Fau Trail: a nature and heritage route in Montseny

This route takes us to the Hermitage of Our Lady of Fau, in Albanyà. This is a fairly difficult route, with a cumulative elevation gain of 536 meters, offering spectacular panoramic views of Maçanet de Cabrenys. The route is 8.7 km long and can be completed in approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes.

We take the road to "Farga" and then the Vilars path that goes up the right side of Clot. This turning a little further up joins the road that leads to Can Fullaraca, and shortly after, it passes between the chapel of San Pedro los Vilars and Can Granja.

The climb begins from Vilars, passing through Solers, the Collada de los Gessos, and arriving at Bac. Here you'll find the Holm Oak and the Bac Fountain (7 km). We continue climbing to the Collada del Fau, passing in front of the Yew of Fau, and a few meters away we see the chapel of the Virgin of Fau.

The Marian shrine of Fau, atop the mountain of the same name, within the former parish of Carbonills, was popularly known as "the Mother of God of the Formigues" or "of the Winged Ones." It is said that these insects would die by the thousands on the day of the pilgrimage (September 8), and that the pavement of the chapel was littered with them.

The name Santa Maria del Fau was already mentioned in the 14th century, but the sanctuary was rebuilt in the 15th century. It is an example of the survival of certain forms of Romanesque architecture in popular religious buildings. The church, now abandoned, has a single nave and a semicircular apse of great simplicity. The neoclassical altarpiece remains in place, but without the Virgin, which is kept in the parish church of Albanyà.