Viladellops: Wine, History and Nature

Viladellops combines a village landscape shaped by Romanesque architecture with winegrowing and a natural area south of the village centre. When choosing a destination for a hotel stay, you can weigh up different priorities: historic architecture in the village centre, experiences at Finca Viladellops, or scenic spots in the Fondal. The places and activities differ considerably in their connection to history, wine and nature.

Village Centre and Historic Traces

The village centre consists of houses and agricultural outbuildings grouped around a large central manor house. A distinctive building is the Torre de Viladellops: this medieval Romanesque tower dates from the 11th century and stands in the village centre. Its floor plan is circular; at the lower level, it has a diameter of 3 metres and walls 1.4 metres thick.

The history of Finca Viladellops dates back to 930. A well-preserved medieval tower marked the beginnings of the winegrowing village named after the estate. The place’s historical connections thus extend beyond individual buildings to include the development of winegrowing.

Sparse remains of Romanesque wall paintings survive on the arch of a side chapel in the Església de Sant Joan de Viladellops. Another detail is the altar frontal, described as having 91 polychrome tiles. The Immaculate Conception is depicted in the centre, Ramon de Penyafort on the right and John the Baptist on the left. These details give a visit a different focus from looking at the tower or the settlement’s layout.

Winegrowing and Experiences at the Estate

The estate has 60 hectares of its own vineyards. They are 100% organically certified and planted with the indigenous grape varieties Garnatxa and Xarel·lo. The present-day winery dates from 1877. It preserves old walls, rooms, wine hoses and machinery from the estate’s early days.

The estate’s experiences offer different points of focus. The “Historia y Vino” tour includes the Centro de Interpretación Familia Desvalls, the Sant Joan chapel and a tasting of three wines. The centre displays documents and historical objects and explains the Desvalls family’s role in the history and winegrowing of Catalonia. The focus here is on historical content alongside the tasting.

“Cata de vinos Premium entre viñas” includes a guided walk through the vineyards, with tastings at various points among the vines. The activity therefore connects the wine directly with a visit to the vineyards. “La Alquimia del Vino,” by contrast, is a group workshop: teams create their own wine blend and take part in a blind tasting. The estate also offers a 4x4 drive through the vineyards with a guided wine tasting.

Fondal de Viladellops and Natural Spots

The Fondal de Viladellops lies south of the village centre and can be reached via a path from the Sant Joan chapel. This area of natural interest features riparian vegetation and natural springs. Here, the Torrent de les Jonqueres meanders through partly rugged terrain. In the Fondal, the landscape and water take centre stage, while the estate brings together experiences centred on wine and history.

The Font de la Cova emerges as a spring from the upper part of a natural cave in the Fondal’s wetland area. The Font de Sant Joan has a different historical connection to water: traditionally, it was an important meeting place for the inhabitants of Viladellops. It can be reached from the Sant Joan chapel by following the path towards Altrabanda.

Other natural features include the Roure de Viladellops. The sessile oak is about 25 to 30 metres tall and is identified as Quercus petraea or a related hybrid. North of the village centre, the Torre de l'aigua de Viladellops stands on the path from Viladellops; on the Ruta del Vi, it is point 6. La Marca de la Bruixa is a 600-metre route through vineyards and past stones in Viladellops.

Planning Your Trip

Viladellops can be reached from the C-15 road via two routes leading into the village. When choosing your destination, you can take the different points of focus into account: the village landscape and architectural history, the estate’s wine experiences, or the paths and natural spots in the Fondal.

Discover more destinations: Bellprat, Sant Cebrià De Vallalta, Lavit, Cubelles, La Garriga, Sant Joan Despí, Guardiola De Font-Rubí, Manresa

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.