Several Rodalies commuter trains in the Barcelona area were cancelled and many more experienced lengthy delays during the early hours of Monday morning despite the planned strike being called off on Sunday evening Spain's train operator Renfe says the delays and cancellations on the Rodalies network are due to the "last-minute" deal between labor unions and authorities such as the Catalan territory ministry and the Spanish transport ministry Due to the deal being reached at the last minute there have been issues rescheduling some trains that had been canceled beforehand due to the strike A train incident at Plaça de Catalunya station affected the R1 have been seeking alternatives via bus in the morning Upon learning of the strike being called off many were confident they would be able to reach Barcelona by train at the train station they found long waiting periods on the platform Faced with what they described as a “scam” of a situation in the train services some have decided to go to the bus station because for over 18 months now express bus users have been complaining that the service is oversaturated by a daily transfer of passengers who have given up trying to get trains but it ends up being overcrowded between us all,” one passenger lamented to the Catalan News Agency (ACN ) as they tried to run from the train station to catch a bus instead Queues at the bus station in Vilafranca del Penedès have been particularly long since 7:30 a.m and I have been waiting here until 7:30," Maria Dolors told ACN at the bus station She assumed that the strike being called off would mean the train service would run properly just to walk around,” she added while watching the long queue get longer criticized that going to Barcelona from Vilafranca has become “a daily odyssey” for her some Rodalies commuters did not change their routines and used the train to travel but nothing out of the ordinary," Anton Pomés he pointed out that the train was "not very busy." Pomés recognized he was a "little bit worry" if the strike had continued as he did not have any alternative to travel and he would not have been able to arrive on time to Barcelona due to the incident on a train at Plaça de Catalunya "I was expected to get on the 07:20h train He did not have to rush as he had expected the trip to take an hour complained that she did not have enough information and she was "worried" as she did not know if she would arrive at her destination and it will continue to be Renfe," Catalan territory minister Sílvia Paneque told journalists on Monday midday "What is important is that our decisions are user-centered," she said "Whichever is the percentage of the company operating the  trains and it has to continue to be Renfe," she said in reference to the percentages of the joint company between the Catalan and Spanish governments.   is that Rodalies will be managed from Catalonia and will have a director appointed by the regional government A similar system to the one set in the Port de Barcelona enterprise the majority of the largest labor unions at Renfe and public rail infrastructure manager Adif called off a planned nationwide strike originally set to take place over seven days in March and April According to the original deal, Renfe and Adif were to continue providing service to Rodalies, but unions expressed doubt and called for a strike.  On Sunday, the parties involved reached a new agreement, stipulating that Renfe Viajeros will hold a majority stake in the capital of the new company that will manage Rodalies, while the Catalan government will control the board of directors. This was confirmed to Catalan media on Sunday by the Spanish transport secretary, José Antonio Santano.  This model will “guarantee the rights of Renfe and Adif workers” when the new company is created “later this year,” while the Catalan commuter rail service will be managed “locally”, explained Santano.   Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone v1.1.0. Copyright © 2025. Powered by EBANTIC. All rights reserved. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The Castellers de Vilafranca will travel to Japan from May 23 to 31 to participate in the Catalan Week at the Universal Exhibition in Osaka The announcement was made by the group's board during their annual season-opening press conference.   Vilafranca del Penedès is a town in Catalonia located about 50 km (31 miles) west of Barcelona The town is famous for its castellers team known as “els verds” one of the most prestigious human tower-building teams in Catalonia.  The verds had already planned to visit Japan as part of their international tour agenda but a recent reception with Catalan president Salvador Illa brought these plans forward they also intend to visit various companies and institutions.  the group aims to continue their psychological training program after its successful launch in 2024 with a particular focus on young castellers their goals include performing ''castells nets'' and successfully completing the a tower in the form of a  ‘4 de 10 amb folre i manilles'  The '4 de 10 amb folre i manilles' consists of four people per level of the tower reaching ten tiers high making it one of the tallest human towers generally attempted lining of a second base above the main one a third level of reinforcement that stabilizes the middle part.  One of their main challenges for the season will be executing a pilar de 9 with folre as it is a single vertical pillar with nine levels but with the additional support of props - extra 'castellers' who help stabilize the structure from below.   These towers demand extraordinary strength making them a major challenge even for the most experienced human tower teams Catalans have celebrated the sky-reaching tradition of castells when groups of people gather to climb on top of each other to build the highest castle Although the tradition suffered waves of decline up to the point of disappearance and in 2010 UNESCO included castells on its list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity  bringing the popularity of human towers’ popularity to unprecedented heights.  Listen to our Filling the Sink podcast episode to learn more about Catalonia's human towers castells are human towers that can reach up to 10 stories high – that's 10 groups of people stacked on top of each other!  