Free walking tours in Valls and what to see

Must-sees

Valls is the capital of the Alt Camp, in inland Tarragona province, and is considered the birthplace of the castells, the Catalan human towers. The two oldest teams, the Colla Vella and the Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls, were born here, and Plaça del Blat is the historic stage of their performances. The Museu Casteller de Catalunya, opened in 2024, uses very visual displays to explain how a human tower is built and what this tradition means.

In the old town, the church of Sant Joan Baptista stands out, with one of the tallest bell towers in Catalonia. Close by, the Roser chapel holds large tile panels depicting the battle of Lepanto. Valls is also calçot country: in winter the calçotada, a feast of grilled spring onions with romesco sauce, is held in farmhouses and restaurants, and at the end of January the town devotes a big festival to it.

Free tours and guided visits

Valls has no regular free walking tours, but organised visits are available. You can book a guided tour of the old town covering the human-tower venues and the religious heritage, plus a ticket to the Museu Casteller. In season, some teams open their rehearsals to the public, letting you see up close how the castells are prepared.

How long to spend

Half a day is enough for the museum and the old town. If you come in calçot season, add a long lunch and make it a full day. With two days you can visit the monastery of Santes Creus, a few kilometres away, or Tarragona. If you want to see castells in the square, the Santa Úrsula festivities in October are the big event.

Where to stay

Sleeping in central Valls, near Plaça del Blat and the museum, lets you get around on foot and soak up the town’s atmosphere. In the surroundings there are farmhouses and rural cottages among vineyards, a good option if you have a car. If you cannot find a room, Tarragona and the coast, less than half an hour away, have far more choice.