Discover Arbúcies: Hiking and Heritage

There are several ways to shape a stay in Arbúcies: explore trails through the countryside, take a mountain biking route, or discover the area’s cultural history. The Vall d’Arbúcies lies in the heart of Parc Natural del Montseny. If you’re looking for a hotel in Arbúcies, first consider whether hiking, cycling, or the towns and their history will be the main focus of your trip. The routes and sights below differ in their destinations, paths, and activities.

Hiking trails and how they differ

The circular route to Salt de la Dona d’Aigua starts at the Can Pons sports centre, passes through lush, damp woodland, and reaches the waterfall. It is considered suitable for the whole family and is described as easy overall. However, the approach to the waterfall includes a moderately difficult section. This distinction can help with your planning: the easy rating applies to the route as a whole, while the final approach presents a different level of challenge.

Another hiking route leads from Arbúcies to Castell de Montsoriu: the PR-C 201 is 8.4 kilometres long. At the castle, visitors can explore the rooms in its three walled sections. This combines a hiking destination with a close-up look at the castle complex. If you plan to do both the route and the visit, check current trail conditions before setting out.

The Tourdera section from Arbúcies to Sant Marçal offers a different kind of route. It starts at Plaça de la Vila d’Arbúcies and heads southwest along an unpaved track and steep paths. The section is also known as Camí Marçaler or the local SL-C84 trail. White and green SL-C84 markings show the way; at the end, the route joins the GR-5.2 markings. Check the signs and trail conditions before setting off.

For mountain biking, there is the Arbúcies–Sant Pere Desplà BTT route. This 16.7-kilometre circuit starts and ends at Pavelló de Can Pons in Arbúcies. It is clearly different from the hiking routes described above: it is designed as a mountain bike circuit and returns to its starting point. So when comparing routes, consider not only the distance but also the mode of travel, destination, and route type.

Festivals and cultural experiences

Festa de les Enramades is a festival of national interest, a status recognised by the Generalitat de Catalunya in 1999. Its characteristic traditions include floral carpets made from flower petals. Those responsible for each street design their carpets in advance. If you’re planning your trip around the festival, check the dates for your chosen travel period.

Festa Major d’Arbúcies features cultural, sporting, and community activities. These include open-air concerts, choir gatherings, theatre performances, children’s entertainment, and sports tournaments. This range of events differs from the individual hiking and cycling routes: here, the focus is on a variety of activities. As with the other festival, it’s a good idea to check the dates before planning your trip.

Industrial history and a town walk

La Farga del Roquer is the Riera d’Arbúcies interpretation centre. The building was constructed between 1846 and 1848 as a copper forge. Its technology includes a turbine dating from 1934 that is still in operation: water from the reservoir powers the old transmission system. If you’re planning to visit the site, check its current operating status beforehand.

The permanent exhibitions at Museu Etnològic del Montseny, La Gabella, showcase material evidence of the communities that have inhabited the Montseny massif throughout history. The museum thus offers a perspective on life in the region across different historical periods. Another landmark with a specific date is Capella de la Mare de Déu de la Pietat: it was built in 1717 and extended in 1785.

A walk through town also takes in specific historic sites. The route passes over Pont Vermell and along Carrer del Sorrall to Font de bomba del Bon Humor. This pump is one of the town’s six historic pump wells. As you explore Arbúcies, you can take in bridges, streets, and a piece of technical heritage, without limiting the town’s history to a single building.

Discover more destinations: Capmany, El Prat de Llobregat, Palau-Sator, El Far d'Empordà, La Pinya, Vilajuiga, Argelaguer, Les Llosses.

Back to the main travel overview: Girona.