Collserola Natural Park

Collserola Natural Park is a park the preserves part of the Serra de Collserola mountains in Barcelona (province) and Barcelona city.

Understand

Collserola is a vast green oasis that provides a serene escape from the bustling city of Barcelona. Covering over 8,000 hectares, it is one of the largest metropolitan parks in the world. Visitors can explore lush forests, picturesque valleys, and diverse flora and fauna. With numerous well-marked trails, it's a paradise for hikers, cyclists, and nature enthusiasts. The park also offers breathtaking panoramic views of Barcelona and the surrounding coastline.

  • 🌍 Collserola Natural Park Visitor Center (Collserola Park Information Office), Carretera de l'Església, 92, . This visitor center provides comprehensive information about Collserola Natural Park, including maps, trail recommendations, and details about the park's flora and fauna. Knowledgeable staff are available to answer questions and assist with trip planning. (updated Sep 2023)

History

Collserola has a rich history dating back centuries. Its name originates from the Latin phrase "Collis Cereoli," meaning "Hill of Cereus." The park's terrain has witnessed human settlements, from ancient Iberian tribes to medieval hermitages. The historic Sant Medir hermitage and Tibidabo amusement park are notable landmarks within the park. In 1987, Collserola was designated as a natural park, preserving its ecological and historical significance.

Landscape

The park's landscape is a captivating blend of Mediterranean vegetation, featuring oak and pine forests, and rugged mountains. The highest peak, Tibidabo, offers panoramic vistas of Barcelona. Collserola's diverse terrain is home to an array of wildlife, including wild boars, foxes, and numerous bird species. The park's watercourses, like the Riera de Vallvidrera, add to its charm. Whether you're seeking tranquility or adventure, Collserola's landscape has something for everyone.

Flora and fauna

Collserola Natural Park is a haven for biodiversity. Its Mediterranean climate nurtures a wide range of plant species, from aromatic herbs like rosemary and thyme to evergreen oaks and Aleppo pines. The park's wildlife is equally impressive, with sightings of red squirrels, European badgers, and elusive wildcats. Birdwatchers will delight in the park's diverse avian population, including Eurasian eagle-owls and Bonelli's eagles. Spring and early summer bring vibrant wildflowers, adding splashes of color to the landscape. Collserola's commitment to conservation ensures the preservation of this rich flora and fauna for generations to come.

Climate

Collserola enjoys a Mediterranean climate, characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The park experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year, making it an ideal destination for outdoor activities. Summers are warm but not excessively hot, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F). Winters are mild, with temperatures rarely dropping below 10°C (50°F). Spring and autumn offer comfortable weather for hiking and exploring the park's natural beauty. Visitors can expect sunny days and occasional rain showers, so it's advisable to check the weather forecast before planning your visit.

Get in

Collserola Natural Park is conveniently accessible from Barcelona. The easiest way to reach the park is by taking public transportation. From the city center, hop on the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) S1 or S2 train lines, which connect directly to park entrances like Vallvidrera, Les Planes, or Baixador de Vallvidrera. The FGC stations are well-connected to the city's metro system, making it a seamless journey. If you prefer to drive, Collserola is accessible via the B-20 highway, with parking facilities available at various points around the park.

Visitors can also opt for guided tours or join local hiking groups for a more immersive experience. Collserola's accessibility ensures that nature lovers can escape the urban hustle and bustle of Barcelona within minutes.

  • 🌍 Tibidabo Cablecar (funicular del Tibidabo), Plaça Doctor Andreu, Barcelona. lower station (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 Tibidabo Cablecar (funicular del Tibidabo), Plaça Tibidabo. upper station (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 Vallvidrera Cablecar (funicular de Vallvidrera), Avinguda de Vallvidrera. lower station (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 Vallvidrera Cablecar (funicular de Vallvidrera), Carrer de les Alberes, Vallvidrera. upper station (updated Feb 2024)

Fees and permits

it's free to enter.

