La Granada - Els Monjos

This alternative stage proposes to go around Vilafranca del Penedès along the western side of the Via Augusta. It passes through Les Cabanyes and Pacs del Penedès to finally reach Santa Margarida i els Monjos. As it crosses the central part of the Penedès plain, it offers a landscape of vineyards that in this case is only interrupted by the mountain of Sant Pau, which separates Pacs from Vilafranca del Penedès. In this stage, walkers and cyclists share the same route.

Leave La Granada station towards the historic centre and then head towards Les Cabanyes. Just outside the town centre of La Granada and after crossing the bridge over the C-15, on the right is the Teuleria dels Àlbers archaeological site. Fossils have been found here dating back some 16 million years, as well as archaeological remains that prove the existence of a Roman settlement, probably a farm. A few metres further on, turn left along the Ca l'Andratx lane to the Les Segarres lane. Between large expanses of vineyards, you reach the Torreta dels Bous lane, where you turn right towards Les Cabanyes. At this point you can continue towards Vilafranca following the corresponding track.

In Les Cabanyes, the route makes a small detour to approach the church of Sant Valentí (13th century). Located on the outskirts, it is the Romanesque church of Les Cabanyes, built on the site of an ancient Roman villa. Another church was built in the centre of the village at the beginning of the 20th century.

The route continues towards Pacs del Penedès, a town that is reached after crossing a large expanse of vineyards and passing through its industrial estate. In the centre of Pacs there are several heritage sites, such as the church of Sant Genís and its rectory, both built on the site of a Roman villa (1st-4th centuries AD). Several Iberian archaeological sites have been found around Pacs, as well as a Roman necropolis. You leave Pacs through the Racó de la Salzereda, a very peculiar place, where a single track along the Pacs stream leads to the district of l'Agrícola, amidst a thick willow forest.

A traffic light at the exit of the l'Agrícola neighbourhood allows you to cross the BP-2121 road safely, and then continue along a backroad towards Santa Margarida i els Monjos. From this road, on the right, you can see the Torre del Agua de la Bleda, a water lifting tower that supplied water to Vilafranca at the beginning of the 20th century. During the Spanish Civil War, it was shortened in height so as not to obstruct the nearby airfields. Alongside, also on the right, is the hermitage of Santa Maria de la Bleda, built on a Roman site.

After crossing the B-212 road, the backroad continues towards Santa Margarida i els Monjos. On the left, opposite the La Riba farmhouse, in the middle of a vineyard, an archaeological site was found with remains of polychrome mosaics that suggest the existence of an important Roman settlement. After crossing the bridge over the N-340 and the AP-7, you reach the town centre of Santa Margarida i els Monjos, which you cross along the old national road, most probably following the original route of the Via Augusta. Before turning left to reach the industrial area where the train station is located, near Avinguda de Catalunya, you can visit the Molí del Foix. This mill, located next to the river Foix, was a flour mill built in the 10th century. The stage ends near the industrial area, at the Santa Margarida i els Monjos train station.