Historic Fish Farm, the First in Spain

In 1866 Monasterio de Piedra created the first fish farm in Spain, and in 2026 it reopened to the public as part of the park route. It is a stop children enjoy, with ponds, channels and a place to rest before carrying on.

A little history

It was founded by Juan Federico Muntadas Jornet (1826-1912), the man who turned the old monastery's orchard into a landscaped garden. The quality and steady flow of the River Piedra made the site ideal for raising fish, above all trout. With a hydraulic system that moved the water by gravity, the fish farm filled its ponds and for more than a century was used to research, breed and restock many Spanish rivers. It stopped operating in 2016.

What you can see now

To mark the bicentenary of Muntadas's birth, the monastery has added the area around the old fish farm to the park, which until now was outside the route. Ponds and fish weirs have been restored, historic buildings have been renovated, the original hydraulic system has been brought back into view and the riverside woodland has been replanted with native species.

The walk passes between the ponds and channels, where you can see how the water was used for breeding. One of the restored buildings houses the Juan Federico Muntadas Jornet Space, devoted to his life and legacy, with the audiovisual "The Memory of Water", the story of Piedra told in the first person by the river itself. Another space explains the natural wealth of the river, its wildlife and its vegetation. The area also has rest areas, tables, children's play areas and a place to get a drink.

Hours and admission

It is included in the park ticket: €20 for adults and €14.20 for ages 4 to 11 and over-65s in 2026. Access to the fish farm closes earlier than the rest of the park: at 17:15, and at 16:45 from 10 November to 6 January. Bear in mind that you cannot enter the park with food.

Combining it

It fits within the park route. If you are with children, time the stop around one of the birds of prey display shows and leave the monastery, which closes later, for the end.