5. By bike through a rural universe
We set off from the tourist office of L'Espluga de Francolí and climb along the promenade running alongside the Francolí river. The idea is to head for the vineyard fields surrounding Milmanda Castle. On this stretch we make for the GR 171 track. The castle is on the right-hand side of the path to the hermitage of Torrents. This path goes through a lovely pine wood until it reaches the hermitage. We cross the ravine in front of the hermitage to reach the road to Vimbodí i Poblet. We follow it to the right until we find the Camí de la Palanca. Crossing the river Milans, we begin the climb to the village of Vimbodí i Poblet. To return to L'Espluga de Francolí, we leave the village along the Camí de la Palanca and cross the river Milans. The path climbs gently to the junction with the road to the Hermitage of Torrents. We continue to the right along a track that follows the Torrents ravine. We follow the track between crops and riverside vegetation until we reach a fork on the left. After a small hill with good views, we come to the TV 7002 road from Vimbodí i Poblet. We cross the road and continue along the track to the plains of Milmanda. Beyond another hill there is a lovely view of the Muntanyes de Prades, Les Masies, Poblet monastery and the vineyards. We continue along a track beside the river Sec, which brings us to L'Espluga de Francolí.
- Distància
- 25 km
- Durada
- 2 hours 53 minutes
- Tipus de ruta
- Circular route
Route description
Route type: Circular route
Start and finish: L'Espluga de Francolí Tourist Office
Distance: 25 km
Duration: 2 hours 53 minutes
Points of interest: The Monastery of Poblet, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has kept its essence since its foundation in 1150. We recommend a guided visit, which will let you get to know the architectural features, the monastic life still practised there and the natural setting of the monastery. Part of the Cistercian Route, it is a very special place for reflection and spiritual recollection, as well as for learning about the history of Catalonia in the museum housed in the rooms of the royal palace.
Milmanda Castle is the nerve centre of the Torres family's estates in the comarca. The visit includes a video presentation about the estate and its long history. You then climb the keep, which offers spectacular views. Since it opened to the public in 2000, a wide variety of activities have been created, including wine tastings, aperitifs and an evening tasting in the keep.
The Museum of Rural Life in L'Espluga de Francolí covers every aspect of traditional life in the towns and villages of Catalonia. This unique museum has a varied collection of items on permanent display relating to traditional life, culture, agriculture, and artisan crafts and trades. If you want to connect with your roots, this is the place for you!
