The Coves de l’Espluga de Francolí run beneath the town centre. Alongside the museum route, visitors interested in the caves can also choose another experience: the Ruta d’Aventura follows the underground river upstream and brings the cave’s geological formations to life. Availability may vary; check whether it is offered during your stay before you travel. A Palaeolithic sanctuary dating back around 37,000 years, with more than 300 engravings, was also discovered in L' Espluga de Francolí.
Caves, the old town and historic tours
The Ruta Templera i Hospitalera offers a different perspective on the town’s history. This tour through the old town is designed as a guided experience using virtual-reality headsets. It takes you on a journey into 14th-century L' Espluga. Since dates may change, it is worth checking the schedule in advance. This makes it easier to plan the guided historical experience as part of your stay.
The Ruta del Pessebre Vivent is open year-round and free to explore. It passes through restored houses and rooms used for the Pessebre Vivent of L' Espluga de Francolí. Rather than a guided journey into an earlier era, the focus here is on walking through these restored places. Route details may change, so check them before your visit.
Rural heritage and wine-making tradition
The Museu Terra showcases the tangible and intangible heritage of rural life before the Second Industrial Revolution. Its collection connects this history with questions about the present and visions of more sustainable futures. The museum offers four self-guided tours: La capsa de l'àvia, El joc de pistes, Dones d'aigua and Gimcana digital. These distinct titles give you concrete ideas to help choose your own route, without having to join a guided group.
The town’s architectural and production history are also part of its story. The Celler Modernista was built in 1913 and is also known as the “Catedral del Vi”. At the end of a visit, guests can sample traditional wine a doll from a Porró. Another historic production site is the Fassina Balanyà, a 19th-century distillery that produced Aguardiente. Together, the two sites showcase different aspects of the local history of wine and spirits, while offering distinct types of visits.
Festivals, performances and hiking
The Fira de Sant Vicenç combines a fixed place in the annual calendar with a long history. It takes place on the fourth weekend of January, though the date may shift slightly from year to year. Its history spans more than 450 years: it began in 1565 as an agricultural trade fair in L' Espluga de Francolí. Today, the programme includes local products and crafts, as well as workshops, exhibitions, conferences and concerts. If you would like to plan your stay around the fair, check the specific date for that year.
Other events offer their own highlights: the Festa de la Verema i de la DO Conca de Barberà takes place on the last weekend of August and includes tastings hosted by wineries from the comarca. The Carnaval de l’Espluga de Francolí features the Rua de les Mil Disfresses, the school carnival and the burial of the sardine, among other events; the carnival is tied to the Easter calendar. Casalet Kids is a recurring family programme featuring theatre, music, clown performances, puppetry, cinema and storytelling. Performances take place at the Casal or Casalet theatres; the programme runs from January to March and from October to December.
The Revetlla de Sant Joan also has its own local tradition: historically, L' Espluga de Francolí was one of the distribution points for the Flama del Canigó, and the local relay race has been held for more than 25 years. For an active stay, there is the organised Caminada de l’Espluga a Prades: this walking event follows hiking trails for around 21 kilometres, with 840 metres of elevation gain, and has been running for more than 25 years. These figures give you a concrete basis for distinguishing a hiking-focused stay from visits to museums, caves or festivals.
Discover more destinations: Bellvei, Roquetes, Poboleda, Montbrió Del Camp, Camp-Redó, Arbolí, Poblet, El Pont D'armentera
For the broader travel guide: Tarragona.
