Getaway to Osona: Charcuterie and cycle routes

This museum has been declared of national interest by the Generalitat Government, especially for the magnificent collection of medieval art it contains, but also for the facilities themselves, located next to the Cathedral of Vic. Some 29,000 examples of Catalan Romanesque and Gothic painting and sculpture are on display, as well as pieces of industrial and decorative arts, and an excellent collection of woven cloths and liturgical vestments. Among the masterpieces here are the 'Christ in Majesty' from Santa Maria in Lluçà, the 'Baldachin' from Ribes and the 'Descent from the Cross' from Erill la Vall, all from the 12th century.    

The museum's main objective is to provide insights on the process of industrialization that took place around the River Ter. It occupies an ideal site, in the old Can Sanglas factory, near the river. The collections, however, are quite diverse, since there is enough space in its 1,500 square metres to treat the river as a natural resource. The museum also hosts Centre of Studies of Mediterranean Rivers (CERM), dedicated to promoting education and environmental awareness, and the stewardship and research in Mediterranean rivers.  

If you like Romanesque art and architecture, a visit to Santa Maria de Lluçà is sure to delight you. The monastery, which takes its name from the region of Llucanès, was consecrated in 905, though it reached its maximum splendour in the 13th century. Today the whole ensemble offers many items of interest, especially the cloister, dating from the 12th century, which contains a variety of decorative elements, among which the capitals, in particular, stand out, although the ironwork decorating the door, the murals and the small museum, with pieces of jewellery and religious objects, are also quite remarkable.

A visit to this major example of Catalan Romanesque religious architecture is also worthwhile thanks to its magnificent setting, overlooking a meander of the River Ter. Inside you'll find a monastery that, while humble, features numerous enchanting details, such as its small cloister and the parlour, which later became a cellar, as well as the anthropomorphic tombs that make it clear that the building was raised above a necropolis. To make the visit more attractive, the rooms are decorated with antique furniture and furnishings.

Montesquiu Castle has seen many modifications, both inside and out, since it was first built in 1285, but a visit is always recommendable. On the ground floor, an audiovisual presentation stars the ghosts of four famous inhabitants of the castle telling their stories. Then there's a tour around the castle dependencies. The upper floor is currently the site of the resource centre run by the Diputació de Barcelona and hosts conventions, conferences and courses. If you have time, have a walk around the castle’s park.

Jacint Verdaguer, a key figure in the Catalan literary renaissance, was born in Folgueroles in 1845. His family home has been transformed into a museum that you can visit. And it's worth a trip because the museum itself is inside a typical 17th-century village house, and of course you get the opportunity to learn more about the priest-poet Verdaguer. In fact, the whole village of Folgueroles is like an open-air museum dedicated to the writer, and we recommend that you take a look around it either before or after calling in at the museum.