L'espluga De Francolí: Caves, Heritage and Festivals

The Coves de l’Espluga de Francolí run beneath the present-day town centre of L'espluga De Francolí. Caves, museums, historic buildings and recurring events offer a range of cultural points of interest to shape your travel plans.

Caves and historic routes

With the Ruta d’Aventura, you can go beyond the museum route to explore the underground river upstream and discover the cave’s geological formations. The availability of this experience may vary. The Ruta Templera i Hospitalera passes through the old town and is also a guided experience using virtual reality glasses: it transports participants to L'Espluga in the 14th century. Schedules may change, so check the specific dates if you plan to take part.

Another route passes through restored houses and spaces used for the Pessebre Vivent. The Ruta del Pessebre Vivent de L' Espluga de Francolí is open year-round and free of charge; details of the route may change. The area’s older history also includes a Palaeolithic sanctuary discovered in Espluga de Francolí, Catalonia. It dates to around 37,000 years ago and contains more than 300 engravings.

Museums, buildings and wine-making traditions

The Museu Terra presents tangible and intangible heritage documenting rural life before the Second Industrial Revolution. Its themes connect to understanding the present and imagining more sustainable futures. Four self-guided tours complement the visit: La capsa de l'àvia, El joc de pistes, Dones d'aigua and Gimcana digital. The names and self-guided format give you a concrete sense of the activities the museum offers for exploring its themes.

Fassina Balanyà was a 19th-century distillery where aguardiente was produced. The Celler Modernista was built in 1913 and is also known as the Catedral del Vi. On a visit, guests can finish by tasting traditional wine a doll from a porró. These two places highlight different aspects of local production history: the former production of aguardiente and the Celler Modernista’s wine-making tradition.

Festivals and active excursions

The Fira de Sant Vicenç dates back to an agricultural trade fair established in 1565 and has a history spanning more than 450 years. It takes place on the fourth weekend of January; the exact date may vary slightly from year to year. The event features local products and crafts, as well as workshops, exhibitions, conferences and concerts. If you are planning your trip around the Fira, check the date of that year’s edition before booking.

Other events take place throughout the year. Casalet Kids is a recurring family programme, with dates from January to March and from October to December. It includes theatre, music, clown performances, puppet shows, cinema and storytelling at the Casal or Casalet theatres. Carnaval de l’Espluga de Francolí follows the calendar around Easter and includes, among other events, the Rua de les Mil Disfresses, the school carnival and the Burial of the Sardine.

The Festa de la Verema i de la DO Conca de Barberà takes place on the last weekend of August. Wineries from the comarca offer tastings. For Revetlla de Sant Joan, L'Espluga has historically been one of the distribution points for the Flama del Canigó; the local relay has been maintained for more than 25 years. The two occasions have different focuses: wine tastings at the Verema festival and a long-standing relay associated with Sant Joan’s Eve.

For a hike, the Caminada de l’Espluga a Prades has clearly specified distances: it follows footpaths for about 21 kilometres, with 840 metres of elevation gain. It has been held as an organised hike for more than 25 years. The approximate distance and positive elevation gain can help you distinguish this excursion from a visit to the museums and historic sites when planning your time.

Discover more destinations: Tivenys, El Rourell, Masboquera, Camarles, Sant Jaume Dels Domenys, L'aldea, Poboleda, La Vilella Alta

For the broader travel overview: Tarragona.