Discover Valls: Castells, Architecture and Calçots

Valls brings together the tradition of Castells with historic buildings, museums and a strong Calçotada culture. When planning your stay, it is worth distinguishing between recurring festivities and the city’s different cultural themes. That way, you can choose when to travel based on what you want to experience and search specifically for a hotel in Valls.

Castells: tradition and musical explorations

Valls is considered the birthplace of Castells. Plaça del Blat, where the Colla Joves and Colla Vella del Xiquets de Valls perform today, is regarded as kilometre zero of the world of Castells. The Museu Casteller de Catalunya is devoted exclusively to this tradition and uses an educational approach to introduce visitors to its essence and values. The square and the museum thus offer different perspectives on the same cultural theme: the place where the performances take place and a deeper exploration of the Castells tradition.

Espai Gerhard offers a different approach. There, six explanatory tours and six musical explorations introduce visitors to the work of an internationally renowned Catalan composer. The format combines explanations with musical explorations; programme details may evolve.

Architecture between Gothic, Renaissance and the Civil War

The Església de Sant Joan was built in the 16th century as a Late Gothic religious building and has a Renaissance façade. Its 74-metre-high bell tower is the tallest parish church bell tower in all of Catalonia and offers views over Camp de Tarragona. A guided visit includes climbing the tower; groups are limited to 20 people. Visits can be booked. As arrangements may change, check booking options in advance.

The Capella del Roser has medieval origins and is protected as a Bé Cultural d'Interès Nacional. Inside are glazed tiles from the 17th century depicting the Battle of Lepanto. The Refugi antiaeri offers a different glimpse into history: the air-raid shelter was built during the Spanish Civil War. Its galleries lie about nine metres underground; the shelter is part of the Generalitat de Catalunya’s Memorial Democràtic.

Art and collections

The Museu de Valls has a Catalan art collection spanning 120 years. It also houses an archaeological collection relating to the Iberian world. The collection comes mainly from the Fonstcaldes kiln and the Vilar de Valls settlement and is available to researchers. The art collection and archaeological holdings have different focuses: Catalan art spanning a long period on the one hand, and finds from the Iberian world on the other.

Calçotada, festivals and local products

The Calçotada is a centuries-old culinary tradition in which calçots are cooked on a grill. The Gran Festa de la Calçotada takes place every year on the last Sunday in January and attracts thousands of people. If you plan to travel for this festival, check the date for the year of your visit. The Tres Tombs, held every year in honour of Saint Anthony, are also firmly rooted in city life: animals make three circuits around the centre of Valls.

“Sabores de Valls” also offers a food tour featuring food and products from Valls. Participating products and the format may change; check what is currently on offer before your visit. This gives you a practical distinction for planning your trip: the Gran Festa takes place on a specific date in January, while the tour offers a separate way to explore local food and products.

Route in the western part of the municipality

The Ruta del Pont de Goi runs through the western part of the municipality of Valls. It leads to the Granja de Doldellops, the area around the Francolí River and the historic site of Pont de Goi. The route thus connects the Granja de Doldellops and historic Pont de Goi with the area around the Francolí. As trail conditions may change, check them before setting out.

When choosing your hotel in Valls, you can first consider whether your visit is tied to a festival date or whether you are mainly interested in the Castells tradition, architectural history, collections or local products. This focus can help you plan your travel dates to suit your purpose.

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