Free walking tours in Escaladei and what to see

Must-sees

Escaladei is a small hamlet in the Priorat, in the municipality of La Morera de Montsant, at the foot of the cliffs of the Montsant range. Its name comes from the charterhouse of Escaladei, founded in the 12th century, the first of the Carthusian order in the Iberian Peninsula. For centuries the monks promoted vine growing in the area, which is why the place is so closely tied to Priorat wine.

The ruins of the charterhouse are the main visit: you walk through the remains of the cloisters, the church and a reconstructed cell that shows how the monks lived. The hamlet has several wineries of the Priorat appellation, and the landscape of terraced vines on slate is an attraction in itself. For walking, the trails of the Serra de Montsant Natural Park start very close by.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Escaladei. On Civitatis there is a winery visit with tasting, the most popular plan in the area. The charterhouse, run by Catalonia's heritage agency, offers guided visits on certain dates. There are also wine tours from Tarragona or Reus that visit several Priorat wineries.

How long to spend

The charterhouse and a stroll around the hamlet take about two hours. If you add a winery visit, allow a long half day. With a full day you can go up to La Morera de Montsant, with views over the valley. With two days, explore other wine villages such as Gratallops, Porrera or Torroja del Priorat and do a walk in the Montsant.

Where to stay

Escaladei has few beds, with a small rural place or two, so book early. La Morera de Montsant, just above, has rural houses with views. Poboleda and Gratallops are good bases among the vines. For more choice and services, Falset, the county town, is about half an hour away by car and well connected with the rest of the Priorat.