If you are looking for a great getaway in the Barcelona area, there is nothing better than to spend a few days in the city of Granollers. The capital of the Vallès Oriental region attracts visitors who want to enjoy everything that makes a trip exceptional: strolling through the markets, discovering the historical heritage, shopping, gastronomy or even escaping to the beautiful natural surroundings. Need ideas for your next holiday in Spain? Discover Granollers, another pearl of Catalonia.
Granollers, an ideal location to stay in Catalonia
Granollers is not only a charming town on a human scale, but it is also ideally located for those who want to discover the secret of Catalonia. With excellent transport links and only 30 km from the centre of Barcelona, a variety of experiences await those who love the north-east of Spain. In between enjoying the city, it is easy to escape to some of the places that make Catalonia an exceptional destination. In just a few minutes you can be in the heart of the Montseny Natural Park. The hiking trails here reveal breathtakingly beautiful landscapes: green forests, the Matagalls mountain, the lake and reservoir of Vallforners. Not to mention the architectural splendours of the small villages, the Sant Segimon sanctuary, whose construction dates back to the 13th century, and the Monstsoriu castle perched on its 649 m high hill. For those who love the Mediterranean, it is also very easy to go to the beaches of the Costa del Marasme and get a good dose of sea air before returning to the hotel and sitting down to dinner. In Granollers, there are many places that offer a varied and high quality cuisine, mixing traditional Catalan cuisine with a few touches of innovative and creative cuisine. Home-made products are cooked as healthily as possible in order to offer an excellent taste experience.
As far as accommodation is concerned, Granollers is also renowned for its hotel facilities, which are open to a wide range of guests. Whether you stay at theAparthotel Atenea Vallès****, theHotel Ciutat de Granollers****, theHotel Granollers***, the Fonda Europa***, theIris***, theIbis**, theHoliday Inn*** or theAugusta Barcelona Vallès****, there are many options to find the comfort you are looking for after a long and pleasant day of sightseeing.
Shopping and events all year round
What if a stay in Granollers was the perfect opportunity to refresh or perfect your wardrobe? You can start by browsing through some of its many shops. With a large surface area made up of pedestrian zones, 500 shops enliven the town on a daily basis and offer a remarkable shopping experience. It's simple, there's something for every budget and taste. It is also important to highlight the proximity of Roca Village, one of the nine Chic Outlet Villages in Europe. A true open-air shopping centre, it offers a large number of international brands at discounted prices all year round! The pleasure of shopping is also the delightful moments spent browsing the city's markets: at the Thursday market, one of the oldest and most famous in Catalonia, at the Saturday market or at the Sant Carles municipal market, you can fill your basket with the region's good products, buy some clothes and other practical items for the home.
Granollers is a city where life is in full swing whatever the season, and it also hosts a wide range of events: craft fairs, the Ascension Fair, which focuses on innovations in the industrial, automotive, agricultural, service and livestock sectors, etc.
Nor should we forget the sportsmen and women who find in Granollers a destination of choice to let off steam on foot, by bike, on a golf course or to laugh from the bleachers. The Circuit Catalunya offers F1 Grand Prix, motorcycle races and even cycling courses. A leading city for handball, why not choose the time of the International Granollers Cup to join the crowd for four days of fanfare?
A city with a splendid heritage and where culture plays an important role
A walk through the city allows you to contemplate its most beautiful monuments, as well as visit the places that make the city a city of exceptional architectural heritage. It is also worthwhile to find out about the audio guide that accompanies visitors from place to place, revealing the secrets of Granollers' heritage and the origins of the town. The buildings and structures of the past allow us to dive into the heart of its long history and to travel through the ages. We start by admiring the town hall, which is located in the heart of the Casa de la Vila, a late 16th century building that was restored by the architect Simó Cordomí between 1902 and 1904 due to its poor condition. The modernist and neo-gothic touches and its exceptional balconies make it a monument that leaves no one indifferent. In the same square we find a monument that is unique in Spain: La Porxada. Also built in the 16th century for the grain trade, it is distinguished by its four-sided roof above 15 columns. Although its history was eventful, particularly due to the bombings during the Spanish Civil War, it was rebuilt in 1940 and is now a cultural asset of national interest. And since we mention the war, the shelter in Maluquer i Salvador square is an example of those structures that served to protect the civilian population from the bombs.
To take a trip back to medieval times, you should visit the walls that surrounded the town from the end of the 13th century until the middle of the 19th century, and then go to Adoberia dels Ginebreda, the historical interpretation centre of medieval Granollers. Here the public can discover the ancient methods of tanning leather.
The residence of the constable with its gothic details and the bell tower of the parish church of Sant Esteve are other sights that architecture lovers will want to see during their stay. As far as Modernisme is concerned, Granollers is an essential stop on the Modernista Route of Vallès Oriental, with monuments and houses to discover such as Casa Clapés, Casa Blanxart, the Hospital-Asile and the Francesc Tarafa Hall.
And as proof that culture is also king in Granollers, the city has a multitude of places dedicated to shows andart. We should mention the Granollers Museum with its eclectic exhibitions from different eras, the Natural Science Museum, the Teatre Auditori de Granollers and the Llevant Teatre. We must not forget the historic and original places that today serve as spaces for the dissemination of culture, such as the Roca Umbert Fàbrica de les Arts, a former textile factory converted into a cultural and artistic creation centre, and the Francesc Tarafa Hall, a building constructed between the 14th and 15th centuries. This jewel has had various functions (hospital, library...). Today it is a great space for cultural events organised by the municipality.
More information on the website of the Granollers tourist office and on the Instagram and YouTube pages
