Escaladei brings together the Cartoixa d'Escaladei, two circular walks of different lengths and difficulty levels, and a five-hour visit to Cellers de Scala Dei. This makes it possible to focus on monastery history, exercise or wine as different aspects of a stay. The Cartoixa lies at the bottom of a valley sheltered by the Serra de Montsant. The landscape, monastery and La Pietat walk, which starts at the complex, provide concrete starting points for planning.
The Cartoixa and its history
The Cartoixa d'Escaladei was founded in 1194 and was the first Carthusian monastery on the Iberian Peninsula. These two facts provide a clear chronological and historical framework for the monastery’s history: its founding year is specified, as is its status as the first monastery of its kind on the peninsula.
The architectural remains include the exterior areas of three cloisters, the church, the refectory and a meticulously reconstructed monk’s cell. This means several parts of the monastery can be seen alongside the reconstructed room of a single monk. The audiovisual installation «El silencio eterno» is located in the Fathers’ Chapter House. The virtual reality experience «Els Ulls de la Història» presents episodes from the past from the perspective of a Carthusian monk. If this VR experience is important to your plans, check the latest visitor information before your visit.
Comparing two circular walks
La Pietat is an easy, 2.3-kilometre circular walk in Escaladei, with 145 metres of elevation gain and a stated duration of one hour. It starts in front of the Cartoixa d'Escaladei and follows an old water tunnel. Along the way, it explores the monastery’s water collection and distribution system, as well as the related heritage of the underground water channel. The route thus connects the monastery complex with a specific technical aspect of its history.
Coves Roges – Itinerari Geològic is also a circular walk in Escaladei, but it is different in scale: it is of moderate difficulty, 6.7 kilometres long and has 289 metres of elevation gain. Its stated duration is two hours and 15 minutes. The two circular routes can therefore be distinguished by their listed difficulty and duration: La Pietat is the easier, shorter option; Coves Roges is the longer, moderately difficult route. These different figures help you choose a walk to fit your preferred timeframe.
A wine visit with several activities
At Cellers de Scala Dei in Escaladei, a five-hour vineyard visit includes breakfast, wine tastings in historic vineyards, lunch featuring local produce at Masdeu, at an altitude of over 650 metres, and a final visit to the winery. The programme combines tastings with meals and a winery visit, making it a distinct, clearly timed option alongside the walks. As booking details may change, check them before making plans.
Getting there
From Reus, you can reach Escaladei via the C-242 and then the T-702 through Poboleda. From Cornudella, the TV-7021 leads to Escaladei via la Morera de Montsant. For route planning, start from your chosen departure point and select the appropriate one of these two connections.
Discover more destinations: La Torre De Fontaubella, Blancafort, Sarral, L'Argentera, Capafonts, DuesaigĂĽes, Renau, Godall
For the broader travel overview: Tarragona.
