La Figuera: Panoramic Views and History

Landscape and Views

La Figuera sits at an elevation that offers views across seven provinces: Tarragona, Lleida, Barcelona, Huesca, Zaragoza, Teruel and Castellón. The Serra de Montsant is also part of the panorama. The seven names convey the breadth of the view, while the Serra de Montsant provides a distinctive landmark in the panorama.

Explore on Foot, by Bike and by Car

The “El Camino de Els Solans” circular route passes through La Figuera and offers sweeping views of the Serra de Montsant and large parts of the Priorat. Another option is to explore the Serra de la Figuera by bike, where you can experience the Priorat’s characteristic landscapes. The choices offer different points of focus: a circular route through the town with views of Montsant and the Priorat, or an exploration of a mountain range by bike.

The Coll d'en Solans viewpoint is about one kilometre from La Figuera. On foot, an unpaved path leads to an information board at the edge of the cliff. The approximate distance and unpaved surface are useful details for planning. As local conditions can vary, check them before setting out.

The Sant Pau Observatory offers a different combination of views and history: it is a trench reinforced with cement, from which the view extends up to 40 kilometres along the Ebro. It can be reached by car via an easy-access route; check access locally. When choosing between viewpoints, the different ways of reaching them and the observatory’s far-reaching views along the Ebro are useful points of reference.

Church and Modern History

The Church of Sant Martí stands at the highest point of La Figuera’s old town, on the site of the former castle. Built between 1778 and 1792, it is an 18th-century religious building in the Baroque style. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross and it has three naves. The Latin-cross plan describes the building’s form, while the three naves divide the church interior. These specific architectural features help bring the Baroque style to life, rather than presenting it only as a period label.

Another historic site is the former command post of the Republican army, where the Battle of the Ebro was planned. It is about 500 metres east of the Sant Pau hermitage and can be visited. The distance and direction help distinguish the command post as a separate site from the hermitage. A mass is held at the Sant Pau hermitage on 15 January for the feast of Saint Paul.

Winegrowing and Local Character

Wine production can also be viewed from both a historical and a contemporary perspective. The La Figuera cooperative was founded in 1932 and still uses the old wine presses to store wine. Ficaria Vins is a family project from La Figuera that has mainly grown Garnatxa since 2003. The information distinguishes between community-based wine storage and a family project focused on a clearly named grape variety. For travellers interested in winegrowing as well as landscapes and history, both the cooperative’s history and its focus on Garnatxa are distinctive aspects of the town.

Discover more destinations: Lilla, Riba-Roja D'ebre, El Vendrell, L'espluga De Francolí, Creixell, Colldejou, Castellvell Del Camp, Cunit

For the regional travel overview: Tarragona.