 15€ all-in. We have also installed a foot-massage and steam sauna therapy cabin on the ground floor next to the yoga room; afterwards you feel 50 times better than taking a shower. Cost 3€ per half-hour session.
With the village strategically situated on the Route of the Cisters, and the public rambling route GR Saint James' Track passing in front of the house, giving easy access to the 3 famous historic monasteries, Santes Creus, historically fascinating, Vallbona de les Monges, quaint and still functionning, and Poblet, beautiful and much-appreciated. 50 km. away from Tarragona and its wonderful beaches. 115km from Barcelona.
Unless you come in your own car, or hire a car (best booked previously), you can be met at the airport (Reus the nearest) and we will show you which routes to take.
* How to get here: By car:
The easiest is via the AP7 toll motorway south from Barcelona direction Lleida exit Montblanc then main road north C14 direction Tarrega after 11 km after Solivella right turn marked Forès. Follow Forès and on arriving in the village first you meet the pond (la Bassa) and we are the second house on the left after the pond, with views overlooking the wide expanse of the Conca valley.
* By Air:
Ryanair fly to Reus, 40kms away. To get a good tariff, you should reserve more than 3 weeks in advance, and even more in mid-summer, not forgetting that the Ryanair website has tricky extras such as for each piece of luggage, and if you lose your connection, even if its their fault, they wash their hands of your problem. Arrange with us beforehand how to meet you, and we will pick you up at the airport.. There is always the alternative of flying to Barcelona, but then we have a 95-minute drive by freeway, which cannot be free as is the Reus pick-up.
* By Train:
Now that the high-speed AVE runs directly from Paris, Geneva, or Montpellier direct to Barcelona Sants main station, there are good offers, and once at Sants, you can get a Regional going to Lleida which stops in Montblanc. There are 4 trains a day, the last one leaves Sants at 18.45 and arrives in Montblanc nearly 2 hours later. As above, if you arrange with us beforehand how to meet you, and we will pick you up at the station. Montblanc is only a 15 minute drive away.
Activities and attractions
Apart from visits to the Cistercian monasteries, which get many emotional, there are spectacular caves in Espluga of Francoli, an equestrian center for horse-riding, 20min drive., the Museum of Rural Life, in several villages there are modernist cellars, with well-known wines of origin; at 6km is a luxury thalassotherapy center (15 € / 2h), 15 km the Toy Museum, A historical area, beautiful natural spots for bike rides and walking, and especially the excellent local cuisine, not expensive at midday during the week (10 - 13 €) with the beautiful beaches of Tarragona at 50km.