Getaway to Anoia: Castles, balloons and muleteers

As its name suggests ('conill' means rabbit) this place serves excellent rabbit dishes, but that’s not all, and even seafood dishes have their place on the menu here, including cuttlefish meatballs with and prawns with cuttlefish ink. However, the dishes that have won awards are the cannelloni, pigs’ trotters with prunes and pine kernels, and the shoulder of rabbit. More than 100 years of history endorse the good work of this well-known restaurant in Capellades.

If you’re interested in eating at a typical Spanish roast house, El Abuelo in Igualada is the place for you. The quality of their wood fire–grilled dishes and the raw materials that go into them has won them plenty of accolades, and the restaurant is also well known for its extensive variety of 'tortillas' (omelettes) – more than 40 types. Meat lovers will especially appreciate the roasted suckling pig, though its long cooking time means that it must be ordered in advance.

Following the completion of the building work on the dual carriageway between Barcelona and Lleida, this restaurant has lost the privilege of lying practically equidistant between the two cities, and therefore being an almost obligatory port of call for drivers looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner. But it’s still worth coming here for its traditional or more daring dishes that are inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. Rooms are also available.

The restaurant at Hotel Robert is located at the foot of the mountaintop village of La Pobla de Claramunt, which is crowned by a magnificent castle. It makes for a great outing, so better fill up first with this restaurant’s exquisite stuffed onions or equally excellent duck with turnips. Top-quality Catalan cuisine.

Have you ever slept in a renovated barn? That’s exactly what you’ll do at la Cort of Cal Carulla, but don’t worry, because you won’t find any animals there. Instead it’s a property that, although it’s maintained its rustic charm, is totally equipped with everything that you need to enjoy a weekend break. And when you leave, we think you’re sure to miss the heated pool and big garden that surrounds the complex. Perfect for a complete getaway from daily life.  

A place boasting a very rich ancient history: the country house now known as Cal Grau de Torremetzena dates back a thousand years, when there was an Arab cistern here and, centuries later, a watchtower. Today the house is an idyllic place, surrounded by crop fields and peace, with two independent places to stay, L'Alzina and El Roure, each one with two bedrooms and that can be booked together or separately.

Decorated in a rustic style, equipped with all essential facilities and with space for 5 people, this apartment is just the place if you’re looking for a peaceful weekend. Located in the centre of the town of La Llacuna, it is an excellent base for exploring the village and it surroundings, or if your prefer, make the most of the heated pool, sauna and gym that form part of the services on offer. You will also have access to an outdoor pool that is exclusive to clients of Arcs Llacuna.

Located in the rural centre of Aleny, between Calaf and Calonge de Segarra, the country house of La Farraja is an excellent base for exploring the upper part of Anoia. There is a huge range of options waiting for you. You can visit the market of Calaf, discover the many local castles, see Romanesque architecture and enjoy all sorts of outings. But if you prefer to stay close to the house, you can also take the opportunity to try out the typical lifestyle of a local farmer along with other activities organised by the centre. 

Two units, each with a capacity for four people, make up Cal Barrusca, a 19th century country house. Traditionally dedicated to the cultivation of wheat and barley, it now offers its guests hydro massage, a swimming pool, terraces, a barbecue and a children’s play area, as well as farm animals. Guests can also enjoy rural life by learning about the different farming jobs that are carried out on the estate.

Tracing its origins back to 1949 and located in industrial heritage Rec neighbourhood, the Igualada leather museum was first opened in the 1990s in the old 19th century Cal Boyer cotton factory. It offers four circuits: Man and water, From the pit to the pumps, Leather in history and The world of leather. The other centre is set in the old 18th century Cal Granotes tannery, in which you can learn everything about the tanning process in the preindustrial era.

A popular destination for school trips and attracting more than 30,000 people every year, the Capellades Paper Mill Museum is also worth visiting for adults. Inaugurated in 196 in one of the town’s 7th century mills, the museum has a collection illustrating 7 centuries of paper production and culture through visits and workshops. The mill still generates half of its income from the sale of paper made using traditional techniques.

Rather than amenities, castles are monuments, and this is one of 13 castles run by the History Museum of Catalonia. With more than 1,000 years of history, Claramunt Castle is one of the icons of the region, one of the most spectacular forts in the country and the main attraction of the region’s Border Castle Trail. Access is on foot, but the 25 minute walk to the top of the hill will be well rewarded. The trail also includes the castles of Òdena, Tossa, Miralles and Vilademàger.