Discover Sant Hilari Sacalm

Sant Hilari Sacalm lies in the centre of the Guilleries and is exceptionally rich in forests. The town is known as “La vila de les 100 fonts” – the town of 100 springs. In fact, more than 100 springs rise within its municipal boundaries. The springs, forests and culture of the Guilleries offer a range of points of interest to help you plan your trip.

Springs and nature in the Guilleries

The name “Town of 100 Springs” sums up a distinctive landscape feature in a memorable way: there are more than 100 springs within the municipality. The forest landscape is also part of the character of this town, located in the centre of the Guilleries. If you are interested in local nature, the Museu Guilleries is another fitting place to visit: the museum presents the region’s diverse fauna and flora through its different ecosystems.

You can also combine these nature experiences with a bike ride. The Ruta del Soler runs through the dense forests of the Les Guilleries natural landscape and crosses the forest scenery typical of the region. The Ruta de les Ermites also takes you through the varied forests and landscapes of the Guilleries; two hermitages lie along the circular route. The routes therefore differ not only in their figures, but also in the landscapes and destinations described along the way.

Compare cycling routes by distance and time

The Ruta del Soler is a 19.5-kilometre mountain biking circuit with 220 metres of elevation gain. It takes about one hour and 15 minutes. The Ruta de les Ermites is longer, at 22.8 kilometres, and has 280 metres of elevation gain; its estimated duration is about one hour and 45 minutes. It is also a mountain biking circuit and has a certain degree of difficulty.

The Ruta Carboners offers a marked contrast in its listed figures: it is 7 kilometres long, has 365 metres of elevation gain and takes about 3 hours. This makes it the shortest of the three routes listed, while its stated duration is the longest. Comparing distance, elevation gain and time helps you understand the different route profiles without judging them by distance alone.

Culture, crafts and history

The Via Crucis Vivent begins at Plaça de l’Església and proceeds through 14 scenes to Turó de la Vaga, also known as Turó de la Crucifixió. The performance combines a staged procession with a walking enactment of the Passion. The procession includes armed participants and religious figures. The route and the number of scenes give this cultural event a clearly defined sequence of stops.

L’Embruix explores another aspect of regional culture. The event is inspired by legends about witches and warlocks from the forests of the Guilleries and includes night-time performances, including a witches’ sabbath. At the Centre Artesà de la Torneria, the focus is instead on a craft: an exhibition traces the development of woodturning, and there are also demonstrations.

Can Rovira also combines a present-day visitor service with the town’s architectural history. The tourist office is located in the three-storey 15th-century manor house, built for the Gurb family. Another historical site is the former Balneari de la Font Picant. The building is four kilometres from Sant Hilari Sacalm in the direction of Osor. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was one of Spain’s most famous spas because of its mineral medicinal springs; this description refers to its history at the time.

Discover more destinations: Llanca, Isòvol, Begur, Riudaura, Ordis, Salionç, Aiguaviva, Salitja.

For the overview of the wider region: Girona.