Sunday morning visits


You can sign up for our Sunday morning visits when you register for the conference or at a later date by writing to Anne Murray.


Castle/wine cellar visit

This visit will take in two historic buildings—a templar castle and a modernist wine cellar—in the nearby picturesque village of Barberà de la Conca.The cost of this trip will be between €10 and €12, payable at the venue. The price includes the castle and wine cellar visit, wine tasting, and transport.

Meeting point and time: Hostatgeria, 9:30 a.m.
Finish time: The visit should end around 12:00 midday. After this, you will be dropped off either in Montblanc (a nearby medieval town, where you can catch a train to Barcelona at 2:03 p.m. or 4:32 p.m.) or in Poblet. The same train that leaves Poblet (L’Espluga de Francoli station) stops at Montblanc.

Group walk 1: Poblet to Castell de Milmanda and back (led by Mary Ellen Kerans)

  • Difficulty and distance: Easy (some hills, gentle grade, good surface quality on most of the track with one brief 400 m section on a vineyard path that’s slightly rougher). The total distance is around 5 km and the total estimated altitude change—up and down—is about 100 m.
  • Walking time: About 40 minutes each way at a gentle pace.
  • Total time: Allow 1.5 h if just walking and having a quick look at the Castell de Milmanda (fortified manor house, now an information center for the Torres winery) (back by 1 p.m., in time to get a taxi or the eCPD Webinars shuttle to the station (L’Espluga de Francolí) for the 1:57 p.m. train to Barcelona-Sants [arrives at 4:06]). Allow about 3 h if staying for the guided tour and glass of wine (€3.10/person) (back by 2:30 p.m., in time to have lunch and get a taxi to the station for the 4:27 p.m. train to Barcelona-Sants [arrives at 6:35 p.m.]). Those who want to walk back faster for any reason would have no trouble finding their way on their own.
Meeting point and time: Hostatgeria, 11:30 a.m. (This start time allows those interested to attend the 10 a.m. high mass (with organ music and responses sung by the choir of monks).

Group walk 2: Poblet to Mirador (lookout) and back (led by John Bates)

  • Difficulty and distance: Fairly easy if you don’t mind a climb (along a dirt-gravel forest service road) that zig-zags up to the lookout (excellent views, estimated altitude 720 m). The grade is mostly gradual (only occasionally is it briefly more than 20º) but there’s one short section (about 150 m) that’s about 20-25º at the end. The total distance is slightly under 5 km and the altitude change is roughly 200 m from the monastery to the lookout.
  • Walking time: About 40 minutes each way.
Meeting point and time: Hostatgeria, 10:00 a.m.

Information for those traveling back to Barcelona

Once you have arrived at Barcelona-Sants (the main Barcelona train station), you can catch a commuter train to the airport (Terminal 2). These trains leave twice per hour and take just under 20 minutes to reach the airport. If travel time is tight, you should probably budget for a taxi or check the exact train departure times in October. Please note that the last train to Barcelona leaves L’Espluga de Francolí at 4:27 p.m. (arrives at Barcelona-Sants at 6:35 p.m.). The last train for which MET will provide a free shuttle service leaves L’Espluga de Francolí at 1:57 p.m. (arrives at Barcelona-Sants at 4:06 p.m.).

More activities

Portrait photograph
Room with a view
Guided tour
Musical ensemble

Also, don't forget to check out our off-METM activities