Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac
Rising directly behind Terrassa, this 13,694-hectare natural park is a world of limestone ridges, holm oak forests and golden eagles that most visitors to Catalonia never discover. The park's highest peak, La Mola (1,104 m), is crowned by a working Benedictine monastery you can hike to in under three hours from the city edge.
Hiking to La Mola and the monastery
The classic route starts at Can Pobla, reachable by bus from Terrassa, and climbs steadily through Mediterranean scrubland and pine forest before the final rocky ascent to the summit plateau. The Monastery of Sant Llorenç del Munt has occupied this windswept peak since the 11th century and still houses a small community of monks.
The views from the top are immense: the Bages plain to the north, Montserrat's serrated profile to the south and, on clear days, the glittering stripe of the Mediterranean 60 kilometres away. The monks sell honey and liqueurs at a small shop near the entrance.
Wildlife, rock and quiet trails
The park shelters one of the densest populations of Bonelli's eagle in Catalonia, along with peregrine falcons, wild boar and the elusive genet. Birdwatchers should head to the Torrent de Can Lledoner valley in the early morning for the best sightings.
Dozens of marked trails of varying difficulty cross the park; the GR-96 long-distance path passes through on its way between Terrassa and Manresa, making it easy to design a linear day-walk with a train back from either end.
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