The matagalls summit is one of the best autumn forests trails in Catalonia and is a classic and popular hike amongst the Catalan hiking community. The hiking route can be found in the Parc Natural de Montseny.
The route starts in front of Coll Formic Restaurant via a trail that traverses small forests and mountain plains along a ridgeline with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. The Coll Formic to Matagalls trail takes us to the Matagalls summit at 1697 metres of altitude.
From the Matagalls Summit we take a path along the Torrent del sot de les corders river to a natural spring with a fountain called font del cims. This trail takes us to the Font de Matagals spring which has a shrine hut protecting it. From here we have a beautiful forest with ancient crooked trees.
After Font de Matagalls the trail is a gradual downwards path via the Turo de Sant Segimon summit before descending a rocky path to the Sant Miquel chapel. From this chapel we have spectacular views of the Sant Segimon Monastery restaurant and valley with the many different colours of the autumn leaves on the trees.
Take the rocky path down the Cami de Sant Segimon and turn back towards to monastery restaurant. At this point we are about half way around the route. Time permitting, it is possible to eat in the restaurant.
After leaving the Monastery restaurant follow the Cami de Sant Segimon rural road as it winds around the mountains until we join the cami de Coll Fornic to Matagalls and return to the starting point.
Sant Segimon Sanctuary dates from the 13th Century (documentation from 1290) when a chapel was built using a cave and took the name of Segimon which is the Catalan for King Sigismund of Burgundy who was supposedly a hermit at the cave between 516AD and 520AD. According to legend, construction of the sanctuary began centuries later when a pastor found wooden crosses buried in the caves. The Sanctuary was burned in 1810 by the French troops under the orders of General Saint-Cyr and was restored by the citizens of the surrounding towns and villages. In 1837 the Sanctuary became the property of the owner of Can Gad (farm). The sanctuary and shelter were subjected to destruction during the Civil War and are currently under restoration.
Sant Miquel dels Barretons chapel was probably built in the 16th century by the hermit Miquel, from Burgundy, attracted by the legend of Segimon, who gave it the name Sant Miquel. According to legend, the name Barretons comes from the legend that the Romans in the chapel improved their headaches when they left their hat in the chapel as an offering.
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Allow 6 to 8 hours to complete this trail.
If going by car, see the map for the parking area in the documents section.
This route is fine and should not present any challenges or difficulties for a dog. The first half of this route is mostly via mountain plains up to the Matagalls Summit cross and it is unlikely that you will come across poisonous Processionary Caterpillars. The second half of the route to Sant Segimon Sanctuary is via beach forests and again it is unlikely that you will find poisonous Pine Processionary Caterpillars in the spring or summer but be vigilant in forested areas just in case.
This is a medium walking route in the Montseny mountains. I always do it with a small rucksack of the essentials and first aid kit. Emergency waterproof & windproof jacket is recommended.
Take 2 litres of water. Additional water can be found in the natural springs along the route.
Address: Carretera Seva-Palautordera BV-5301 s/n, El Brull. 08559
Take a Renfe Rodalies R3 train from Barcelona to Balrenya-Tona-Selva station. Here change onto a Sagales route 484 bus to Coll Formic. The hiking route is circular from Coll Formic.
NOTE: that the Sagales 484 bus only runs on weekends.
It is possible to buy a Montseny combined Train + bus ticket at Renfe station ticket machines. it is called De Casa a Monseny - billete combinado Parc Natural del Montseny and costs 10.80 € for a return journey.
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Outstanding beauty & spectacular hiking trails to mountain summits, cliffs, rivers, waterfalls, plains & woodlands. The best place for autumn hiking in Catalunya
Distance: 12.47 Km
Difficulty: Moderate
Return Travel Fare: €10.80
Transport Network: Rodalies + Bus
Mountain Forecast weather for Matagalls summit
