Gurb: Trails, rolling hills and historic churches

In Gurb, trails through the landscape of the Plana de Vic meet historic churches, hills and preserved traces of earlier buildings. When planning your stay, you can compare routes of different lengths and landscapes, as well as the history and architecture of individual sites. Whether you prefer hiking, cycling or exploring cultural heritage, these themes give your search for a hotel in Gurb a clear direction.

Hiking, cycling and landscapes

The “Les Parròquies de Gurb” cycling route runs through the protected natural area of Espai Natural Protegit dels Turons Ausetans and the agriculturally cultivated landscape of the plain. The route thus connects two distinct landscape types: protected nature and cultivated lowlands.

There are also walking routes of markedly different lengths to choose from. The PR C-41 de Gurb is a 19.296 km circular route of moderate difficulty through the Plana de Vic. A shorter option is the 3.5 km “Pujada al Turó del Castell de Gurb. Ruta des de la Zona Esportiva de Gurb” route. It passes through Sant Andreu de Gurb and an area of blue marl before reaching Turó de la Creu de Gurb. In addition to its greater distance, the PR C-41 also offers a circular route and moderate difficulty as points of comparison.

The Sant Andreu de Gurb i Sant Roc route also passes through a variety of landscapes: it goes by cultivated fields, oak groves and forests of Scots pine. Serrat de Palau is home to one of the few remaining downy oak forests in this part of the Plana de Vic. The routes described therefore take you through both agricultural areas and different types of woodland.

Hills, churches and traces of history

Castell de Gurb stands on a hill rising to 833 m; prominent rock formations support the surviving remains of the former structure. Scattered remains can be found on the hill’s highest level, from which there are far-reaching views over the central part of the Plana de Vic. Another panoramic viewpoint is the leafy square south of the church of Sant Andreu de Gurb, which overlooks the plain.

The present-day church building of Sant Andreu de Gurb dates from the 12th century. A bell tower also survives there; based on its features, it is probably pre-Romanesque and dates from around the 10th century. The church and tower thus reflect different periods of construction. At 786 m, Sant Julià Sassorba is the highest parish in Gurb and lies in the more mountainous, sparsely populated part of the municipality. The chapel of Santa Perpètua de Vespella crowns a 790 m summit between the hollow of the Tuta stream and the Vall de Sorreigs valley, on the municipal boundary between Gurb and Santa Cecília de Voltregà.

Santa Maria de Palau has been documented since 1016, when it was referred to as Sancta Maria de Palatio. Its two-arched bell gable survives, though without bells. At Sant Cristòfol de Vespella, ruins and the church building tell of different architectural traces: only small, badly damaged wall fragments, covered in vegetation, and fallen stones remain of the old church. Beneath the visible wall lies a partially preserved circular cistern made of natural stone masonry. The present-day church building was constructed between 1759 and 1784; it has a rectangular nave and two side chapels.

Creu de Mitjavia also has a turbulent history. A monument was later Christianized by the erection of a cross. The cross remained until 1936, when local residents knocked it down; only the base remained on site. The monument was restored in 1988.

Getting there and finding a hotel

You can reach Gurb via the C-17 or N-152a, or via the C-25 cross-country road. If you are looking for a hotel in Gurb, you can start by choosing according to the interests you want to shape your stay around: hiking trails, a cycling tour through different landscapes, or churches and historic buildings.

Discover more destinations: Berga, Sant Andreu De Llavaneres, Pujalt, Premià De Mar, Sant Sadurní D'osormort, Santa Eulália De Riuprimer, Sant Pere De Ribes, Sant Pere De Vilamajor.

Go to the main travel overview: Barcelona.