There is an ancient and widespread tradition of olive oil in Catalonia. In order to better understand all the secrets, the cooperatives and wineries of the towns where this thousand-year old tradition continues, invite you to visit them and go on a journey through the olive oil culture. Welcome to olive oil tourism. Get ready to enjoy olive oil.
Olive oils ‘affected’ by the Tramuntana wind
Olive trees from L’Empordà are different. The strength of the tramuntana wind forces the trees to twist to remain standing giving the olives a special flavour. We have a route to propose so that you can enjoy the scents, flavours and landscapes sculpted by the tramuntana: take the car and head for Castelló d’Empúries in order to enjoy all that the Alt Empordà has to offer in a radius of 25km. Taste the olive oils from the cooperatives in the area and enjoy a spot of culture by visiting the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres or the painter’s house in Portlligat, Cadaqués. You will also be able to discover the offers of the new wine cellars of D.O. Empordà and enjoy gastronomic dishes made from local products. Be careful not to be blown away by the wind.
The olive trees in the shade of Montserrat
Collbató has been the gateway to Montserrat for centuries, one of the most important cultural and spiritual centres in Catalonia, and it is also the land of olive trees. During a weekend, you will be able to visit the corners of this villa, following the olive oil route. The experience leads you to a tasting of original olive oil from Collbató and walk through the historic old town that includes a visit to the artisan workshop of Blancfort pipe organs and the house where the musician Amadeu Vives was born, the city’s illustrious son. Enjoy a good virgin olive oil with views of the magic mountain!
Olive oil with designation of origin from Spain’s Costa Daurada
The Masroig winery opens its doors for you to taste its olive olive oils. They are made from 100% arbequina olives with Protected ‘Siruana’ Designation of Origin , one of the five olive oil D.O.P. which Catalonia has. A walk through its olive groves, its vineyards and its windmill is a perfect marriage of traditional countryside and agriculture. During the guided tour, you will be able to enjoy an olive oil tasting which includes both filtered olive oil and ‘first press’ olive oil. This first press of the season is of a higher density and a bit cloudy… but exquisite! You can also enjoy D.O. wine. Montsant, which the Masroig winery also produces.
Thousand-year old tasting in the Terres de l’Ebre
In Ulldecona, at the Arión estate, stands the largest concentration of millennium-old olive trees in the world. There are almost 200 of them, one of which is more than 1,700 years old. This is home to the Arion Natural Museum of Olive trees, where you can see almost forty thousand-year old olive trees. You will be able to sample the thousand-year old, single-variety olive oil and visit its facilities. And after that, we propose a dose of culture and history of Ulldecona town. Firstly, a visit to the walled enclosure of the medieval castle and its ruins. And later, a short excursion to the Godall mountain range, to the Shelters of the Ermita de la Pietat, a cave where a large number of cave paintings of great quality are hidden, declared UNESCO World Heritage site. And all that in just one day!
Iberian olive oil in Arbeca
Before getting started, we make a stop in the agro-store of the tourist office and at the windmills of the Cooperative and Ca l’Argilés de Arbeca in order to taste a good arbequina olive oil. Once we have regained our strength, it is time for the guided tour to the Fortress, this town’s Iberian site. You will be taken aback by its magnitude and by the moat that surrounds it. This place, built 2,800 years ago, is unique in the Catalan Iberian world and was the work of the ilergets, one of the most significant peoples of the Iberian world, since they controlled a large of the current districts of Segrià, La Noguera, L’Urgell, Les Garrigues and the eastern lands of Aragon. And if you want the perfect finish to your weekend, we recommend a tasting of D.O. wine. Costers del Segre at the Vinya els Vilars wine cellar and nice walk in the area surrounding the Arbeca castle, which has 365 windows, one for every day of the year.
Much more than just olive oil tourism through the Terres de Lleida
Tasting the olive oil from the Terres de Lleida is in this case the perfect excuse to head out this weekend. And there are many more activities on offer. In Os de Balaguer take a guided tour of the olive oil mill and the medieval castle and a 4×4 excursion to Balma dels Vilars and enjoy its cave paintings. You will be also be able to observe the stars at the Montsec de Àger Astronomy Park. And in Agramunt, a triple guided tour of the Espai Guinovart centre of contemporary art, the air-raid shelter at the Santa María Roman Church and the Nougat and Chocolate Museum. You can also enjoy a Ratafia or wine tasting in the artisan wineries in the area. A full-on weekend.
