A stroll around Rajadell and Artés, in Bages

Without further ado, you’ll arrive in Rajadell, a town with an interesting Roman villa, Sant Amanç, a castle from the time of the Reconquista, over 20 farmhouses of medieval origin and several stone oil mills, some still working, such as that of the cooperative L’Agropecuària de Rajadell SCCL. If you’re more interested in churches, you can visit Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria, Santa Maria de Monistrolet and Sant Salvador de Vallformosa, or the surviving chapel of the old Monastery of Santa Llúcia. Next to the train station is a monumental tree, a hackberry that is a real symbol for the town. There are also signposted routes around Rajadell to do on foot, paths that enable you to explore a well preserved natural setting with streams, torrents, mountains and plains. You can take the Riera de Rajadell – Via Verda path, just over 9 kilometres and easy, which follows the bank of the torrent and passes by different springs.

In Rajadell you can have lunch at Cal Miliu, in Avinguda de l’Estació, a friendly restaurant with a menu based on Catalan cuisine with local products.

In the eastern side of the flat area of Bages is Artés, the destination of the second half of your getaway. We recommend visiting the historic centre of the town starting at Plaça Vella. And if you like museums and discovering more about where you are, go to the Museu de la Història d’Artés – Fons Pare Faura. Wander the streets and admire the lintels, find the last arch of the wall or the windows from medieval times. As in Rajadell, they also have a monumental and emblematic tree here, in this case a majestic holm oak on El Pujol Nou estate. And there are centuries-old remains such as the site of Matacans, springs and signposted paths.

But save some time to visit Artium, Celler Cooperatiu d’Artés. This wine cooperative has generous opening hours but guided tours must be booked and are in Catalan, Spanish and English. On the tour you’ll learn about its specific history surrounded by bottles and walls covered with cobwebs and also the general history of a region that has made wine since Roman times. You’ll hear how it is made – along with cava – and there’ll be a tasting to round off your visit to Bages.