On the hill of Castell de Gurb, which rises to 833 m, scattered remains of the former structure lie on the highest level. From there, the view stretches across the central part of the Plana de Vic. Hiking trails, changing landscapes and historic buildings offer various starting points for a trip to Gurb.

Compare hiking trails by distance

The PR C-41 de Gurb is a 19.296 km circular route of moderate difficulty through the Plana de Vic. At 20.2 km, the local Sender local de Granollers de la Plana trail is of a similar length. Considerably shorter is the 3.5 km “Pujada al Turó del Castell de Gurb. Ruta des de la Zona Esportiva de Gurb” route. It passes through Sant Andreu de Gurb and an area of blue marl before reaching Turó de la Creu de Gurb. This makes it possible to compare the routes by length first; the PR C-41 is also specified as being of moderate difficulty.

Plain, forest and hills

The landscape can also be explored by bike in its own way: the “Les Parròquies de Gurb” tour passes through the protected natural area Espai Natural Protegit dels Turons Ausetans and the agriculturally shaped landscape of the plain. A different perspective is offered by the Sant Andreu de Gurb i Sant Roc route, which passes through cultivated fields, oak woods and forests of Scots pine.

The more mountainous, sparsely populated part of the municipality can be seen at Sant Julià Sassorba. At 786 m, it is the highest parish in Gurb. The chapel of Santa Perpètua de Vespella is also located at a high elevation: it crowns a 790 m summit between the hollow of the Tuta stream and the Vall de Sorreigs valley, on the municipal boundary between Gurb and Santa Cecília de Voltregà. The plain and the hills thus offer contrasting landscape features within the municipality.

Two places with their own connections to architectural history also offer wide views across the Plana de Vic: the remains of Castell de Gurb on the hill’s highest level, and the landscaped square south of the church of Sant Andreu de Gurb.

Churches and historic traces

The present-day church building of Sant Andreu de Gurb dates from the 12th century. The surviving bell tower is considered probably pre-Romanesque based on its features and dates from around the 10th century. Documentation for Santa Maria de Palau goes back to 1016, when the name Sancta Maria de Palatio was used. The building is notable for its two-arched bell gable, in which no bells have survived.

Only small, badly damaged, vegetation-covered wall remains and fallen stones survive from the old church of Sant Cristòfol de Vespella. Below the visible wall is a partially preserved circular cistern built of natural stone masonry. This is distinct from the present-day church of Sant Cristòfol de Vespella: it was built between 1759 and 1784 and has a rectangular nave and two side chapels.

Another historic stop is the Creu de Mitjavia. A monument there was later Christianized by the installation of a cross. The cross remained until 1936, when local residents toppled it; only the base remained on site. It was restored in 1988. This sequence of events adds a different local history to the older church buildings.

Getting there and finding your way

Gurb can be reached via the C-17 or the N-152a, or via the C-25 cross-axis road. To reach Sant Esteve de Granollers de la Plana by car, take the Manlleu exit from the C-17, follow the Vic–Manlleu road, also known as the B-522, and then take the turn-off for Sant Esteve de Granollers de la Plana. Check this route before setting out. This makes it possible to plan separately for the hiking and cycling routes, historic buildings and the respective access roads.

Discover more destinations: Castellterçol, Sant Sadurní D'anoia, Gavà, Montseny, Cubelles, Alella, Cercs, Castelldefels.

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