Route around the Charterhouse of Escaladei

THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS The Carthusian monastery of Escaladei is set amidst the extremely beautiful Montsant mountain range with its spectacular craggy outcrops. Formed by limestone conglomerates, the cliffs have been sculpted into their present remarkable shapes by erosion, and local folklore has endowed them with highly evocative names. At an altitude of 1,163 metres, the Roca Corbatera forms the roof of the mountain range. At its foot, the monastery is surrounded by vineyards and typical Mediterranean vegetation that forms the habitat for many species of fauna. In 2002, the Parliament of Catalonia gave the area’s ecological value official recognition by declaring it the Serra del Montsant Natural Park.

ROUTES FROM POINT 1 AT 9

• Terrain: Route along farm roads and mountain footpaths.

• Distance: 4.8 km • Approximate height difference: 200 m

• Time taken: 1 hour 30 minutes (not counting pauses)

• Difficulty: easy

• Recommendations: Care should be taken between points 4 and 5 and between points 7 and 8, where there are stretches that may be slippery, particularly when wet.