Association
of Tourism Businesses
of Montseny

Gualba

GUALBA

The municipal area of Gualba covers 23.24 square kilometres, and occupies the extreme northeast of the region of the Vallès Oriental and its border with the municipal area of Riells and Viabrea marks the county limits. The town lies at 177 m. above sea level and is flanked to the north east by Riells and Viabrea, to the southeast with Batllòria and La Tordera, to the northwest by Fogars de Montclús and Campins, and to the southwest by Sant Celoni. The river of Gualba runs through the area, beginning at the spring of La Font de Briancó, passing along the valley of La Vall de Santa Fe, and finally flowing into the river of La Tordera, near Gualba de Baix.

Other rivers such as El Sot de les Pedreres, and those of La Manera, the Cambó, and Can Renau, and Terrades, flow into the river which marks the municipal boundary with Sant Celoni, and the river of El Torrent de Can Dansa which flows directly into La Tordera. The area is elongated, spanning some 8 km, as the crow flies, from northwest to southeast.

The C-35 road from Granollers to Girona and the railway line from Barcelona to Portbou cross the southern part of the area. The railway station is located at the extreme southeast of the municipality near the limits with La Batllòria.

Many walkers and writers have visited Gualba such as the Romantic, Víctor Balaguer (1824-1901) or Artur Osona (1840-1901), although the person to popularise the region the most was Eugeni d'Ors (1881-1954), with his novel "Gualba of a Thousand Voices” (1915).

All the area of Gualba, but especially the sector in the upper part of its river, carved out by the valley of La Vall de Santa Fe by a small reservoir which feeds the two centres of the Central de Dalt and the Central de Baix, is an area of outstanding natural beauty. The river which divides the area, runs from the heights of the Montseny to the river basin of La Tordera with spectacular waterfalls such as the pool of El Gorg Negre (a place of legends, inhabited by water nymphs), and the spectacular Salt de Gualba. The latter falls from a terraced area 133 metres in height which transforms the river into torrent of white foam, hence the name of Gualba or “Whitewater”.

HERITAGE:
The Church of Sant Vicenç: 11th century Romanesque Church and recently restored, preserving fragments of a Gothic altarpiece with painted tables.

The Hermitage of Sant Cristòfol: documented since 1328, surrounded by beautiful scenery such as the Gorg Negre, El Salt de Gualba (a waterfall of some 33 metres in height) and El Turó de Morou (1,307 m.).

Masos (traditional farm houses): Mas de l'Illa, La Coma and Can Renau.