In Joanetes, cultural history and hiking country come together with clearly distinct focuses: Sant Romà is a Romanesque religious building, Can Trona is dedicated to Vall d'en Bas, and a circular route leads from Joanetes to Puigsacalm. This gives you three specific interests to consider when planning: historic architecture, the geological formation of the region, and a hike with a named summit as its destination.
Sant Romà and a local Christmas tradition
The church of Sant Romà in Joanetes has been documented since the 12th century. The original façade, transverse arches and baptismal font have been preserved in this Romanesque religious building. These specific architectural features add detail to its architectural classification: alongside the description “Romanesque,” they identify elements that give us a tangible sense of the building’s history.
Another cultural connection is the Pessebre Vivent de Joanetes, a Christmas activity. It began in the mid-1980s, when schoolchildren performed a short play in the garden of the church’s rectory. Thus, alongside the history of a religious building, there is also the story of how a local Christmas performance began. The two topics are distinct: Sant Romà is about preserved architecture, while the Pessebre Vivent is about the beginnings of a local tradition.
Can Trona and the formation of Vall d'en Bas
The Ecomuseum is Can Trona’s permanent exhibition space, located at Passatge de Can Trona 26 in Joanetes. As an interpretation centre, it focuses on Vall d'en Bas; a three-minute audiovisual presentation is available at the entrance. One focus is geology: it explains how volcanic eruptions more than 100,000 years ago contributed to the geological formation of the fertile Vall d'en Bas. This offers a distinct perspective on the history of the landscape alongside Joanetes’ historic buildings. Check visiting arrangements before you arrive.
Hiking to Puigsacalm
A 10.6 km circular hiking route leads from Joanetes to the summit of Puigsacalm. The route follows the Camí dels Ganxos Nous trail to Santa Magdalena del Mont. The Puigsacalm massif lies within the “Puigsacalm-Bellmunt” protected area. The route description also mentions sections equipped with steps, as well as some airy, exposed stretches. These details give the trail a specific character that you can take into account when choosing your hike. As the condition of the trail infrastructure may change, check the latest conditions before setting out.
The differences can help you decide what to focus on: Sant Romà and Can Trona represent two distinct cultural topics, while the circular route offers a named hiking destination with specific route features. This can help you decide whether architecture, regional geology or hiking should be the main focus of your trip.
Getting to Can Trona
Can Trona is accessible via TEISA public transport between Barcelona and Vall d'en Bas; there is a stop in the La Serra industrial estate. If you plan to use this service to get there, check the latest timetable before departure.
Discover more destinations: Riudarenes, Brunyola, Bàscara, Bordils, Sant Julià De Ramis, Flaçà, Vall-Llobrega, Das
For the broader travel overview: Girona.