Filling the Sink visited one of the gravity-defying groups in Barcelona, the Castellers de Sants, and spoke with Ignasi Escamilla from the Catalan Human Tower Groups Association (Coordinadora de Colles Castelleres de Catalunya) about the philosophy behind this unique tradition, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Vilafranca del PenedèsSaturday November 04 2023 The Sunday TimesThe young girl climbed steadily upwards clinging to the trembling arms and legs of her team-mates she paused to steady herself 40ft above the ground before raising an arm in triumph Castells — “human towers” — are a centuries-old and increasingly popular tradition in Catalonia They are also a symbol of the separatist-minded region’s aspiration to build its own statehood courage and determination,” said Martí Estruch director of a cultural association attending a human-castle fiesta in Vilafranca del Penedès are overwhelmingly supportive of independence If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Barcelona Do you know the oldest castle in Alt Penedès Have you ever walked along the banks of the Foix River Would you like to find out about an 18th century country house dedicated to wine and cava production Read on and get the most out of 48 hours in the Catalan wine region par excellence IN COLLABORATION WITH BARCELONA ÉS MOLT MÉS AND THE DIPUTACIÓ DE BARCELONA © Josep CanoUpon arriving in the region, we go up to Subirats Castle an excellent viewpoint to get an idea of what surrounds us and the many vineyards in the municipal area of Subirats We have references to the castle dating back to the year 917 and it was the first construction of these characteristics in the region The master or homage tower stands proud before the visitor marking the highest point of the building Partially rebuilt ‒ the castle suffered its biggest destruction in the 17th century such as a stone from the Via Augusta around 2,000 years old that was converted into a sarcophagus old bells or the stretchers used for hundreds of years to carry the deceased of the nearby country houses along the path of El Ordal to the church of Sant Pere de Subirats This former church of Sant Pere has been the shrine of the Virgin of la Fontsanta since 1726 and is located on a lower level of the fortress with side chapels and a semicircular apse partly carved out of the rock We have the whole of the second day to enjoy the region of Penedès We think it is worth discovering the path of the Foix River a route that follows the banks of this short river that crosses Alt Penedès and that you can combine with the Joc del Foix a game available online that consists of solving questions and riddles that emerge throughout the route if you buy the game you have a free meal in a restaurant in Sant Martí Sarroca and a visit to a winery You can start the route wherever you like and do part or all of it (in the second case we should mention that if you are still there today the stretch of the river path that goes through the town is the best way to discover its different population centres and explore the vine crops Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebooktwitterspotifytiktokAbout us Contact us Time Out Worldwide the Fira del Tió de Solsona or the 1600 liters escudella of the Mercat de Caldes are perfect options for a Christmas getaway If you are from Barcelona (or have been here for a while) you surely know the infinite number of Christmas markets that sprout around the city at this time of the year From the traditional ones like Santa Llúcia to other more modern ones like the Design Market and enjoy Christmas in the streets of Barcelona But at Christmas Catalonia is also full of life and traditional Christmas fairs and markets that cover the Catalan geography of Christmas and traditions that perhaps you did not know From the Fira de l’Avet d’Espinelves the place where the Catalans have always gone to look for their Christmas tree to the Fira del Tió de Solsona in order for you not to miss Christmas outside Barcelona (or for you to discover it) we bring you some traditional Christmas fairs near Barcelona for a good Christmas getaway The Fira de l’Avet d’Espinelves in Osona is one of the most unique Christmas fairs It takes place from November 30 to December 8 in a charming place where you can still feel the smell of the villages of yesteryear in winter Here you will find Christmas fir trees that are sold with root ball so that they can be replanted again Only 200 people live here in a village that revolves for a week to sell its native fir tree which is cultivated with sustainable criteria It is the place where the Barcelona pixapins have traditionally gone to get their Christmas tree is an hour from Barcelona This year they expect to welcome 90,000 visitors and sell around 3,000 Christmas trees We tell you everything you need to know about this fair in our article. The Fira del Tió de Solsona is a traditional fair that takes place on December 9 with local artisans offering their products in a market located between the Plaza Mayor and adjacent streets. In addition to exhibits of these unique trunks of Catalan tradition that bring gifts to children on December 24, the fair features family workshops, contests, children’s shows and musical performances. From December 5 to 10, Caldes de Montbui celebrates a new edition of the Christmas Market, with a hundred stalls set up in the streets of the historic center, as well as an extensive program of family activities. The largest pot in Catalonia, with a capacity of 1,600 liters, will boil again to prepare the traditional thermal broth, with tastings of pot meat and cooked vegetables. The Vilafranca del Penedès Rooster Fair is a traditional poultry and poultry market that has been held since the Middle Ages. On the weekend of December 16 and 17 you can buy and taste a native variety of poultry highly prized for its meat. You will find from the most traditional to the most innovative recipes, accompanied by the wines of the D.O. Penedés. Castellers de Vilafranca human towers continue to win big and on Wednesday they reached a historic milestone for the first time ever in the 'castellers' world They built a 9-tier human tower with nine people in each something that no other group had ever attempted before.  and the team decided to crown the top of the tower with only one 'enxaneta,' the first plan was to crown it with three 'enxanetes,' a kid who sits on top of the human tower.  This kid then had to go from top to top and raise their hand doing the 'aleta,' symbolizing the tower had been properly completed managed to construct the nine-tier tower with nine people in each The construction included an extra tier of extra support to the base ('folre') Experts believe that the 'pinya,' the lower part of the tower that helps support it and around 500 people took part in the 'pinya.'  The event was followed live on the square in Vilafranca del Penedès by 6,000 people.  The nou de nou arrived after the 'Verds' had built the 'tres de deu amb folre i manilles' (a ten-tier with three people in each with two extra tiers of support to the base), a castell which they had already built in Tarragona last year.  