La Granada - Els Monjos

This variant is an alternative to the Via Augusta Penedès which, from La Granada, goes to Santa Margarida i els Monjos by way of Les Cabanyes and Pacs del Penedès.

The variant starts in the same place as Stage 4. Leave La Granada by Camí de Vilafranca, and carefully cross the C-15 overpass. Next to you is the Teuleria dels Àlbers site, with fossil remains from 16 million years ago, and the remains of a Roman villa. Take Camí de les Cabanyes and after about 180 m you will find a path on the left, Camí de Ca l’Andratx. Follow it until you come to Camí de les Segarres on your left. Always going along the edges of the vineyards, this path comes to a T at Camí de la Torreta dels Bous als Pujols. The path to the left goes to Stage 4. Go to the right, towards Les Cabanyes. The path passes Torreta dels Bous and comes to Les Cabanyes. The church in the centre of the village, dedicated to Sant Valentí, is modern; the old one, on the outskirts, is the old Romanesque church, built on the ruins of an old Roman villa. 

Cross through Les Cabanyes and continue towards Pacs del Penedès, which you will reach going through the industrial complex located to the northeast of the town. In Pacs del Penedès, it’s interesting to visit the historic centre and the Sant Genís church. Both the church and the rectory are built on the site of an old Roman villa (1^st-4^th century BCE). Around the town, various Iberian settlements have been found, as well as a Roman necropolis and some other important remains.

The Via continues southwards, crossing the Riera de Pacs gully and the l’Agrícola neighbourhood. Upon leaving this neighbourhood, follow the BP-2121 east for about 150 m, and then take the paved path on the right from Els Monjos to Pacs del Penedès; it crosses the Riera de Llitrà gully and continues along the El Maset plains. This path passes very close to Torre de les Aigües and the Santa Maria de la Bleda castle and hermitage, built on an old Roman site. Later, you will cross the Carretera de la Múnia road, the B-212, at a level crossing. You will pass by Jaciment de la Riba, a site with a lot of ceramics.

Cross the bridge over the variant of the N-340 and then right away the AP-7. You will reach Els Monjos coming from the north, arriving in the Cal Salines neighbourhood. Take Avinguda Catalunya until you cross the Foix River. Right on the corner is the Foix mill, the old Els Monjos mill. Then right away, continue along Camí de les Fàbriques to Camí de la Farinera. At this point, to finish the stage, head to the right, where the Els Monjos station is just over 500 m away, or head straight on to connect with the following stage, which leads to l’Arboç.