Savassona Protected Natural Area

The Les Guilleries-Savassona Natural Area occupies an area of 8,300 hectares in the eastern region of Osona, in Central Catalonia. More specifically, it extends across the municipalities of Folgueroles, Sant Julià de Vilatorta, Tavèrnoles and Vilanova de Sau. This mountainous landscape is studded with Central European and Mediterranean forests, typically of holm oak, pine and oak, which share the area with a large proportion of farmland.

The Les Guilleries Massif, the Savassona mountains and part of the Collsacabra Mountain Range are the three major masses that form the Les Guilleries-Savassona Natural Area. The Les Guilleries have typically more rounded forms, with plenty of hills, ridges and hollows. El Faig Verd (1,187 metres) can be found here, the highest peak in the Natural Area.

The plains known as the Vilanova de Sau Valley separate the Les Guilleries from Savassona and its sheer cliffs. Cliffs are also a defining feature of the Collsacabra natural area: the so-called Cingles de Tavertet suddenly thrust up to 400 metres in height.

The Sau Reservoir is another of the most characteristic elements in the Les Guilleries-Savassona Natural Area, with the bell tower of the Sant Romà de Sau Hermitage eerily rising above its waters. The cultural wealth of this area can be seen in the many prehistoric, Iberian (Casol de Puigcastellet, 2-3 BC) and especially Romanesque remains. The main constructions from this latter period can be seen in the Malfogassa Bridge, Sant Llorenç del Munt Castle and the Hermitages at Sant Feliuet de Savassona, Sant Andreu de Bancells and Santa Maria de Vallclara.

Also well worth mentioning are the many farmhouses that exist in the area. The construction of a large number of them took part in the 17th and 18th centuries and perfectly embody the history of the inhabitants here.
The principal sporting activities on offer in the Les Guilleries-Savassona Natural Area range from watersports on the Sau Reservoir, mountain bike routes from the Vall de Sau-Collsacabra Mountain Biking Centre, to walking and other cliff activities, such as climbing or hot-air ballooning.