All these 'colles' took part in the All Saints competition one of the most important in the calendar for the castellers Not for the faint-hearted, castells are human towers that can reach up to 10 stories high – that's 10 groups of people stacked on top of each other! Press play below to listen to our Filling the Sink podcast episode from June 2022. Spectators were ripe with expectation on Friday at Vilafranca del Penedès, in the heart of Catalonia’s wine country, as Saint Felix day celebrations brought with them the country’s top human towers festival got together to woo the expectant crowd gathered at Vilfranca’s central square with their constructions: Castellers de Vilafranca Colla Jove dels Xiquets de Valls and Colla Joves Xiquets de Tarragona These four ‘colles’ were ranked as Catalonia’s best human tower groups by the latest biannual competition in Tarragona but at today’s show they were disappointingly unable to construct many of the most difficult towers they attempted – some of which have not yet ever been made successfuly This year’s Saint Felix festival saw many spectacular ‘castells’ some of which were particularly large at up to 10 tiers tall including falls and aborted attempts due to instability that made the event longer than other years Declared Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010, Catalonia's human towers -or 'castells'- are one of the country's most unique customs. The tradition first documented in the 17th century sees large groups -known as 'colles'- forming tiers of differing numbers of people standing on the shoulders of those below them. A human tower is only complete once a child called the 'enxaneta', who can be as young as five, clambers to the very top of the structure and raises their arm. The towers are a common - and breathtaking - sight in towns squares all over the country, where they are built during local festivals to the sound of traditional 'gralla' flutes and drums. 'Castells' will often come crashing down, although the 'castellers' have their own human safety net in the dozens of team members supporting the tower's base, or 'pinya'. There are 'colles' in towns and cities all over Catalonia that spend months practising at building the tallest and most complex human constructions. Each 'colla' is distinguished by the color of its shirts, and 'castellers' wear traditional garb of white trousers and a wide black sash around the waist, providing back support and a foothold to help team members climb up or down the tower of people. A number of towns in Alt Penedès, a county not far south of Barcelona that is famous for its fine wines, have been trying out something different for Carnival Instead of blasting any old party song from parade floats to get the crowd moving Sant Martí Sarroca and Vilafranca del Penedès will all be making sure none of these tunes are "sexist." which began in Santa Margarida i els Monjos in 2019 with the county's main parades eventually following suit aims to "stop the spread of inappropriate attitudes and language that are against equality and respect." Santa Margarida i els Monjos councilmember and Carnival parade organizer Esther Marmaneu explained "normalize toxic and violent relationships." softly because I want to feel your lips kissing me again," the Puerto Rican sings in his 1998 hit "this can be seen as an order that makes you think of a gross man at a club who won't leave the girls alone." Other songs that have been given the boot include Chimbala's 'Rueda' ("the most violent of them all," says Marmaneu) 'Andas en mi cabeza' by Chino & Nacho and Rauw Alejandro's 'Punto 40' Carnival groups must inform the Santa Margarida i els Monjos council in advance of which song they plan on playing so local authorities can determine whether they are sexist or not And while most of the songs that are considered discriminatory are reggaeton Marmaneu says other genres also have sexist lyrics explicitly require Carnival groups to refrain from using music "containing lyrics that describe sexist stereotypes" as songs "must encourage respect towards women." councilmember Eliseu Alegre says this is key as "messages that violate the rights of women or that make fun of anyone" should be eradicated Not all towns in the region follow these rules, however. Local authorities in Sitges, home to Catalonia's most famous Carnival celebrations, have a list of songs parade participants can add to that they consider appropriate, but they do not go over the music each group will play. "Sometimes we listen to the music in the children's parades beforehand," Sitges mayor Aurora Carbonell told Catalan News. "But adults are free." Biggest day in quintessential Catalan tradition for three years as groups steadily return to old shape Vilafranca del Penedès' annual local Sant Fèlix celebration is every year one of the highlights of the castellers season and after two editions with major Covid restrictions hampering it the capital of the winegrowing Alt Penedès county witnessed again a bright day of human towers This quintessential Catalan tradition had boasted just a few ten-tier constructions since the first time this level was reached in 1998 managed to construct a ten-tier tower with three people in each but this did not prevent the joy of attendees Castellers are a Catalan tradition going back to the 18th century with dozens of groups creating human towers across the country This year's Sant Fèlix was the most successful day in it since late 2019 as the four groups taking part are steadily returning to their old shapes The ten-tier construction with two tiers of extra support to the base ('folre i manilles') was matched with another tower of similar difficulty the two-people eight-tier one without any tier of extra support to the base built – but also collapsing upon deconstruction – by the Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls Both Vilafranca and Valls are two of the main strongholds of the tradition in the whole of Catalonia The success of 2022 Sant Fèlix was also accompanied by three other 'gamma extra' (or 'maximum category') towers created by the Vilafranca team: the nine-tier construction with five people in each and with only one extra support to the base ('cinc de nou amb folre') a similar one but with an extra tier of support and two people per tier ('dos de nou amb folre i manilles') and an eight-tier one with a single person in each and both 'folre and manilles' to support the base ('pilar de vuit amb folre i manilles') also took part in order to also create a 'pilar de vuit amb folre i manilles' the constructions of the Minyons de Terrassa from the Barcelona metropolitan city of Terrassa a 'quatre de nou amb folre' and a 'cinc de vuit' meaning two nine-tier and an eight-tier tower Catalonia's 'castells' were declared an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 2010 Large 'colles' form tiers of differing numbers of people standing on the shoulders of those below them.  