Vilanova de la Sal: Saltworks and a Medieval Village Setting

Vilanova de la Sal combines a village setting shaped by the Middle Ages with a history of salt production and named walking and mountain biking routes. The preserved entrance gate, the Sotinyes and the Salí de Privà offer different points of interest: architectural traces, a former use of a spring, and routes for two types of activity. If you would like to combine cultural history and exercise on your trip, you will find specific topics here to help plan your visit.

Saltworks and Medieval Traces

The Salí de Privà was a saltworks fed by a saltwater spring. The former salt production was therefore tied to a specific natural resource: spring water containing salt. This connection between the spring and its use is a distinct aspect of the village’s history and differs from the architectural features that Vilanova has also preserved.

These features include one of the village’s medieval entrance gates. Sotinyes have also been preserved; they are considered characteristic of the medieval appearance of Vilanova de la Sal. Together, the gate and the Sotinyes make the village’s historical character tangible through specific features. Anyone interested in the past of a place will find architectural clues here, alongside the history of the saltworks, inviting them to explore for themselves.

Routes for Different Activities

Bosc de Privà is a circular mountain biking route. It starts and ends at the reception point of the Les Avellanes monastery. Its circular format gives the ride a clear structure: it begins and ends at the same point and is designed as a mountain biking route. This gives you a specific activity with a named starting and finishing point to plan around, without confusing the circuit with a hike.

Optional variants of Bosc de Privà go to Montalegre and the Camarasa Reservoir. The variant to the reservoir passes through the saltworks of Vilanova de la Sal and a small wooded area. These named landscape features distinguish it from a simple description of the circular route: the saltworks and woodland are explicitly part of this route. If you are considering this route, you can choose the variant that best suits your planned outing.

Another option on foot is the “Entre Castells i llegendes” walking route. It runs from the Les Avellanes monastery via the Camí de Vilanova and the cemetery path to Vilanova de la Sal. Unlike the mountain biking circuit, this route ends in the village. The two options therefore differ in activity and route format: one is a mountain biking circuit, the other a hike with Vilanova de la Sal as its destination.

You can take these differences into account when planning your stay and looking for a holiday rental. Consider whether you would rather focus on a mountain biking circuit or the hike to Vilanova. The saltworks and the small wooded area are also specific points of interest on the variant to the Camarasa Reservoir. Before setting out, it is worth checking current trail conditions and signage.

For the wider travel overview: Les Avellanes i Santa Linya.