Discover Santa Maria de Corcó

Landscape and Local History

Santa Maria de Corcó combines a distinctive landscape of water and rock with traces of several periods. To explore the area's history, look to L'Esquirol: the original settlement grew up around the former Hostal de l'Esquirol inn, now called Mas el Perai. L'Esquirol developed along the historic road from Vic to Olot in the 15th century. The former inn's name and its current name mark two stages in the area's history.

L'Esquirol's textile tradition is also part of its history. It continued until the end of the 20th century. Compared with the prehistoric and medieval remains, it points to a more recent phase that has now passed. The area's history therefore spans far more than individual historic buildings.

The Riera de les Gorgues forms impressive pools, meanders and waterfalls around L'Esquirol. The pools are natural basins of water; together with the river bends and waterfalls, they shape the landscape there. Barra de Ferro offers a different feature: the cliff rises 80 metres above the Riera de la Gorga. At La Foradada near Cantonigròs, a gorge, a waterfall and a large opening in the rock face define the natural setting. The water flows over a pool beside the opening. These places represent different landscape forms: waterfalls and meanders, a high cliff, and the striking opening at La Foradada.

Buildings and Traces from Different Periods

The church of Sant Julià de Cabrera dates from 1050 and preserves two apses from the original building. An apse is an architectural feature that forms the end of a church space; the surviving sections connect the church to its early architectural history. By contrast, the Pont de la Gorga de l'Esquirol is a medieval bridge with two arches of unequal size. It was apparently built around 1352. The Dolmen de Puigsespedres adds evidence from the Neolithic to these structures: the megalithic tomb lies at the outskirts of L'Esquirol, on the historic road from Vic to Olot. Together, these points of reference span the Neolithic, the year 1050 and the Middle Ages; the date given for the bridge remains approximate.

Routes and Travel Highlights

A 2015 route guide lists three versions of Circuit Inclusiu 12, covering around 8, 3 and 3 kilometres. The routes described lead to places of particular natural and scenic interest in the municipality. For a rough idea of the distances, you can compare the longer route with the two shorter ones: around 8 kilometres compared with around 3 kilometres each. Check current route conditions before setting out.

If you are looking for a hotel in Santa Maria de Corcó, the different highlights can help structure your travel plans: the natural sites showcase water and rock, while the church, bridge and dolmen reveal the municipality's historical layers.

Discover more destinations: Santpedor, Ca l'Avi, El Pla Del Penedès, Veciana, Les Roquetes, Tona, Muntanyola, Sant Fost de Campsentelles

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.