Built to the sound of 'gralla' flutes and drums human towers are only complete once a helmet-donning child called the 'enxaneta' ascends to the very top of the structure and raises their arm "Doing 'castells' has been a popular activity for more than 200 years and they are always associated with traditional celebrations such as ('festa major') village fairs," Ignasi Escamilla of the Catalan human tower groups association 'castells' are more than just a thing of beauty: "They are a good example of an ideal society It's the achievement of common goals obtained thanks to the cooperation of different team members." Listen to our latest Filling the Sink podcast episode to learn more about 'Castells': ACN | Vilafranca del Penedès human towers—known as ‘castells’—are celebrated on Thursday August 30 Four teams participated: the Castellers de Vilafranca This event, held in the town of Vilafranca del Penedès, is perhaps the second most important date for the sport – second only to the Castells Competition in the southern town of Tarragona It saw the attendance of Catalan president Quim Torra Literally translated as ‘castles,’ this acrobatic practice finds its roots in Valencia where it was first documented in the 17th century which is thought of as the home of this tradition and where one can find a commemorative statue There are various qualifying elements to the structures which are mainly measured by tiers and amount of people on each level A tower is complete once the individual at the very top – a child ‘castellers’ – the competitors – seem to be wearing simply traditional dress which is often separated by neighborhood or city and the black sash tied around the waist not only provides back support but is an important foothold for the participants climbing up – or down a casteller will be protected by a human safety net and support network all around the base of the tower This element of the tower has given Catalan one of its most unique expressions ‘fer pinya,’ which means to figuratively come together in strong support of someone Many other Castell groups were also able to form magnificent human towers during the three a half hour display. The Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls group managed to create three impressive towers. Their second was the most dramatic with nine levels of five, known as the ‘super cathedral’. The Colla Vella Xiquets group was also particularly successful as they constructed two towers that they had never previously been able to create, including the ‘pillar’ with 8 levels of 1 person per level. The yearly festival of Vilafranca is one of the largest festivals of Catalonia which takes place between the 29th of August and 2nd of September. During the 5 day celebrations there are a range of spectacles on offer including live concerts, parades, street performances, open air feasts and firework displays. Castells: a 200 year old Catalan tradition The Catalan tradition of creating human towers has existed for over 200 years and nowadays there are a total of 77 official groups that take compete in the activity. Tournaments usually take place during the summer festivals of Catalan towns and cities and in 2010 the tradition was declared a UNESCO element of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Archive HOUSING First published: December 3, 2023 10:13 AM The unprecedented drought is causing problems for many areas of life in Catalonia.  Restrictions on the use of water mean most people in the territory have a cap on how much water they can use daily, while there are also limits on agricultural, industrial, and recreational uses of this resource.  This poses particular challenges for ice rinks opening in Catalonia during the festive season.  To face this, traders in Vilafranca del Penedès have installed their ice rink using water that is unsafe for drinking, while in Girona, they have made the ice in their rink thinner to save on the amount of water being used.   Spokesperson for the Vilafranca Activa traders association, Xavier Lecegui, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) that their rink with non-potable water "is almost unique in the sector." The track uses 22,000 liters of ground water from municipal wells, which will be poured into the sewer when the campaign ends. "We expect to increase the return due to the humidity that solidifies," he explains.  The ice rink in Vilafranca has been opening each Christmas season for almost 15 years and attracts around 11,000 skaters every year. Vilafranca Activa considered installing a synthetic ice rink, but this was rejected as they found it would pollute far more emissions. In Girona, in northern Catalonia, the ice rink will be thinner this year, reducing water use by 40%.  Of the 80,000 liters that would be used in normal circumstances, this Christmas it is estimated that only 48,000 litres will be used. Coralí Cunyat, director of Fira de Girona events center where the ice rink is located, explains to ACN that the thickness of the ice sheet will be reduced by another centimeter this year, adding to the 3cm that were cut off the rink last year. Cunyat says the water "in no way will be wasted" because when the track closes it will be returned to the network. In Olot, regenerated water will be used and in Platja d'Aro, the water used will be extracted from a municipal well that is not suitable for consumption. The pre-emergency drought phase does not specifically regulate whether or not ice rinks can be installed. The Catalan government leaves it in the hands of the local councils because, as the department of climate action explains, it is the councils who must assess "the need" to install rinks. However, the Catalan government does clarify that installing an ice rink, under no circumstances, must mean "increasing the daily allocation set in the pre-emergency phase." In the pre-emergency phase, citizens are only allowed to use a maximum of 210 liters per day.  Vilafranca del Penedès hosts one of the season’s top events with four of the best groups Guifré Jordan | Barcelona arguably the heart of one of Catalonia’s finest wine-growing regions and where cava is not only a festive drink but a highly profitable business another quintessentially Catalan tradition runs strong: human towers this tradition is lived out at least once a year and is followed with as much expectation as the most crucial of football matches is honored with a human tower building session They are made by large groups of people known as ‘colles’ that form tiers of differing sizes with those above balancing on the shoulders of those below There are typically one or two ‘colles’ per town present at the event Hours before the session starts at 12:15 pm with the surrounding houses’ balconies offering privileged views According to the specialized media outlet elmoncasteller.cat spectators can expect up to 10-tier tall human towers which is the highest number seen in this tradition More than one of the groups may try to build such a tower or others such as the 8-tier tall towers with one person per floor.  