Discover La Quar through a range of highlights: the 15.1 km circular route leads to historic places in the municipality, while the monastery complex, sanctuary and chapels offer insights into architectural and religious history. The area also features striking river landscapes and high-altitude scenery. When planning your stay, first decide whether hiking, cultural heritage or a festival will be its main focus.

River Landscapes and Ridges

The Riera de la Portella rises in the municipality of la Quar. Its headwaters are included in the designation “Capçalera de la riera de la Portella” as part of the “Reserves naturals fluvials de Catalunya.” Along the Riera, mixed forests of Scots pine and oak meet riverside forests, where ash and willow trees are especially common. The headwaters and tree species give this river landscape a distinct character.

In the southern part of the municipality, near les Heures, the Riera de Merlès flows through a gorge, forming the Goles de les Heures. This is a landscape feature distinct from the Riera de la Portella: here the gorge shapes the river’s course, while there the focus is on the headwaters and different types of woodland.

Near the summit of the 1,121 m-high Serrat de Sant Isidre stands the small hermitage of Sant Isidre de la Quar. The ridge divides the watersheds of the valleys of la Portella and la Riba, as well as Sant Maurici. Its location makes the mountain a prominent landmark in the municipality; this does not imply a connection to any particular hiking route.

Monastery, Sanctuary and Churches

The surviving complex of the Monestir de la Portella includes the substantially altered monastery church and a two-storey cloister with large round arches. The monastery church was consecrated in 1035. If you would like to visit the interior, request an escort from the Ajuntament de la Quar. A municipal visitor information page, updated in 2022, specifies this requirement; check the arrangements before your visit.

The Santuari de Santa Maria de la Quar stands at an altitude of 1,069 m on a rocky promontory. From above a sheer cliff more than 100 m high, there are views across the valley of the Merlès, the Berguedà and the Pyrenees. The first church of Santa Maria de la Quar was consecrated in the year 900 by Nantigís, Bishop of Urgell. The early historical connection and the exposed location are two distinct aspects of this place.

Sant Maurici de la Quar also has its own architectural history: the church dates from the 17th century and was enlarged in the 19th century. Inside is the Romanesque image of the Mare de Déu de la Quar. The municipality offers the chance to explore religious sites and periods from different eras, rather than reducing them to a single architectural style.

Circular Route and Practical Information

The “Ruta la Quar, la Portella i Sant Maurici” circular route is 15.1 km long and leads to historic places in the municipality of la Quar. It starts and ends in the small village of Sant Maurici de la Quar. From there, it follows the GR-4 hiking trail to the Santuari de la Quar. Its length is a useful planning detail when deciding whether to make this loop the focus of a hiking day.

In Sant Maurici de la Quar, parking is available along the road, opposite the town hall and the Hostal Sant Maurici. As parking conditions can change, check the situation before travelling. For route planning, use the starting and finishing point in the village and the section along the GR-4 as clear reference points.

Festivals as a Reason to Visit

On 15 May, for the feast of Sant Isidre, a mass is celebrated and the Goigs are sung in the small chapel of Sant Isidre de la Quar. The hermitage is therefore not only a landmark near the Serrat de Sant Isidre, but also the setting for a local religious tradition.

A municipal festival page last updated in 2018 gives Easter Monday as the date of the Festa Major de la Quar and lists the Aplec at the Santuari de la Quar. An entry last updated in 2016 places the Monestir de la Portella festival on the weekend closest to 29 June. The municipal entry for the Festa Major de Sant Maurici de la Quar, updated on 18 June 2018, gives 8 September as the festival date. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these festivals, check the relevant date in advance.

Plan Your Accommodation Around Your Reason for Visiting

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in La Quar, first decide whether hiking, cultural heritage or a festival will be the main focus of your stay. This lets you plan your accommodation around the activities you actually intend to do. If you plan to visit the interior of the Monestir, remember to request the required escort; for a festival trip, the relevant date will determine your timing.

Discover more destinations: Cabrils, Santpedor, Casserres, Sant Pol De Mar, La Batllòria, Vilanova del Vallès, Castellfollit De Riubregós, Mura.

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.