Valls del Montcau - Consorci per a la promoció turística

The Valls del Montcau¹ is located in the middle of the scenery of the Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac , a natural park that includes this exceptional place.

Having a spectacular landscape, made up by crags and red conglomerate monoliths that stand out against the green pine and holm oak groves, Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac belongs to the Serralada Prelitoral Catalana². It stretches, through the counties of Vallès Occidental and el Bages, with an extension of about fourteen thousand hectares.

Two main mountain crests linked together at the coll d’Estenalles, form the Natural Park, and they stretch from north to south and melt into deep depressions, invaded by the vegetation of this region and a variety of fauna. In this natural beauty we can find rock hills, caves, abysses, needles and many other natural formations that fill with magic every corner. The two highest mountains crown this mystery: La Mola (1.104 m) and El Montcau (1.056 m).

Back into time, we find the first form of Natural Park planning in 1932, when the republican Generalitat³ included Sant Llorenç del Munt into the Regional Planning. Almost thirty years later, in a social, political and institutional situation radically different, the Diputació de Barcelona promotes the approval of the County Planning, in which documents in included the County Catalogue of Natural Parks, an advanced instrument for its time. This catalogue allowed, in the year 1972, to impulse and approve the Special Planning of the Sant Llorenç del Munt i la serra de l’Obac massif, promoted by the Diputació de Barcelona⁴. Changes to the planning made in the years 1982 and 1998 have increased the total protected area to 13.694 hectares.
This extension is managed by the Servei de Parcs Naturals de la Diputació de Barcelona⁵, in collaboration with the towns inside their territory and the participation of many sectors involved.

Because of that, the Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac, in which you can find the Valls del Montcau, constitute a location where you can enjoy both a rich natural environment and a historical and cultural heritage of an extraordinary value. Meeting also the demand of services and facilities for the leisure time and educational activities in a natural environment.

_{1 Valleys of the Montcau (mont=hill, cau=lair).

2 Pre-littoral Catalan hills.

3 Catalan government.

4 County council or commission.

5 Barcelona County Council Natural Parks Service}

Foto de Toni Mampel

Foto de Toni Mampel