Get around
  • BV-1415 carretera de Cerdanyola
  • Carretera del Cementiri de Collserola
  • BP-1417 carretera de San Cugat a Barcelona or carretera de la Rabassada
  • BV1462 carretera de Vallvidrera
  • BV1468 carretera de Molins de rei a Vallvidrera
  • Carretera de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo

See
  • 🌍 Tibidabo Mountain amusement park, Plaça Tibidabo, 3-4, 08035 Barcelona, ☏ +34 932 117 942. Varies by attraction. Tibidabo is a popular attraction with stunning vistas, an historic amusement park, and the iconic Sagrat Cor church. Ticket prices vary. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Collserola Tower (Torre de Collserola), Carretera de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo, ☏ +34 93 406 9354. Varies by season. An iconic telecommunications tower, accessible by a funicular railway, with an observation deck offering panoramic views of Barcelona The Collserola Tower provides breathtaking views of Barcelona and the surrounding region, along with a unique architectural design. Ticket prices vary. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Can Coll (Environmental Education Center), Ctra. de Cerdanyola, km 2, Valldoreix, ☏ +34 935 803 979. An environmental education center with exhibitions and activities focused on local flora and fauna. Can Coll offers insights into the natural wonders of Collserola through engaging educational programs and exhibits. Free. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Sant Medir Hermitage (Ermita de Sant Medir), Camí de Sant Medir, Valldoreix. The Sant Medir Hermitage offers a tranquil retreat and is a focal point of a colorful local tradition.A picturesque hermitage nestled in the Collserola hills, known for its annual festival in March.Also see Aplec de Sant Medir in #Events Free. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Fabra Observatory (Observatori Fabra), Camí de l'Observatori, s/n, ☏ +34 934 175 736. Observatori Fabra provides a unique opportunity to explore the wonders of the night sky and astronomy. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 La Salut Hermitage (Ermita de la Salut), Riera de la Salut, 08980 Sant Feliu de Llobregat. Also see Aplec de La Salut de Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Aplec de la Salut del Papiol in #Events (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Santa Creu d'Olorda hermitage. Hermitage dated to the 10th century in some parts. Rebuilt in 1619, burned during civil war and restored after that. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Sant Bartomeu de la Quadra Church, Ctra. BV-1468, km 2. Molins de Rei. This church is already mentioned in the 13th century, within the territory of Castell d'Olorda. It was demolished and burned in 1936 and rebuilt in 1947, trying to reproduce the original (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 Sant Iscle i Santa Victòria de les Feixes church. Today it is the chapel of a residence of nuns who occupy the neighboring rectory from the 18th century Can Catà. The first written reference to the church is from the year 995. Its location is near a crossroads that joined Montcada, Horta and Cerdanyola. Also see Aplec de Sant Iscle in #Events (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 Ca n’Oliver Iberian Settlement and Museum (Poblat ibèric de Ca n'Oliver), C/ València, 19. Cerdanyola del Vallès, ☏ +34 93 692 33 22, +34 93 580 45 00. Oct-Mar: Th-Sa 16:30-19:30, Sa Su 10:30-14:30; Apr-Sep: W-F 17:00-20:00, Sa 11:00-14:30 16:30-20:00, Su 10:30-14:30. The settlement of Ca n'Oliver is an aristocratic Iberian settlement that was inhabited between 525 and 50 BC, which is fundamental to understand the organization of the territory of Laietania during the Iberian era. €3, retired & student €2.5. (updated Feb 2024)

Viewpoints
  • 🌍 Mirador d'Occident. 
  • 🌍 Torre del Baró. 
  • 🌍 Mirador de l'Estrella. 
  • 🌍 Mirador de Mundet. 
  • 🌍 Mirador del Portell de Valldaura. 
  • 🌍 Mirador de Cerdanyola. 
  • 🌍 Mirador Maria Gispert. 
  • 🌍 Mirador de Montbau. 
  • 🌍 Mirador de l'Arrabassada. 
  • 🌍 Mirador del parc del Tobidabo. 
  • 🌍 Mirador del Sagrat Cor. 
  • 🌍 Mirador el Modern. 
  • 🌍 Mirador de Sarrià. 
  • 🌍 Mirador del Turó d'en Cors. 
  • 🌍 Mirador dels Xiprers. 
  • 🌍 Mirador de la Penya del Moro. 

