Only five people live in this beautiful Priory town. It is the point where the GR 174 ends and has a shelter for the Tarragona Hiking Center, a rural house and two houses for tourist use.
In Albarca there is an association of residents and owners. It has also been the headquarters from where Carrutxa works in research and dissemination of the cultural heritage of the Serra de Montsant. Examples are the realization of programs of the Inventory of the Ethnological Heritage of Catalonia, promoted by the Center for the Promotion of Popular and Traditional Catalan Culture of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia or the collaboration with the Serra Natural Park of Montsant. The town has published, since 1995, the magazine La Carxana, with an annual frequency, dedicated to the dissemination of the history and cultural heritage of Albarca and the surrounding towns. The town celebrates its recovered feast day for Our Lady of August, with a traditional game of bowling and the gathering of Our Lady of Montsant, on the 17th. The old winter feast day, for Sant Vicent, has stopped celebrating. The custom of going to the Hermitage of Our Lady of Montsant for Sant Jordi is preserved, following an old village vow.
Albarca has, in different versions, been present on the web since 1996. It is probably the smallest Catalan population with an online presence. For some years it was a meeting point for Internet users.
The best reason to propose a visit to Albarca is the extraordinary panorama that can be seen on both sides of the town. On one side, the Ulldemolins valley, with the Llena mountain range in the background; on the other the Serra de la Gritella with Siurana - surrounded by cliffs - at the end. And still, behind, you can see the Puig de Gallicant.
Albarca is the starting point for numerous excursions. You can go up to Montsant, along the old horse-drawn path and go to the Hermitage of the Virgin Mary or towards the Serra Major. Plan towards the hermitages of Ulldemolins, on the one hand, or follow old Carthusian paths, on the other, towards Sant Joan del Codolar and La Morera de Montsant, or follow the trail towards Cornudella or Ulldemolins. In the village you will find the mountain refuge, which offers bar service. There is very little water. Currently, work is being done on the water supply to the village. Meanwhile there is a single public fountain in Plaça del Castell.
Translated by Google •
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