Colldejou sits on a sunny hillside, surrounded by lush forests, dry farmland and a few gardens. Behind the village rise El Rei, La Reina, the Mola de Colldejou and the Mola de Llaberia. The Mola de Colldejou reaches 921 metres and offers sweeping views of the sea, the surrounding plains and mountain ranges. The village landscape thus brings together a distinctive mountain and a village with its own architectural history.
Landscape and hiking trails
The municipality has selected eleven hiking routes along local trails. They lead, among other places, to the Mola, to springs and over mountain passes. When planning your days, you can use these destinations as a guide and check current trail conditions with the municipality before setting out.
At a regional level, the Serra de Llaberia-Colldejou natural area structurally connects the mountains of Prades and CardĂł. Its varied landscape includes the typical limestone mountain terrain of southern Catalonia, as well as some areas of siliceous mountains. Its notable vegetation and invertebrate wildlife also shape the description of this larger natural area. The regional context adds to the picture of Colldejou; the local trails and the Mola remain practical reference points for planning your own trip.
Village history and architecture
The parish church is dedicated to Sant Llorenç, was built in the 18th century and is in the Baroque style. It has a single nave, with three side chapels on each side. The bell tower also displays a clear change in shape: it is square up to the height of the side wall, then octagonal above. Several houses of medieval origin are very well preserved in Colldejou.
There are also fortifications at two different locations. On the summit of the Mola are the remains of a fort built during the Carlist Wars. In the village, remnants of the defensive walls that once enclosed it have been preserved.
The mountain’s former uses are also part of its history: the Mola’s holm oak slopes were used extensively for charcoal production, and the pastures on the summit were highly valued by shepherds. These historic activities offer another perspective on the landscape, which today stands out for its ridgelines and viewpoints.
Festivals and local cuisine
Sant Isidre is celebrated in Colldejou on 15 May. If the day falls on a weekday, the celebration is moved to the weekend. The festivities include a procession, the blessing of the fields, sardanas and a shared meal; individual events may vary from one edition to the next. The date is therefore a useful starting point for planning, while the programme for that year should be checked separately.
The Clotxa Festival offers another glimpse of local food culture: a public lunch featuring a traditional field meal. In the past, farmers ate this dish while working in the fields. It consists of round bread, tomato, onion and roasted garlic, as well as herring and sausage. Colldejou’s giants’ gathering takes place every year one week before the festival of Sant Llorenç, the village’s patron saint, and is connected with the local tradition of giants.
Getting to Colldejou
The described road route from Tarragona follows the A-7 towards CastellĂł to exit 1138 at Mont-roig del Camp; continue from there on the T-323 and T-322. From Reus, the route follows the T-310 towards Riudoms to Mont-roig del Camp, then continues on the T-322. As road routes may change due to operational circumstances, check the directions before setting off.
Discover more destinations: El MilĂ , L'ametlla De Mar, El Papiolet, L'Argentera, Ardenya, Guialmons, Vila-Seca De Solcina, Blancafort.
For the main travel overview: Tarragona.
