Aiguamúrcia is a small village on the banks of the Gaià. Monastic history, protected nature and trails through the landscape give a trip here a variety of focuses: you can explore medieval architecture, spend time outdoors, or include wine and festival culture in your plans.
Monastic history and architecture
The Reial Monestir de Santes Creus was founded on the Gaià in 1160. Until 1835, it was the centre of an influential monastic estate. Particularly striking is the 14th-century cloister, considered the first Gothic cloister of the Crown of Aragon. Today's centre of Aiguamúrcia grew up around medieval buildings by the river, complementing the monastery's history with the story of the village's development.
The Romanesque castle of L’Albà, designated a Cultural Asset of National Interest, is also part of the area's cultural heritage. A Modernist cooperative winery designed by the architect Cèsar Martinell stands in Aiguamúrcia. Another winery designed by Martinell is located at the entrance to Santes Creus. Two monumental cypress trees stand at the Palau de l’Abat in Santes Creus. Together with the cloister and historic buildings, these places show the variety of architectural and landscape features in the municipality.
Selma is also one of the area's historic places: the abandoned village is noted for its valuable remains. The building of Sant Cristòfol de Selma is now abandoned and partly in ruins. Visitors interested in historic sites will find evidence here in a markedly different state of preservation alongside the monastery architecture.
River landscape, nature and trails
The Albereda de Santes Creus covers twelve hectares and is designated by the Generalitat as a natural area of special interest. A different perspective on the landscape is offered by Aiguamúrcia's public trail network, which extends for more than 200 kilometres. The described walking routes pass through villages, by farmhouses and to castles within the municipality. This means you can focus your stay on more than individual buildings: trails and rural heritage offer their own focus when planning a trip.
The Les Planes plateau lies on the banks of the Gaià between Alió, Vila-rodona, Aiguamúrcia, El Pont d’Armentera and Pla de Santa Maria. This area, which extends across several municipalities, is distinguished by its high concentration of dry-stone structures. This broader geographical context is of interest if you are interested in rural heritage and want to explore the area beyond a single place.
Wine, festivals and regional themes
VITIS Aiguamúrcia is a recurring food and wine event. The fourth edition, in 2024, included a tasting fair featuring wines, cavas, cheeses, cured meats, and carob and nut products. A programme for the 2025 edition was planned for 7–9 November, with wine culture, local heritage and artistic creativity at its heart. These editions show the event's different focuses; check the specific dates before your trip.
Events also shape the year in Pla de Manlleu. The Mostra de gastronomia i vins d’alçada takes place there on a Saturday afternoon in July. The Aplec de Sant Miquel is celebrated on a Sunday in May at the Sant Miquel hermitage. The small Romanesque chapel is designated a local Cultural Asset of Special Interest. A forest path leads from the small settlement of Pla de Manlleu to the chapel; check current trail conditions and the event date before visiting.
Trip planning and finding hotels
If you would like to include wine and regional products, you can also take event dates into account. This lets you tailor your hotel search to your travel interests without assuming a fixed itinerary for every visit.
The Santes Creus tourist office takes reservations and provides information about attractions in Alt Camp and along the Ruta del Cister. Check opening hours in advance, as they may change. On the GR175, the Ruta del Cister, there is a checkpoint in Santes Creus in front of the former Pere-el-Gran hostel; it is also advisable to check the current regulations for this.
Discover more destinations: Santes Creus, Les Pobles, El Pla De Manlleu, Miravet, Albarca, Els Pallaresos, Poblet, Pratdip.
For the broader travel overview: Tarragona.