Declared Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010, Catalonia's human towers -or 'castells'- are one of the country's most unique customs. The tradition first documented in the 17th century sees large groups -known as 'colles'- forming tiers of differing numbers of people standing on the shoulders of those below them. A human tower is only complete once a child called the 'enxaneta', who can be as young as five, clambers to the very top of the structure and raises their arm. The towers are a common -and breathtaking- sight in towns squares all over the country, where they are built during local festivals to the sound of traditional 'gralla' flutes and drums. There are 'colles' in towns and cities all over Catalonia that spend months practising at building the tallest and most complex human constructions. The Royal Palace of Vilafranca del Penedès will host the old contents of the Wine Culture Museum of Catalonia (Vinseum) which were disassembled and moved to the new building. Complementary with this, new exhibits have been produced to widen the offerings. In total, this new space will present about 400 pieces. In the previous building, all the pieces were introduced to the visitors with panels of texts next to them. In the new one, and according to the Museum architect designer, Dani Freixas, there will not be any text explanation as the museum will be explained to the visitors with audio guides. Due to the purpose of describing wine culture, people that over the years have created a link between wine and Penedès will be part of the audio guides to explain it in the first person. The exhibition is organised around a narrative script: the link with the land and the past, the process of winemaking, its commercialisation, the impact on people’s lives and discussions on wine and vineyards. Two and a half years of complex building work The restoration work on the building emphasised the medieval elements of the Royal Palace and it has maintained the restoration work done in the mid-twentieth century by Diputació de Barcelona and Jeroni Martorell. The Royal Palace has now a total available surface of 1,800 square metres including the exhibition area - 500 square metres -, an auditorium, a shop and a tavern where wine tasting and promotion of wine and cava culture will take place. In total, the building work started in 2006 and will last until 2015 or 2016 and  will cost €3,2 million - 75% from the Spanish Government and 25% from the city council. However, the project also has €1 million from the Spanish Ministry of Culture for the museum equipment and about €200,000 from the Catalan Government for future phases of the project. The definitive building will have 3,000 square metres available as the building next to the Royal Palace has to be demolished to build a new one of about 2,000 square metres. Soler has highlighted that the project “has already been written” and that “they already have the funding to start the project, but not to finish it”. The total cost of this new phase will be €20 million and the work will last about two years. Penedès, the main production area of wine and cava in Catalonia The area of Penedès is located in the mid-centre of Catalonia near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is famous for its red, white and cava wine production and it has its own wine appellation (DO). ancient lanes and sparkling wine combine on a tour south-west of Barcelona on which it’s not only the hill climbs that make this cyclist feel dizzy Sun 9 Jul 2017 08.00 CESTLast modified on Fri 7 Jun 2019 13.12 CESTShareMetres ahead the air seems to be wobbling in the midday Catalonian sun It is only when I reach the peak of the incline that I realise these wobbles are not heatwaves rippling from the road clouds of white butterflies are dancing above the vineyards that drop down towards the village of La Granada They flutter across my face and land on my arms like stone sentinels keeping watch from the horizon If it wasn’t for the sunburn and my padded lyrca shorts I would feel like a princess in a Disney film Enchanting moments such as this pepper my cycling expedition through Alt Penedès a rolling region less than an hour’s train ride south-west of Barcelona My husband and I are sampling part of a new six-day cycling itinerary pedalling between boutique guesthouses via an ancient web of lanes criss-crossing one of Europe’s oldest viticultural heartlands Frequent stops at the wineries that produce the local cava are obligatory The route starts in Sant Jaume dels Domenys and winds its way through rolling vineyards to Cal Ruget in Rovira Roja and on to the sleepy village of Sant Llorenç d’Hortons – with stays in three rural hotels (our luggage is transferred by car) The route covers on average about 30km each day.Spectacular abandoned farmhouses line the roads a reminder of how strongly history resonates in the region Generalissimo Franco sought to crush Catalonia’s sense of identity but now the region’s bright red and yellow flag flutters from many homes and independence is again freely debated in places such as the gothic quarter of Vilafranca Del Penedès Navigation is old-school: the daily 30km route is detailed on a paper map and printed directions (with details of wineries to look out for and suggested stops) At times the journey can be a fraught affair with getting lost among the endless vineyards an ever-present risk Long lunches (not included in the price) become part of our daily routine One culinary highlight is rice with squid ink which we wash down with some Raventos i Blanc de Nit Rose 2014 at Cal Ticus in the region’s cava capital Cava at Hotel De Giminelles.Many here are convinced cava’s time has come Although its reputation has been somewhat muddied by cheapish sugary bottles that might be found next to Lambrini in the supermarket the success of prosecco as a non-luxury sparkling wine has articulated the market potential for what is ostensibly champagne at a brilliant price Both champagne and cava are produced using the same méthode champenoise is a chance to sample a range of sophisticated tastes and flavours with plenty of organic and biodynamic varieties Beneath Alt Penedès lies an enormous network of deep subterranean halls crammed with fermenting bottles of the stuff Gothic quarter of Vilafranca Del