Valls combines a strong Castells tradition with architectural history, collections spanning different periods, and the centuries-old Calçotada. Cultural venues, recurring events, and a route through the western part of the municipality offer a range of different focuses. Whether you are more interested in Castells, architecture, local produce, or spending time outdoors, these themes are clearly distinct from one another.

Castells and cultural venues

Valls is considered the birthplace of Castells. Plaça del Blat is regarded as kilometre zero of the Castells world; today, the Colla Joves and Colla Vella del Xiquets de Valls perform there. This gives the tradition a specific local connection: it is linked to a named square and two particular groups. The Museu Casteller de Catalunya is devoted exclusively to Castells and teaches visitors about their essence and values in an engaging way.

Espai Gerhard offers a different cultural experience. Six explanatory tours and six musical explorations introduce visitors to the work of an internationally renowned Catalan composer. While the Castells tradition is at the heart of the Museu Casteller, Espai Gerhard combines explanatory and musical approaches. If you plan to take one of these tours, check the current programme, as details may change.

The Museu de Valls has a Catalan art collection spanning 120 years. Its holdings also include an archaeological collection relating to the Iberian world. It comes mainly from the archaeological sites of the Fonstcaldes kiln and the Vilar de Valls settlement and is available to researchers.

Architectural history and remembrance

The Església de Sant Joan is a late Gothic religious building with a Renaissance façade, built in the 16th century. Its 74-metre-high bell tower is the tallest bell tower of a parish church in all of Catalonia and offers views over Camp de Tarragona. A guided tour of the church includes a climb up the bell tower. Tours are available by reservation; groups are limited to 20 people. Check reservation options in advance, as arrangements may change.

The Capella del Roser is medieval in origin and protected as a Bé Cultural d'Interès Nacional. Inside are glazed tiles from the 17th century depicting the Battle of Lepanto. Valls thus brings together different art and architectural history: a late Gothic religious building with a Renaissance façade, and a chapel whose glazed tiles depict a historical event.

The Refugi antiaeri air-raid shelter adds the history of the Spanish Civil War to these themes. It was built during the war, and its galleries lie about nine metres underground. The Refugi is part of the Generalitat de Catalunya’s Memorial Democràtic.

Calçotada and recurring events

The Calçotada is a centuries-old gastronomic tradition in which calçots are cooked on a grill. In Valls, the Gran Festa de la Calçotada takes place every year on the last Sunday in January and attracts thousands of people. If you want to plan your trip around this festival, check the specific date for your travel year.

Another tradition celebrated annually is the Tres Tombs, held in honour of Saint Anthony. Animals make three circuits around the centre of Valls. The two recurring events therefore have different focuses: the Gran Festa de la Calçotada centres on the gastronomic tradition, while the Tres Tombs centres on the animals’ three circuits.

“Sabores de Valls” is a gastronomic route featuring food and products from Valls. It broadens the focus from a single festival to a wider selection of local products. As participating products and the format may change, it is worth checking the current offering before making plans.

A route through the western part of the municipality

The Ruta del Pont de Goi runs through the western part of the municipality of Valls. It leads to the Granja de Doldellops, the area around the Francolí River, and the historic site of Pont de Goi. The route thus connects several named destinations and landscapes along its described course. Trail conditions may change, so bear this in mind when planning your route.

Discover more destinations: Ardenya, Pira, Albinyana, Bot, Riudoms, La Bisbal Del Penedès, Deltebre, L'aleixar

For the overview of the wider area: Tarragona.