Vilaplana: Hiking Trails and Cultural Heritage

Vilaplana lies on the southern slopes of the Serra de la Mussara, which shapes a large part of the municipality. Pine and holm oak forests also cover a large part of the municipality. Its profile combines hiking with cultural history and an annual tradition. When planning your trip, specific route details can be just as important as architectural history or whether you are planning to visit on a particular event date.

Hiking trails and specific routes

Vilaplana’s hiking program includes seven routes with a total length of approximately 50 kilometers. The trails run mainly along paths and include only a small proportion of roads. This figure describes the entire program, not a single route. One specific hike is the Ruta de la Font del Roure: it is 10 kilometers long, has 650 meters of ascent, and takes 3 hours and 15 minutes; its difficulty is rated moderate. When planning, you can consider the time, elevation gain, and difficulty rating alongside the distance, rather than judging the route by its length alone.

El Escondite de los Carlistas starts in Vilaplana, follows the PR-marked, partly paved path de las Tosques, and continues to La Mussara. The path’s name and destination provide specific guidance; check trail conditions before setting out, as they can change. For cyclists, Route 005, “Climbing to the ‘roof’ of Tarragona,” covers 119 kilometers through Vilaplana and La Mussara. The distance refers to the entire cycling route, not only the sections in the two towns. Route conditions and signage can also change, so it is advisable to check them before setting out.

Landscape and cultural heritage

The Abric de la serra de la Mussara is on the southern slope of the Serra de la Mussara, within the municipality of Vilaplana. The cave is about 150 meters below the ruined and abandoned village of La Mussara. The abandoned village offers views across the entire Camp de Tarragona. Thus, the Abric’s precise location on the slope and within the municipality, and the view from the village, represent different aspects of this landscape.

The parish church of Nativitat de la Mare de Déu was consecrated in 1739 and has a Baroque façade. The church houses the Romanesque image of the Mare de Déu de la Llet, which comes from the first Romanesque church. The church therefore brings together a Baroque façade and an image from an earlier Romanesque church building; both point to different historical periods.

Mas de Morenet is a fortified farmhouse dating from the second half of the 12th century. This date makes it markedly older than the parish church, consecrated in 1739. Together with the Romanesque sculptural tradition and the Baroque façade, the farmhouse offers another perspective on architectural history without assigning all the buildings to a single period.

Tradition and getting there

Rastres de Reis takes place every year on January 5. Children drag empty tin cans through the municipality’s streets and squares, making as much noise as possible so that the Three Wise Men do not pass by without leaving their gifts. If you are planning to visit on this date, check the specific event details, as individual arrangements may vary.

Public transport in Vilaplana is very limited, so a car is essential for getting there. Take this into account when planning your trip, along with route details, historic buildings, and the date of the tradition.

Discover more destinations: Bonastre, Els Guiamets, Sant Salvador, Vila-Seca De Solcina, Tivissa, Salomó, Gratallops, Tortosa

See the main travel overview: Tarragona.