Penedes.Sampling another gran reserva brut natura in the gardens of the Parés Bàlta family-owned winery confirms that my rapidly acquired taste for bubbles could be permanent even offers the chance to taste while perusing its museum The local cuisine dovetails perfectly for the requirements of a day’s cycling Breakfast is an onslaught of bread flavoured with fresh tomatoes It’s a delicious carb load that powers us through several hill climbs Days end with feasts at each guesthouse (often with a trademark fusion of land and sea such as chicken and langoustine) Harriet cycling towards mountains of Montserrat.However exhausting moments of cycling uphill are there are few better feelings than the righteous glow after a day’s exercise One such moment comes late one afternoon on the terrace of Hotel de Gimenelles in Sant Jaume Before me stands a chilled bottle of Jané Ventura Reserva de la Música Cava 2012 Below are vineyards where the grape I am now tasting grew Across the fields comes the sound of laughter from a farmhouse where friends are enjoying a lunch Looking for cycling holiday inspiration? Browse The Guardian’s selection of cycling holidays on the Guardian Holidays website Welcome to packagingeurope.com. This site uses cookies. Read our policy Paints and coatings company AkzoNobel is investing €32 million into a new plant at Vilafranca del Penedès to manufacture bisphenol-free coatings for metal packaging companies in the EMEA region the new facility is set to create around 40 new jobs and fulfil a ‘strong need’ from the packaging industry It has also been designed for eco-efficiency hoping to meet the ‘best possible’ standards director of the company’s Industrial Coatings business explains: “The Vilafranca plant will allow us to offer leading-edge products to any customer and country in EMEA responding to the most stringent bisphenol regulations in force in Europe The investment is in line with our view that bisphenols of any kind are no longer required to create safe coatings.” The investment comes after AkzoNobel launched its first BPA-NI internal coating for beverage can ends in May they comply with both EU and FDA regulations for contact-sensitive packaging This has since been followed by the release of two external coatings as the first instalments for AkzoNobel’s Accelstyle range These products are designed for conventional two-piece aluminium beer and beverage cans and are reportedly free from bisphenol Kavanagh continues: “Both new products – Accelstyle 100 and 200 – can be seamlessly introduced into existing production processes allowing can makers to transition to coatings that are free from materials of concern while remaining as commercially viable as possible “The new technology we’ve developed can also reduce carbon footprint by around 30% compared with current epoxy alternatives highlighting the fact that bisphenol-free metal packaging isn’t just circular it also meets consumer expectations for sustainable packaging.” AkzoNobel underlines its commitment to both consumer safety and sustainability in its material substitutions It also aims to keep value chain disruption at a minimum working alongside customers to transition into bisphenol alternatives as quickly as possible Its inner coating is made of a non-BPA epoxy gold lacquer PPG’s acrylic internal spray coating for aluminium beverage cans was unveiled in the summer of 2022 and also claims to be free of BPA or bisphenol starting substances The L’Oréal approach to packaging sustainability The way we talk about plastic needs to change – here’s how to get it right What steps is Apple taking to make its packaging more sustainable? The Danone approach to packaging sustainability Site powered by Webvision Cloud Events include wine tasting, vineyard visits and cultural outings Xènia Palau | Barcelona The annual grape harvest season in Catalonia is known as the ‘verema’ Harvest times vary depending on the hemisphere - in the southern one it usually takes place between February and April while in the north it typically begins in August the so-called ‘festes de la verema’ in Catalan are celebrations held in places where the harvest has just taken place Catalonia has 11 wine Denominations of Origin (D.O.) and one Cava Here’s a guide to what to watch out for in some of these winegrowing regions: In the Penedès region the second edition of the Harvest Festival of Vilafranca del Penedès will start on September 4 kicking off a month of wine-related activities several wine cellars in the region will allow people to visit their facilities and have picnics out in their vineyards.  If you want to enjoy the festivity even closer to Barcelona, Alella is currently celebrating its 47th edition which started on August 27 and will last until September 8 the Masies d’Alella traditional country houses Up north, from September 4 in the city of Figueres and in the whole Empordà area several wine cellars from the region will hold activities for visitors including vineyard walks meals with local food products and wine tasting you can also step on grapes to make your own wine.  In central Catalonia, the 26th edition of the harvest festival of Bages county will take place in the town of Artés the first weekend of October There will be exhibitions, a photography contest among many other activities that will be announced this September.  If you find yourself in the south of Catalonia, you can enjoy the Ancient Harvest Wine Festival, on September 4, in the small town of Poboleda people will have the chance to participate in the harvest at the vineyards eat at community meals and participate in wine tasting events.  Some other celebrations have already finished, such as that in the southern city of Espluga de Francolí, which celebrated its 50th edition from August 26 to August 29. People could enjoy wine tastings, cultural activities and guided walks through the vineyards. the Staff Room (Sala de Professors) in Josep Carner Building in the Faculty of Philology to pay homage to the distinguished sociolinguist on the occasion of his retirement Vilafranca’s wine museum has an extraordinary collection of diverse items relating to the history of wine making These 17,000 items are fundamental to reaching a complete understanding of a territory that has always been marked by wine and vines The museum’s different exhibitions and audiovisual presentations will help you to understand how wine is made and its historical and economic impact on the territory To view comments, please register for free or log in to your account. The town of Vilafranca del Penedès was founded in the 12th century and became an important political and economic centre Today it boasts a charming town centre with a relaxed village feel and a number of buildings and monuments which