La Masó offers several ways to discover the town: a neo-Romanesque parish church with a Byzantine dome, an old mill with medieval underground cellars, and agriculture associated with calçots and hazelnuts. You can therefore choose different focuses when planning your trip: architecture and local history sit alongside the area’s agricultural character. The Festa Major d’Estiu and the PR C-1 hiking trail are also useful points of reference for planning.
Church, Bell Tower and Cal Benet
Santa Magdalena is a late-19th-century neo-Romanesque parish church (1890). Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross and comprises three naves and an octagonal crossing surmounted by a dome. With its Byzantine dome, Santa Magdalena is the only temple in the comarca.
The bell tower stands separately from Santa Magdalena. It was built around 1817 and belonged to an earlier building. The church and tower therefore point to different building contexts: the parish church dates from the late 19th century, while the free-standing tower belongs to an earlier complex.
Another point of interest is Cal Benet. The house is considered the oldest in la Masó and an asset of national historical interest. Its doorway is especially striking. This detail complements the larger architectural forms of Santa Magdalena with a single distinctive feature of a historic residence.
The Old Mill and the Templars
The old Molí de la Selva mill preserves well-maintained medieval cellars underground. It is also part of the history of the Templars: the mill belonged to the Templars. At this site, a specific architectural feature and a historical connection come together, although they describe different things.
A historical account identifies the seat of the Templar commandery of Rourell as being in the present-day town centre of la Masó, not in Rourell.
Calçots, Hazelnuts and the Festa Major
La Masó has an agricultural character and is closely associated with hazelnut cultivation. Calçots are also part of this local identity: thousands are grown here, although production volumes may vary. La Masó is one of the leading producing towns in the IGP Calçot de Valls. This offers a different way to discover the area than through its historic buildings: agriculture is not merely a subject in local history, but an essential part of the area’s character today.
Around three-quarters of the agricultural land in la Masó is irrigated, mainly with water from the Francolí. The river also forms much of the eastern municipal boundary.
The Festa Major d’Estiu de La Masó features a mass as well as recreational and cultural events for all age groups. Programmes may change; check the dates and programme for your trip.
Road Connections and Hiking Trail
The connections to the Tarragona–Valls national road (N-240) and the Vilallonga del Camp–Valls local road are useful for navigating the road network. A local road connects la Masó to the N-240 and, via El Rourell, to the Vilallonga del Camp–Valls local road. The road connecting la Masó to the N-240 crosses the Francolí over a bridge. Check current road conditions before travelling.
The PR C-1 hiking route runs from Vallmoll through la Masó to El Rourell. This sequence of places gives you a specific starting point for planning your hike; check trail conditions and waymarking before setting out. Road connections and the hiking route answer different planning questions: one describes links in the road network, the other a route between three towns. You can therefore focus your stay on the options actually mentioned.
Discover more destinations: La Senia, Masdenverge, Horta De Sant Joan, El Milà, Mas de Barberans, Alcover, Siurana, Gandesa
For the broader travel overview: Tarragona.
