The present-day Santa Margarida church, a historic livestock trail and the Ruta dels Xops offer different perspectives on Cantallops. The building, the place name and a legend provide glimpses into the past, while municipal route information describes a trail for walking and cycling through vineyards, peach orchards and woodland. You can decide whether to focus your trip on local traditions or an outdoor route.
Santa Margarida and the History of the Town
The present-day Santa Margarida church in Cantallops was built in 1975. It is a circular place of worship on Cap de Grill. Its year of construction and shape provide two specific points of reference for understanding the building’s architecture. The place name Cantallops is associated with the name “Campo de Lupis”; the first documented mention of this name dates back to 991. The origins of the name and the construction history of the present-day church building thus stand alongside each other as distinct historical points of reference.
The Festa Major is associated with 2 October, or with a celebration lasting three or four days around Santa Teresa or the 12 October feast. If this celebration is a deciding factor for your trip, check the exact dates before travelling.
Historic Routes and Local Traditions
The carrerada de Cerdanya was an important historic passage through Cantallops. It is a livestock trail, offering a different perspective on local history from the church building or the origins of the place name.
Another local tradition is the legend of the Queen of Cantallops. It links the place name to a queen’s overnight stay at La Cotxeria, during which wolves howled in the nearby mountains. As a legend, this story differs from the carrerada, which is described as a historic livestock trail. The two topics therefore offer different perspectives: a traditional tale and a historic connection to livestock routes.
Ruta dels Xops: On Foot or by Bicycle
A municipal route bulletin from July 2015 describes the Ruta dels Xops, also known as the green route, as a trail through Cantallops that can be used on foot or by bicycle. It passes through vineyards, peach orchards and the wooded area of Plana d'en Bord. A municipal tourism guide rates it as easy and gives its length as 5.8 km, with an elevation gain of 153 m.
The distance and elevation gain can help you assess the route for your own plans; the “easy” rating provides another useful point of reference. Trail conditions and signage may change. Check both before setting out.
Scenery and Getting There
The catchment area of AvinyĂł, Xops and Sant SebastiĂ dels Gorgs begins beside Cantallops, where it is called Torrent Gran. At the Santa Margarida ford, the watercourses enter dense woodland and form several pools. These two details describe different aspects of the landscape: a catchment area with a local name and watercourses near the ford.
Cantallops lies on the main road to Vilafranca. When travelling there, it is worth checking current traffic conditions and possible roadworks, as both can change. Your travel plans should therefore take account of both the road route and conditions on the Ruta dels Xops, which may also change.
Discover more destinations: Sant Joan DespĂ, Torrelletes, Fals, Moia, AvinyĂł, Castellbell I El Vilar, Argentona, La Llacuna
For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.
