Montseny Natural Park
El Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve is located in the Catalan Pre-coastal mountain range, of which this massif is the highest part.
The relief of El Montseny starts with elevations of under 200 metres on the eastern side that rise to just over 1,700 m. The Tordera river divides the mountain into three large subunits: El Pla de la Calma and Puig Drau (1,344 m) in the West, the peak of El Matagalls (1,693 m) in the North, and Pic de les Agudes (1,706 m) and Turó de l’Home (1,707 m), the massif’s highest peak, in the East.
The broken mosaic formed by the diverse terrain gives the Natural Park its great scenic and biological wealth of mountain ranges, streams, woods, cropland and high plains. The presence of Man in the area from remote times has modelled a humanised landscape showing even more the partitioning of the mountain.
The management plan for El Montseny Natural Park, promoted by Barcelona and Girona Provincial Councils, is based on balancing the conservation of the natural systems and cultural heritage, compatible social and economic development, and regulated public use, and on the commitment to the project of participating municipalities, local government offices, and groups associated with the region.
REMARKABLE PLACES
Montsoriu Castle is one of Catalonia’s most representative fortresses. It dates back to the tenth century and is closely linked with the viscounts of Cabrera, one of the most powerful families in medieval times. Don’t miss the mid-tenth-century keep, the noble rooms off the parade ground and the huge 250,000-litre cistern.
The museum is in the centre of Arbúcies, in Plaça de la Vila. It has fifteen rooms displaying cultural heritage from the Montseny massif. On the ground floor there are audiovisual displays about Montsoriu Castle and the massif’s legends. There is also a scale model of the castle as it was in the fourteenth century, along with the remains found in the excavations that have been carried out.
This is the starting point for excursions to Les Agudes and the Matagalls massif. On the same pass you’ll find the chapel of Sant Marçal and the so-called “Three Bishops’ Table”, the point where the dioceses of Barcelona, Vic and Girona converge.
The Iberian wall of Montgròs is one of the archaeological monuments in the Montseny that most impresses visitors, owing to both its spectacular construction and the scenes that it conjures up of our remote ancestors taking refuge behind the wall, fending off the invaders’ attacks. The first records of the hill’s occupation date back as far back as the tenth century B.C., while construction on the wall began in the fourth century B.C. Although the Romans finally defeated and dominated the area’s inhabitants, the wall was still used up to medieval times. Montgrós hill is located in El Brull municipal district, in the region of Osona.
The Special Plan for the Protection of the Natural Environment and Landscape of El Montseny Natural Park became effective on 31 January 2009, replacing that approved in 1977 (Barcelona province) and 1978 (Girona province). The plan is intended to provide a tool to make El Montseny a vital, dynamic region, where protection of the natural environment is compatible with the quality of life of the people who live there and the enjoyment of visitors.
In 1978, UNESCO included El Montseny in the MAB (Man and Biosphere) World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
INTERESTING INFORMATION
31.063,90 ha
Aiguafreda, El Brull, Campins, Cànoves i Samalús, Figaró-Montmany, Fogars de Montclús, La Garriga, Gualba, Montseny, Sant Esteve de Palautordera, Sant Pere de Vilamajor, Seva, Tagamanent, Arbúcies, Breda, Riells i Viabrea, Sant Feliu de Buixalleu i Viladrau
Selva, Osona i Vallès Oriental
All year: possible presence of snow on the highest parts in winter.
Masia Mariona
Ctra. 5119, km 2,5 Mosqueroles
08479 Fogars de Montclús
938 475 102
Common beech
Silver fir
Snowdrop
Poet’s daffodil
Balm of Montseny
Sheperd’s violet
Nuthatch
Grass frog
Edible dormouse
Bechstein’s bat
Rosalia longicorn
Mallard
Mandarin duck
Kingfisher
Montseny Brook Newt
MAIN TOURIST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE PARK:
PR-C 201: Montsoriu Castle
PR-C 204: climb to Santa Fe de Montseny
PR-C 205: climb to Matagalls from Viladrau
GR 5-2a: Matagalls – Coll (hill) Pregon – Sant Marçal
GR 5-2b: Sant Marçal – Les Agudes – Turó de l’Home
SL-C 81: The Nine-Branched Chestnut Tree trail
SL-C 82: from Coll (hill) de Bordoriol to Coll (hill) Pregon
SL-C 84: from the creek of Arbúcies to Sant Marçal
SL-C 88: from Gaserans to N’Orri hill