Do
  • Hiking or walking the tracks on the parc. The GR92 runs across the full length of the park from nordeast to west.
  • MTB: there are multiple track to follow. MTB in single tracks is restricted.
  • Cycling: la Rabassada and Vallvidrera are much prefered ports among local cylist
  • 🌍 Carretera de les Aigües. Walk or run along the "carretera de les aigues", for breathtaking views over Barcelona city. it goes from one side to the other of Collserola without any climb or descent. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Poni Club Catalunya, Passeig de la Muntanya s/n (Can Vilà), Sant Just Desvern, ☏ +34 93 371 63 64. Horse riding (updated Feb 2024)

Events
  • Aplec de Sant Medir. The Aplec de Sant Medir is celebrated every March 3. In Sant Cugat del Vallès this celebration is dedicated to the co-patron of the town, and it is traditional for villagers to walk to the hermitage. Attendees usually make an offering of a candle to the image of the saint. It is also traditional to distribute beans among the people attending in memory of those cultivated by the saint and which legend claims bring good luck. A large popular lunch is celebrated, the traditional dance of sardanes and giants, and a Human tpwers (Castellers) performance.
  • Aplec de Sant Iscle. This popular meeting is held annually, on the third Sunday of November, in the old Romanesque church of Sant Iscle and Santa Victòria de les Feixes in Cerdanyola del Vallès. In the morning, there are performances of popular dances and, right after, a mass with the traditional distribution of blessed bread, which popular tradition says must be kept to prevent theft. Later, great sardana dance and brotherhood lunch.
  • Aplec de La Salut de Sant Feliu de Llobregat. The gathering is dedicated to Our Lady of Health. Every Whit Monday (Dilluns de Pascua Granada)the villagers go on a pilgrimage to the hermitage located in Collserola carrying the image of the Virgin Mary. One of the most outstanding events of the day is the one that takes place at the end of the solemn mass that is celebrated at noon: the Ball of the Soca, a ritual dance that probably originated in an archaic cult.
  • Aplec de la Salut del Papiol. The Papiol Health gathering is held every second Sunday in September on the esplanade of the Hermitage of Health, located at the foot of Puig Madrona. The hermitage is open every Sunday. There is a night vigil with fellowship dinner and a popular lunch with mass and Sardana dancing.

Buy

Food products

Eat

Picnic areas
  • 🌍 La salut picnic area (Àrea de recreo la Salut de Sant Feliu), Camí de la Salut, Sant Feliu de Llobregat. Picnic area near Ermita de la salut (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Can Coll picnic area (Àrea de recreo Torrent de Can Coll). Picnic area with some itineraries starting from there. (updated Sep 2023)
  • 🌍 Santa Creu d'Olorda picnic area (Àrea de recreo Santa Creu d'Olorda). Picnic area with some itineraries starting from there. (updated Sep 2023)

Drink

Most restaurants in the area also has a bar.

Springs

On long drought episodes water sources may get dry. Also sometimes water is not potable. Check signs on the spring.

  • 🌍 Font Nova de Canyelles. Documented since 11th century, restored in 1992. (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 Font d'en Ribes. It is a modernist font with a white background, floral decoration in pink, borders and signs in blue and moldings in green. (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 Font de Can Borni. The source is from a mine, abundant fresh water flows continuously throughout the year (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 Font de la Budellera. it is the most popular source of those conserved in the Serra de Collserola Natural Park. The water comes out of the mouth of a relief of a face embedded in a large wall. The front of the fountain and the pool are under large vaults covered with vegetation. The environment is made up of three very wide terraces, connected by exposed stone stairs (updated Feb 2024)

Sleep

The best is to look for lodging in Barcelona city, as this park is accesible with public transportation.

  • 🌍 Gran Hotel La Florida, Carretera del Tibidabo 83, Barcelona. luxury hotel (updated Feb 2024)
  • 🌍 INOUT Hostel Barcelona, Carrer Major del Rectoret, 2, Barcelona (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat line S1 or S2 towards Sabadell or Terrassa and get off at the Baixador de Vallvidrera stop. Take the 'Barri del Rectoret' exit and follow the road up to the Hostel), ☏ +34 932 800 985. €30. (updated Feb 2024)

Stay safe
  • There are a lot of wild boar around. do not feed them.
  • Some time there are wild boar hunting activities to keep population at reasonable levels. Be careful and avoid the hunting area. Areas are well signaled.

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