Menu Hamburger Logo Menu close Logo
Barcelona Travel Hacks home logo

Day Trip Guide to visiting Medieval Vic

Large town (population 50,000) 70km inland from Barcelona with medieval historic centre. One of the largest arcaded plazas in Spain, cathedral & several museums

Updated: Jun 28, 2024 by: Barcelona Travel Hacks Views: 2.6k

About Vic Medieval Town

Vic, sometimes known as Vich, is the capital of the Osona county of the province of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. Vic can be found 69 km inland from Barcelona halfway between Barcelona and the Pyrenees. Vic lies in the middle of the Plains of Vic on the banks of the river Mèder. The small Catalan city of Vic is an excellent day trip from Barcelona by train, bus or car.

The Buildings in Vic today are of Roman and medieval origin, with the city being founded in the 4th Century BC by an Iberian tribe known as the Ausa. The town fell under roman Rule and later Visgoth rule. Vic was completely destroyed by fire in 826 in a battle with the Saracens. Since then Vic has thrived and grown into a prosperous town thanks to industries like leather and meat (saussage) production. The construction of the Transpirinenc railway in 1875 from Barcelona to Vic (today known as the R3 Rodalies line) brought connection to the the capital of Barcelona and helped to secure Vic as a popular tourist destination.

Vic is famous for meat products such as llonganissas (long thin chorizo like saussage that is served sliced and cold or hot), fuet (peppered sausages served sliced and cold) and Butifarra (pork Sausage served hot with ali-oli garlic and mayonnaise sauce and white beans).

Vic has plenty of old world charm and a collection of very good museums. Vic is a popular day trip for tourists and residents of Barcelona and hosts several events throughout the year which make it especially worth a visit and is one of my favourite Winter destinations.

History of the town of Vic

Vic dates from at least the 4th Century BC when it was called Ausa for the Iberian Ausetanos tribe. During the Roman Empire the town grew is size and was an important town in the Region gaining a temple in the second century AD.

Ausa continued to expand under Visigoth rule until until it was isolated between the Moorish invasion of the Iberian peninsula from the south of Spain and the Christian lands to the north. Ausa was almost completely destroyed during a Cristian-Moor battle in 788 AD.

The town was conquered by Cristian forces under Wilfred, Count of Urgel and renamed it Vich, derived from latin Vicus Ausonae. A castle was built in the area of the Roman temple burying it in the foundations of the castle.

In the Middle ages, the city had two parts, the Episcopal part under the jurisdiction of the Cathedral and the part around the castle controlled by the counts. Wilfred raised a defensive wall around the town with seven gates.

The land belonging to the church was handed over to the crown and in 1450, Alfonso V of Aragon bought out the Montcada counts. The three centuries which followed Vic suffered the consequences wars against the French and then during the War of the Spanish Succession, when Vic sided with the Archduke of Austria.

The 17th and 18th centuries saw economic recovery in Vic with the emergence of a world famous leather tanning and leather goods industry that during the the Industrial Revolution grew into an efficient mechanised process. The arrival of the railway from Barcelona once again made Vic the capital of the Osona Region of Catalonia.

During the Spanish Civil war (1936 to 1939) Francoist forces took the town and many churches and medieval buildings were damaged or burnt.

To read more about the historic buildings of Vic, follow the Historic walking route below.

5 Things to do and see in Vic Medieval Town

Map of Vic Medieval Town

Attractions

Latitute: 41.4 Longitude: 2.2 Zoom Level: 11

Events in Vic Medieval Town

Tickets for Attractions in Vic Medieval Town

If you would prefer a day visiting Romanesque medieval architecture rather than museums, then try one of these tours.



    Includes:
  • Discover the city of Vic with its old town, its cathedral and its markets
  • Visit Besalú, the most spectacular medieval town of Catalonia
  • Catch a spectacular view of Castellfollit de la Roca and take beautiful pictures
  • Enjoy stunning views of the Garrotxa Volcanic Natural Park
  • Tour in a small group of 8 guests with hotel pickup and drop-off included
Powered by GetYourGuide
    Includes:
  • Travel in time to a medieval Catalonia, full of charm and landmarks
  • Visit Vic, its market square, the Roman temple & the cathedral
  • Explore the Roman ruins and Romanesque temples spread across the countryside
  • Visit Santa Pau in the heart of the volcanic region of Garrotxa
  • Stop by Besalú, renowned for its bridge and monasteries
Powered by GetYourGuide
    Includes: Discover the history, architecture, and culture of Catalonia on a day trip Visit the picturesque town of Besalú and see its 12th-century Romanesque bridge Explore the charming town of Rupit and see the church of Sant Miquel Enjoy free time to have lunch at one of the local restaurants in Vic See the Cathedral of San Pedro Apóstol and the Roman Temple in Vic
Powered by GetYourGuide

See the Catalonian historic city of Vic from a unique perspective as you glide through the sky on a hot air balloon ride. Fly above the beautiful Catalonian landscapes with gorgeous views over the Mountains of Montserrat, the Montseny Natural Park, the Sau Reservoir and the Pyrenees. Finish with a breakfast with cava and pastries upon landing. Pick up and drop off from from your hotel in Barcelona (option) or meet in the centre of Vic. Watch the setting up and preparation of the balloon before getting in for take-off.

Powered by GetYourGuide

Getting to Vic Medieval Town

Where to Eat Vic Medieval Town

Documents for Vic Medieval Town

Click on any one of the 6 PDFs to view in full screen and download.

Weather for Vic

What to take with you for Vic Medieval Town

For the Vic day trip I pack a small 10L rucksack with a fleece jersey and if the weather forecast says rain, a waterproof poncho.

Take headphones for the Episcopal museum audio guide.

Wear comfortable shoes so that the uneven cobbled streets do not murder your ankles.

Wikiloc Trail for Vic Medieval Town

vic01 - Vic Medieval Town Centre Walking Guide

The buildings, squares, streets & points of interest on a historic walking route through medieval Vic town centre

Distance: 3.75 Km

Difficulty: Easy

Return Travel Fare: €17.10

Transport Network: Rodalies or Bus

Where to stay overnight in the Day Trip Guide to visiting Medieval Vic



How much does Vic Medieval Town Day Trip Cost?

Description Adult Adult Discounts Child Child Discounts
Return bus fare from Barcelona € 17.10 € 17.10
Vic Cathedral € 3.00 FREE
Episcopal Museum (MEV) € 8.00 Students, Over 65 years, Disabled. €5 € 5.00 Free for undrer 10 years
Vic Historic Town Centre Walking Route FREE FREE
Vic Roman Temple FREE FREE
Vic Leather Arts Museum € 2.50 FREE
€ 30.60 Adult Total € 22.10 Child Total

Thanks for reading about Day Trip Guide to visiting Medieval Vic

Ask a question via Facebook

Please support me

Happy travels and exploring.