Tubs among vineyards in the Pont de Vilomara i Rocafort

The route runs presented milestones local path SL-C 52 in a partially circular itinerary both sides of the torrent of Flequer, with a distance of 3.5 kms and last approximately 2 hours.

The route runs mostly on trails and paths in the forest and gives the opportunity to make your imagination to move to an era where the landscape and life were radically different. The extraordinary assembly Escudelleta tubs are a representative sample, since, thanks to its good condition, possible to reconstruct the past, not so distant, of the region. Margins, ditches, deposits of vineyard and the natural environment are other defining elements of this route.

Starting point

To begin the route we must place on the BV-1124 road parking, 4.2 km. By motorway C-16, exit Pont de Vilomara. Cross this town and continue towards Rocafort, until you reach the turnoff to Oristrell, where the parking is. The nearest railway stations are of Manresa and of Sant Vicenc de Castellet ( www.renfe.es ), where links to the bus leading to the Pont de Vilomara ( www.transbagesbus.com ).

tubs

The tubs were part of the villages, where wine for home consumption was made. During the heyday of the Catalan vineyard, thanks mainly to the export of brandy in America and the epidemic of phylloxera in France (mid-s. XIX), the Rocafort area was completely covered with vines. The remoteness, the difficulties, risks and the additional cost of transporting the harvest to the villages caused tubs were built to the vineyards themselves, in the most isolated valleys Montcau places. With the arrival of phylloxera in Catalonia, vineyards Bages began a slow but inexorable decline.

For its construction mixed with lime mortar was used stone, lining the interior walls with square, flat or slightly curved glazed tiles. The top, with the door to access it, was made with dry stone deck was built on false dome, with a tight layer of soil to be waterproofed, while thermal insulation made. At the bottom there was an opening to empty the already fermented wine, all normally protected inside a dry stone hut attached in the tub.

We started?

1 Tubs Bleda

The itinerary starts from the same parking lot, following the green and white markings of the SL-C 52, a concrete road that crosses the stream and began a steady but very gentle climb. Half an hour after starting the hike, the path forks and you have to take the downward turn right, which immediately leads to tubs Bleda. This hidden in the forest complex is formed by two tubs with a hut on the part down. At the top of the enclosure you can see the stone base made long ago the press used for red wine and fill the tubs.

2 Tubs Tosques

The path continues descending and very close tubs Bledsoe, offers the possibility of seeing a vineyard hut at the foot of the path itself.

Later, the river is crossed, the climb starts and, once, a detour to the left leads to the next tubs Tosques, majestic set that faces towards the stream bed opens. Highlights include the dimensions of the barracks of the base, which clearly identify boixes calls, pierced by large stones that connected with the inside of the tub to empty.

3 Deposit vineyard

We must continue the tour redoing the steps to the main road, which narrows as s'endin healthy in the shade of the Sierra de Puig Gil. The forest is lush, but at times overlooks the opposite side undreamed where several vineyard huts hidden away from the track are discovered. Here you can also see a vine or Xupet deposit, which farmers used basically to prepare Bordeaux mixture, a mixture of copper and lime diluted in water that was preventing diseases of the branches of strains sulfate.

4 Tubs Escudelleta

When you change the path upward trend downward, it is a sign that we are approaching the last and most spectacular set of tubs. Almost located in the bed of the stream of Flequer rise Escudelleta tubs. In all, twelve tubs are recorded in different groups in a common enclosure should experience a hectic time
Vintage. This enormous concentration justified a bunkhouse attached to one of the groups include a fixed press tubs, which are still the remains of the stone base.

5 Barracks vineyard

Across the river, the trail becomes to find the track beginning to follow left into the parking lot. Along the way they can in a much more open landscape,
see several vineyard huts, plus get some of the best views of Escudelleta tubs and Tosques.

tubs recovered

The tubs are spread through the northwest slope of the Natural Park of Sant Llorenc del Munt and l'Obac and its area of influence, forming a unique ethnological and historical heritage in Catalonia.

103 tubs have been cataloged among the vineyards in various states of preservation. Some are isolated, with only their attached bunkhouse (13 in total) and other forming sets (the remaining 90). These sets are considered as the most interesting buildings: three, four or more tubs built simultaneously (out cheaper) and sometimes had in common a press for residual breeze. This was the only collective tool, since each of the tubs were used individually by its owner.

Most are circular (81) plant, however there are a rectangular (12) and mixed with rectangular and circular tank outer walls (10). Their capacities range between 1,200 and 31,000 liters larger. They not used to spend the 2.5 m in diameter and 3 deep.