Puig Madrona (336 m)

Talaia occidental del massís de Collserola

Talaia west of the Collserola massif. A straightforward and comfortable circular route, except for the initial climb of Puig Madrona. We start at Plaça Joan Gassó, in the Can Monmany district of Valldoreix. The climate soon begins along a narrow lane, and then a track, surrounded by newly regrown holm oaks, as far as the Puig Madrona lookout (380 m). Follow the route, but then along the track, past a storage tank, the PR-C 35 is marked, leading directly (along a straighter line) up to the summit. The wonderful views stretch out as far as the day's conditions will allow. The plain of the Llobregat, the Collserola massif, the pre-coastal uplands, the plain of Vallesana, etc. All the hard work is now behind you, so you can enjoy the moment and the rest of the trip. The route shortly drops back down to the hermitage of the Mare de Déu de la Salut, along the PR-C 35 trail. There are tables and picnic areas here. The wider and gently undulating path then continues around the source of the Torrent de Julià. The landscape is wooded, a blend of pine trees and holm oak undergrowth, combining different forms and structures. Across the streams running along the sheltered slopes the undergrowth becomes wilder, with the holm oaks to the fore. Elsewhere (on the crests and sunny slopes), Aleppo pines and heather predominate. The occasional oak tree is dotted about, preferring the cooler spots. The woodland occasionally allows glimpses of the landscape. It is here that you will see Can Monmany emerge in all its grandeur, and in the background the cities of Rubí and Terrassa, with the Parc de Sant Llorenç del Munt beyond. And in just a jiffy, you will be back down at the starting point.