Capafonts: Gorges, Springs and History

Capafonts lies between the Muntanyes de Prades and Els Motllats, on the upper reaches of the River Brugent. Gorges, karst formations and springs give the landscape its character; the village also has buildings from different centuries. This offers a good mix for planning your trip, with nature, local history and trails leading to different destinations.

The Brugent, Karst and Rock Formations

Les Fous del Brugent are gorges carved by the Brugent as it leaves the valley. Els Motllats is a karst mountain range in the municipalities of Capafonts, Vilaplana and Mont-ral. Its formations include caves, shafts, natural arches and deep gorges.

One notable cave is La cova de les Gralles: a large cave beneath a rock overhang at the bottom of the Barranc de la Font Nova, above the Font de la Llúdriga. It was formed by headward erosion and is about 15 metres deep. Above it is a waterfall or rock drop of around 60 metres. The Font de la Llúdriga never runs dry and supplies water to Capafonts.

Natural arches are also among the landscape features of the surrounding area. Pont de Joi lies below the Font Nova. La Roca Foradada is a natural arch formed by erosion in a rock face about 10 metres high. The Cova de les Gralles, the arches and the gorges differ markedly in shape; visitors interested in geology will find several specific formations described here, rather than just a single viewpoint.

Buildings and Traces of History

The medieval bread oven of Capafonts dates from the 13th century and is one of the village’s most important buildings. The parish church of Santa Maria was completed towards the end of the 18th century. It is a three-nave building in a simple Baroque style; “three-nave” describes its division into three naves.

Another historic building is the Ermita de la Mare de Déu de Barrulles, a medieval chapel. It was built in the 12th century and first mentioned in written records in 1225. Traces found in the Cova del Daniel provide evidence of human presence in the Capafonts valley during the Epipalaeolithic and Neolithic periods. These named sites therefore represent different periods: early human presence in the valley, medieval buildings and the later Baroque church.

Trails with Different Points of Interest

The small village centre can be explored on foot, and several marked hiking trails start there. The Camí de Farena passes through Les Fous, a natural route between La Riba and Capafonts. The “Del Riu Brugent al Cim de les Muntanyes de Prades” route has a different focus: it starts in Capafonts, follows the Brugent and leads to the Ermita de Barrulles. The two descriptions therefore differ in both the landscape features mentioned and their destinations. No distances, walking times or difficulty levels are provided for these routes here; check trail conditions before setting out.

Planning Visits and Your Journey

Guided tours of the village centre are available by prior reservation. They offer the chance to see the Forn de pa, the church, the old washhouses and other places that define the village. Check availability before your trip. The Festa Popular del Mandongo de Capafonts may also be of interest when planning: it takes place on the first Sunday in February and revives the traditional preparation of pork during the slaughter. Check the exact date and programme before your trip.

The main access route to Capafonts is via the road from Alcover or Prades; there is no regular public transport. Check transport connections before your trip. If you are looking for accommodation, the landscape, local history and location on the upper reaches of the Brugent can help you get a sense of what the destination is like.

Discover more destinations: Almoster, La Bisbal Del Penedès, Miravet, Riudoms, Clarà, La Riera de Gaià, Prades, El Rourell.

View the main travel guide: Tarragona.