Around L'Esquirol, the Riera de les Gorgues shapes the landscape with pools, meanders, and waterfalls; historic paths and religious buildings also tell the story of the area. L'Esquirol is considered a natural route, or gateway, to Collsacabra. For your trip to Santa Maria de Corcó, culture and nature are therefore two distinct areas of interest to choose from.
Local history between an inn and a historic path
The original center of L'Esquirol developed around the former Hostal de l'Esquirol inn, now called Mas el Perai. In the 15th century, the settlement grew along the historic road from Vic to Olot. The origins of the settlement and the road therefore form part of the same historical context. The town's textile tradition is also part of its history: it continued until the end of the 20th century. This brings the timeline from the town's development along the road to the more recent past of its textile tradition.
Traces from different periods
The Pont de la Gorga de l'Esquirol is a medieval bridge with two arches of unequal size; it was apparently built around 1352. The Dolmen de Puigsespedres offers a glimpse into another period: this Neolithic megalithic tomb lies at the edge of L'Esquirol, on the historic road from Vic to Olot. The church of Sant Julià de Cabrera dates from 1050 and preserves two apses from the original building. The megalithic tomb, church, and bridge offer different forms and periods to explore as part of the area's cultural history. If you are particularly interested in architectural history and early settlement, you can consider these sites as different points of interest rather than limiting your visit to a single period.
Water, rock, and landscape
The natural attractions also differ markedly in character. Around L'Esquirol, the Riera de les Gorgues forms pools, meanders, and waterfalls. Barra de Ferro, an 80-meter-high cliff face, lies along the Riera de la Gorga. At Cantonigròs, La Foradada features a gorge with a waterfall where the water flows over a pool beside a large opening in the rock face. The options therefore range from river formations to a striking cliff face and a gorge with an opening in the rock. This makes the natural attractions distinct from one another rather than reducing them to the same landscape experience.
Plan routes and travel
A description of Circuit Inclusiu 12 L'Esquirol published in 2015 lists three route options of approximately 8, 3, and 3 kilometers. They all lead to places of particular natural and scenic interest in the municipality. The distances provide a concrete comparison of route lengths: alongside the longer option, there are two approximately equally short alternatives. The municipality's description of Route 2 gives the starting point as the center of Santa Maria de Corcó – l'Esquirol, in front of the parish church. Check the route information in this older description locally before setting out.
The municipal transport page lists a Barcelona–Vic route via Manlleu, Sant Martí Sescorts, L'Esquirol – Santa Maria de Corcó, Cantonigròs, Rupit, and Pruit. Check the current timetable with the operator for your travel dates. This keeps the choice of what to focus on and travel planning as two separate decisions: local history and landscapes can help shape your visit, while the connection should be checked for the actual day of travel.
Discover more destinations: Sant Iscle De Vallalta, Ca l'Avi, Piera, Montclar, Monistrol De Calders, Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Sant Sadurní D'osormort, Garraf
For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.