recall its past Start from the Plaça de Jaume I and let yourself wander along the roads which lead out from the square Basilica Santa Maria church in Vilafranca del Penedes A tour will include a visit of the property an introduction to Cava making methods and of course Book this top-rated Cava winery tour in the Penedès area for an unforgettable trip The stunning scenery in the countryside around Vilafranca de Penedès is ideal for bike rides with easy routes for beginners or those looking for a leisurely ride and more strenuous routes for the more experienced cyclists Local companies such as El Molí Tours offer both bike hire and organised tours in English as well as Spanish Check out the Vinseum wine museum So important is the tie between Vilafranca and wine that Catalonia’s premier museum dedicated to wine is located here, housed within a former Royal Plaace. Vinseum – a combination of vin and ‘museum’ – contains some 17,000 objects related to wine making in Catalonia covering the introduction of vinification methods by the Ancient Romans up until the current day Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Shop at the Saturday market Every Saturday the town centre comes to life as some 200 producers set up shop on the main square of Vilafranca de Penedès from 8am to 2pm The market is a perfect occasion to familiarise yourself with local produce and buy authentic souvenirs such as cured meats Admire the Basilica de Santa Maria The most astounding of the historic monuments in Vilafranca, the basilica de Santa Maria is a 13th century Gothich church which was awarded the status of basilica in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. Just like the famous cathedral of Barcelona the basilica’s facade is actually a neo-Gothic facade which was added in the 19th century while the lateral sides and interior boast original Gothic features If you’re not in the mood for visiting the wineries, get straight to the business of Cava tasting at a local bodega instead. You’ll be able to get an abridged version of how Cava wines are made and taste the difference between a Brut and Nature style Cavas. Places such as Coupage Vinoteca of the Taverna de Vinseum offer a wide range of local and international wines Goblet of red wine above the barrel between the rows of a vineyard Admire the historic wine merchants’ houses The growth in popularity of Spanish sparkling wine throughout the 19th and 20th century meant prosperity for local wine merchants The town centre is dotted with remarkable town houses erected by the merchants to attest of their success the Casal dels Gomà and the Casal del Marquès d’Alfarràs which are particularly noteworthy A visit to the ares wouldn’t be complete without the chance to try the local gastronomy and put the local wines to the test. Having opened its doors back in 1982, the restaurant Cal Ton is one of the town’s most well-regarded – having received a mention in the Michelin Guide – and offers a refined selection of dishes grounded in local culinary tradition including an ample selection of both meat and fish dishes They say cemeteries can tell you a lot about a city’s history and the cemetery of Vilafranca del Penedès is no exception Classed among the Significant Cemeteries of Europe it boasts ornate mausoleums belonging to some of the town’s most illustrious and affluent figures Wander along its tree-lined pathways and you’ll be able to piece together the history of this remarkable Catalan town Tara is a travel writer and editor who lived in Barcelona for 5 years writing exclusively for Culture Trip She has a passion for sharing experiences around food and wine See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips How to Attend a Bullfight in Spain Guides & Tips How to Spend the Perfect 24 Hours in 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The origin was the arrest of a foreign criminal while attempting to squat in an apartment The disturbances highlighted the public order problem that Mataró faces where 70% more squatting occurs than the average in Catalonia Media outlets and far-left organizations have contributed to whitewashing squatting under the pretext of the housing crisis in Catalonia more and more people in Catalonia see squatting as a main source of crime Days after the events in the Cerdanyola neighborhood two squatters from Mataró committed a violent robbery in another town This shows that squatting is one of the main factors in the rise of insecurity affecting Catalonia ending squatting is the first step to reducing the impunity that fosters crime The Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested five people as alleged perpetrators of a violent robbery in a store in Vilafranca del Penedès The investigation indicates that three of them lived in Valls The thieves lived in two squatted apartments in Valls and Mataró they broke into an establishment in Vilafranca del Penedès to steal various items The two men blocked the doors so that the three women could escape with the stolen goods Two employees ran after them but were assaulted and sprayed with pepper spray The police investigation led to the thieves who turned out to be three sisters aged between 19 and 29 The police also arrested their accomplices two men aged between 25 and 41 who have accumulated a dozen arrests The thieves had previously acted in Sabadell and Vilafranca This highlights the problem of squatting and repeat offenses in Catalonia It also underscores the danger of certain narratives that use the housing crisis to justify crime Two of the detainees lived in a squatted apartment in Mataró although it is not confirmed to be in the neighborhood of last week's disturbances has a serious problem with squatting and insecurity The housing problem can't be used as a pretext to continue encouraging squatting National Geographic celebrated the 25th anniversary of Explorer the longest-running documentary series in cable television history Monsters and Critics was invited back in April of 2010 to go to DC for the festive event with National Geographic Channel’s executive VP of content Steve Burns and Michael Rosenfeld president of National Geographic Television as the network prepared a giant Globe cake with cake cutting honors who narrated the documentary of the history of the series as Monsters and Critics joined Explorer in Villafranca Spain where we met executive producer Gretchen Eisele and their new host National Geographic is expanding Explorer into a multi-platform franchise The numbers for this series are impressive: Explorer will premiere 13 episodes with 53 unique stories this season as the current season was filmed in 26 countries and 27 states Explorer will premiere on National Geographic in 172 countries and in 43 languages Venerable new host