Viaranys de Montclar i la Santa Creu

The southwest of Berguedà is made up of an agricultural-forestry mosaic with alternating fields of cultivation with small forests, basically of pine and pine with oak or oak. Small hills and streams that plow the terrain end up forming an interesting ripple with small plateaus and plains. Montclar is a small town located in one of these small hills, structured around a square with the parish church on one side and on the other the stately home, known as the Castle, possibly built on the remains of a ancient fortress.

This route proposes to cross the paths that connect this nucleus with the place of Santa Creu de Montclar which, apparently, could be the oldest place in Montclar, where maybe even the famous troubadour Guillem de Berguedà went to blame. , which had one of the castles in the nearby Sierra de Sabata, in Montmajor.

Description
The route starts at Plaça de Montclar, in front of the town hall, and goes through the houses to the southeast. It looks like you are going to enter one of the houses, but not, you will pass under one of them, it has the underpass of the old royal road. You have a first section of steep descent, but with the usual roundabouts of the mountain paths you can smooth it out. Keep in mind that at the end of the route you will have to climb it, which is practically the only disadvantage of doing the villages on the hills, but the advantages are many, with much visibility and control of the area, much more sunny and without the extreme climate of the slopes.

Once you reach the River House, everything will change. This house, now in ruins, was for years a large farmhouse. It forms a whole with the cutlery attached to the main facade, the haystack, the well and the tub dug into the rock. If you explore a little, even though the vegetation is colonizing, you can see each element. The general structure of the house shows a building of possible medieval origin. It seems that at the beginning it would be a fortified house or domus of the 12th-13th centuries and that later expanded with the east body between the 18th and 19th centuries. After the house and before the barn, go the road to the right, follow it to the most modern shed on a slab. Go past the big oak tree and at the end of the slab, take the path that will end you down the stream. At this point the proposal is to march on the rural road on the right, and return on the left path (road beyond).
You will immediately cross the creek by a slab that the water has dug and then you will find a crossroads, you must continue to the left. You will reach the Riera de Montclar tub, a few meters away, on the road. It is full of earth, but you can see the upper circle which is not rock. Once you return to the fork, follow the path upwards, along a mainly forested section of pine and oak, which will give you some shadows. You will climb steeply uphill until you reach the area of ​​the Washhouse, where it is softened. At this point, following the path on the left you could shorten the route, but to reach Santa Creu, you must continue on the right. You will pass by a pond and you will come to an asphalted track in front of Cal Dominguet. Follow it to the left and you will soon find yourself at the junction of Cal Casó, already in the neighborhood of Santa Creu. A farm where the agricultural activity is still visible. Here, leave the tarmac and continue straight on, following the trail at the stream or ditch of the Casó, again entering a forest area. You will come to a new crossroads, where you have to continue on the left, crossing the stream and entering an increasingly agricultural area. At the next junction of forest tracks, you also have to go left, now to the south and soon you will be to Casagua, another farmhouse next to Santa Creu, which, although it has undergone many changes, may have its origin at the end. of the Middle Ages (15th century).

Shortly afterwards you will see that you are arriving at Santa Creu de Montclar. The set is mentioned already in 983, and consists of the church, the farmhouse, the contemporary Cross, as well as several tombs excavated on the rock (documented but not currently located). Although there are no preserved elements that indicate the age of the farmhouse, the structure shows a possible domus or strong house that would probably be contemporaneous with the church's beginnings, in the 11th-11th centuries.

After a well-deserved rest, to continue the route, follow the same rural path to the southwest, from here paved. The views open up, with great panoramic views of the Capolat cliffs to the north. You will reach a local paved road just in front of Cala Seuba. Follow it to the left and then immediately to the right on the tarmac direction Montclar i Casserres (south). The disadvantage of walking on asphalt will be offset by the tranquility and the magnificent panoramas you will have, now also opening to the south, with Montserrat, the Sierra de Montmajor crowned by the tower, etc ... and all the mosaic agricultural that the peasantry is in charge of maintaining. You will pass the Sabaters farmhouses, Cal Gavatx and Emprius, where the road is facing west. Later on, do not confuse the one with Cal Pere access, continue on the left and you will find Cal Xavier. From here the descent becomes steeper, and you will clearly see your destination; the photogenic image of Montclar up the hill capable of transporting to other times. After a very sharp bend, you will be able to recover the dirt road, following the old road on the left which will save you a good turn on the road here. Once you have recovered, just follow it a few meters to the left, again passing by the Tina of the stream of Montclar, and you will already be at the fork of paths where you have come down from Montclar.

Now it's up to you to upload it. If you haven't noticed before, pay attention now before crossing the road with a large boulder to your left. It is known as the Rock of the Dead. Due to the fact that the Montclar cemetery is located in the center and located high above the surrounding houses, the people who lived on this side that you have traveled, when carrying the remains of someone who had died, rested halfway on this flat stone before making the last climb to the core.

Once again in the center of Montclar if you haven't done it before, it's time to let yourself be carried away by the magic that this little village offers.