In Matadepera, a protected mountain landscape and a strong festival tradition come together. Part of the municipality lies within the Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac, where conglomerate formations predominate. The part of the park within the municipality is also protected as a Natura 2000 site. For your trip, you can focus on trails and scenery, or get to know Matadepera through the Festes de Sant Sebastià.
La Mola and trails through the landscape
The summit of La Mola can be reached via three signposted main routes: from Coll d’Estenalles, along the Camí dels Monjos, and via Can Robert and Can Pobla. The route from Can Robert and Can Pobla joins the Camí dels Monjos for its final stretch. There is no road access to the summit. If you plan to follow one of these routes, check the latest trail information before setting out.
The Ruta per la pedra seca offers another way to discover the landscape. This short, leisurely circular walk passes through a shady ravine below Collet de Mont-rodon, at an elevation of 618 metres. It offers a glimpse of both the natural surroundings and the area’s former use by people. This makes the route especially interesting if you’re curious about the relationship between the landscape and human activity; here, too, you should check trail conditions before setting out.
Near Can Pobla is the Forn d’obra de Can Pobla, a brick or building-brick kiln. It lies southeast of the house, on the left-hand side of the path that loops around Can Pobla towards Pla dels Escorpins. At La Mola, a permanent exhibition explores the summit and the historic complex of the Sant Llorenç del Munt monastery. If you’d like to include the exhibition in your plans, check visiting arrangements in advance.
Settlement history and crafts
Matadepera’s history can also be explored through specific places. The original church of Sant Joan de Matadepera, also known as Mata Xica, formed the original centre of a settlement of scattered farmhouses, to the right of the Riera de les Arenes. This paints a picture of a settlement unlike one with a compact town centre: the church was part of a loosely dispersed community.
Lime production is also part of the area’s rural heritage. After viticulture, it became the town’s second most important economic resource. The Forn d’obra near Can Pobla is a reminder of brickmaking, while the lime kiln represents another part of the area’s former economy. The Cova del Frare offers a geological point of interest: it lies in the Sant Llorenç del Munt massif, in the Canal de Can Pobla, and was formed by karst processes in Tertiary conglomerates. Access is difficult.
Festes de Sant Sebastià and Tortell
The Festes de Sant Sebastià are Matadepera’s most important winter festival. Preparations begin on December 26 with the selection of a pine tree, which has been one of the festival’s central elements since 1975. It is then carried to Plaça del Baldiró and set up there. This sequence makes the start of preparations part of the tradition, along with the festival programme that follows.
The programme includes the Ball de l’Arbre, the Ball del Tortell, the giants’ dance, and Sardanas on the Sunday closest to January 20. The Ball de l’Arbre is a circle dance open to everyone, performed around a pine tree set up in the middle of a square. The Tortell de Sant Sebastià also connects the festival season with local food culture: although this typical Matadepera pastry is made throughout the year, it takes on particular importance during the January festival. If you’re planning your trip around the winter festival, check the dates and programme in advance.
Discover more destinations: Vallromanes, Cabrils, Fogars de la Selva, Gaià, La Palma De Cervelló, Mas Ram, Roda De Ter, Castellar del Vallès
For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.