Phil Keoghan has been added to their accomplished roster of journalists who immerse themselves and dig up compelling stories all over the world and Gretchen Eisele are the series’ current executive producers Eisele was with us in Spain and oversaw the entire soon to be aired Castellers segment showing the Festa Major of Vilafranca del Penedès that honors patron Saint Fèlix Keoghan immersed himself in this Catalonian tradition of building Castells He also dined in one of the Castellers’ homes and learned intimate insider knowledge on why these Catalans proudly keep this death-defying tower building tradition going with each generation We spoke to Gretchen about her exciting career and love for the Explorer franchise Monsters and Critics: When did you start with National Geographic in your career Gretchen Eisele: Previous to National Geographic I had worked for a company called Pulse Films on a special for History Channel and prior to that For a total of 18 years actually but the last 10 was at Peacock Productions I was an Executive Producer there for 10 years What made you want to become a producer versus a director or in the industry in a different capacity “Ah ha” moment came when I was a senior in college and I couldn’t decide what to do I had been a literature major and I knew I loved photography and I wanted to get into media but I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do I was watching 60 Minutes and I decided that’s what I want to do I want to make stories like on 60 Minutes; and then from there I got an internship with Bill Moyers in New York and that was the beginning M&C: How do you see Explorer evolving in its tone or point of view with Phil Keoghan Gretchen Eisele: I think what Phil will bring … along with the fans that he just has from Amazing Race I think the tone this season will be a little bit lighter Explorer did a lot of investigative stories and some of them were on the darker side and we haven’t completely backed away from that We’re still doing a lot of really interesting investigative work but we’re also trying to shine a light on stories about people and ideas and innovations that are making the world a better M&C: Tell me how Explorer is structured this season there’ll be a hiatus for two weeks I believe at Christmas time and then we’ll be back on One act of each episode is Phil’s journey he takes us to an exotic place in every episode and then we balance out the rest of the episode with a mix of stories from our different correspondents about different topics and we try and have one international story We try and have one story that may be a little bit more serious in its nature and then a story that may be a little bit lighter and brighter but there’s no prescription for any of them We just really pick our best stories from the whole season and try and give people a mix and it’s one of the things that’s really unique and special about the series is that every time you tune in you’re going to get something new and different M&C: Most vexing issue or problem as an Executive Producer for this series is… Gretchen Eisele: I would say the hardest thing with Explorer is the volume We have produced over 50 stories in the last year That’s a lot of stories with a lot of moving parts We have producers that we’re trying to keep in the field on the stories but there are so many things that need to line up with every single story in terms of the logistics and it’s like a Rubik’s Cube at any moment making all the pieces fit And keeping everything running efficiently M&C: Tell me a little bit about the other correspondents that work with Phil Gretchen Eisele:  Mariana van Zeller is somebody that’s returned from past seasons She’s done some of our most interesting and dangerous stories this year She went to Gaza and she went into the tunnels in between the Gaza Strip and Israel and she is somebody that you kind of can’t not watch because she’s really magnetic on screen Albert Lin is one of our new correspondents this year He’s a National Geographic Explorer and he’s a really interesting guy who’s just naturally curious about the world and he’s brought a new personality to the table that I think people are really going to respond to Tim Samuels is also a returning correspondent He’s a Brit with a really wry sense of humor and so he brings his own personality to a lot of the stories He’s a long time producer for many years at National Geographic and he embodies the brand M&C: Who’s a great unsung hero behind the scenes Who is your right arm in getting these stories told It’s so hard to answer that because it really does take a village I really wouldn’t want to single out any one department or any one person There is so much that goes on with production management in terms of the logistics with having all of our teams all over the world and keeping them safe and keeping their schedules running and their hotels and their flights it’s an incredible department that just does all of that Our Post Production Team is amazing and none of the stories amount to anything unless you have people who can put them together well and make them into well crafted well-edited stories that people will respond to and they’ve done a terrific job with that They’re the ones who are leaving home to go out in the world and bring the stories back and having very our cinematographers are just the top of the game and they just bring it every time when they go out one of the unsung heroes would be the Development Team because there’s nothing without a story idea and it takes a lot to actually develop the stories To find stories that are stories that are unique and that you can get unique access to and then book the characters and shape the story we don’t have anything at all and it’s a very tall order to come up with that many stories because for every one that we’re actually able to do there is probably five that fall through before we get out the door M&C: How would you describe Explorer as a show a concept and how it differentiates from the rest of the stuff that’s out there Gretchen Eisele: I would say Explorer … the easiest thing for people to understand is that its sort of a 60 minutes in the natural history Every one of our episodes are about the way people interact with the natural world in one way or another and we take places … we take people to places and tell stories that nobody else is really telling We do a lot more foreign stories than most US outlets do and we dig a little deeper than the news ever gets to do because our stories are longer We have a longer amount of time to develop them and tell them and so really there isn’t anything like it on television Explorer airs Mondays at 10/9 c on National Geographic Channel Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value"