Once upon a time… There was a little village where time seemed to stand still: Saldes. A fairytale village with a special magic that you could easily feel when you were there. But here is the best part of the story: this village is real and we highly recommend you to visit!
And before visiting, here is all you need to know to make the most of this trip to one of the most magical villages in Catalonia.
Located at the Pedraforca feet
The most magic and iconic mountain in Catalonia, Pedraforca, can be easily seen from almost any location in Saldes. And it is probably the mysticism of this mountain which gives Saldes a plus of mystery. Because how magic is this sunset, with the sun waking up the mountain slowly, with the village of Saldes witnessing this beautiful performance?
A fairytale village of 283 inhabitants
Saldes, located in the comarca of Berguedà, is a little village with only 283 inhabitants. Most of the territory is included in the natural park “Cadí-Moixeró”. A fairytale village, especially for mountain lovers.
Things to do in Saldes:
This village has a lot to offer to its visitors. Besides feeling a special connection with nature and people, these are some of the activities that you can enjoy:
Visit Centre Astronòmic del Pedraforca
This was a beautiful experience! The view of the clear skies at night from the Centre Astronòmic del Pedraforca is an activity that we highly recommend. Salvador Puigmartí, a passionate biologist, guides you to the secrets of the universe through a planetarium first, and then using the lunar telescopes. Science, nature and fun!
Hike to Castell de Saldes
This is a nice hike that will take you from the village of Saldes to the Castell de Saldes, a castle which dates back to the XI century. It has been declared as a Cultural Asset of National Interest. If you love visiting castles, you can’t miss the article Favorite castles near Barcelona.
Explore bars and cafeterias to get to know the local life
It is one of our favorite ways to explore a culture: visiting cafeterias! In Saldes you will find a traditional bakery “Forn el Roure” where you can try some local homemade pastries and you can also have breakfast. And some restaurants and local bars where to try traditional Catalan food and also get to know the people and the culture of this mountain village.
Climb the top of Pedraforca
It is probably the most iconic mountain in Catalonia, and many adventurers reach the summit of this mountain. It is not one of the easiest summits, so we highly recommend checking the weather conditions before enrolling in the adventure, and even have the help of a professional guide.
Visit a beautiful village nearby: Gósol
If you are staying in Saldes, we recommend also visiting another beautiful village nearby which is only a 15 minute drive from Saldes: Gósol. It is also a little village, with 422 inhabitants, which was also home to one of the most famous Spanish painters: Pablo Picasso.
And if after visiting Saldes and Gósol, you want to discover other beautiful mountain villages, Camprodon, Setcases or Castellar de n’Hugh will make for a great mountain weekend trip as well!