# Sant Joan long weekend from Manresa: getaways for Sant Joan, 24 June Three getaways with a night away and four day trips from Manresa for Sant Joan: the verbena night with the Flama del Canigó and, on 24 June, the first summer of the Berguedà, the Ripollès, the Vero and Carcassonne. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/manresa/getaways/sant-joan-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Manresa - [A weekend in the Ripollès: Romanesque monasteries and the Núria rack railway](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/itineraries/ripolles-romanesque-monasteries-and-nuria.md) (2 nights, Ripoll): With Sant Joan Núria's summer begins: green meadows, the lake free of ice and the longest days of the year for walking up from the valley. Buy the Rack Railway ticket online and take one of the first trains: summer is when most people go up. - [A weekend in Alquézar: canyoning, walkways and Somontano wine](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/alquezar/itineraries/alquezar-canyoning-walkways-somontano-wine.md) (2 nights, Alquézar and the River Vero): At the end of June the Vero already invites you into the water and the canyon is done before the heavy heat of July and August. The walkways open ticket sales at the start of the previous month: buy those for 24 June as soon as they come out. - [A weekend in Carcassonne: the Cité, the Canal du Midi and a Cathar castle](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/occitanie/carcassonne/itineraries/weekend-cite-from-girona.md) (2 nights, Carcassonne): On the other side of the border 24 June is an ordinary day, with no verbena and no holiday road. The Cité has light until ten at night and the Canal du Midi boat sails all season: two nights are enough for everything. - [Mining train and Cement Train](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/berga/itineraries/cement-gaudi-gardens-and-mine.md) (Day itinerary, Berga): The Cement Train usually runs on 24 June and the following days even if they fall midweek, before going daily in summer. The Cercs mine is cool inside: bring a jacket even if it is hot outside. - [Berguedà by motorbike: Coll de la Creueta and a mountain table](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/berga/itineraries/bergueda-motorbike-route.md) (Day itinerary, Berga): In June the Coll de la Creueta, at 1,921 metres, no longer has the gravel of spring and the meadows are full of cows and loose horses. Set off early on the 24th to avoid the valley heat and descend carefully on each blind bend. - [Montseny: easy beech forest and grill](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/montseny-beech-forest-and-grill.md) (Day itinerary, Montseny): In June the Santa Fe beech wood is a green, cool tunnel, over a thousand metres up, for the morning after the verbena. The Fonda del Montseny has a grill and is closed Monday and Tuesday: if the 24th falls on those days, check it is open. - [Prades: red town and Roca Foradada](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/prades/itineraries/prades-red-village-and-roca-foradada-from-tarragona.md) (Day itinerary, Prades): At 950 metres, Prades is one of the few ranges near the Bages where in June you can still walk at midday. In summer the Fonda Espasa opens every day, and the Roca Foradada is half an hour from the village on an easy path. ## The verbena first Sant Joan, 24 June, is a holiday across Catalonia, and what makes it different is the night before. In Manresa, on the afternoon of the 23rd the Flama del Canigó arrives, renewed on the summit on the night of the 22nd and distributed across the country to light the bonfires; there are parades to the Plaça Major, coca, firecrackers and a street party until late. That is why almost nobody travels on the 23rd: the long weekend begins on the morning of the 24th, when the city sleeps. If the holiday falls next to a weekend, set off on the 24th towards the north or France and come back on Sunday. If it falls on its own, stay for a day: the Berguedà and Prades are morning outings and home for dinner. ## Three days for the Pyrenees and France With three days, the Ripollès, an hour away via Vic, is enough for the two monasteries and the Núria valley. Alquézar, almost three hours away via the Eix Transversal and Lleida, is the first river swim of summer. And Carcassonne, three and a half hours away, has the advantage that there the 24th is not a holiday: no verbena the night before and no road full of traffic on the way back. ## The Berguedà in a day From Manresa, the Berguedà is forty minutes away by the C-16. The Cement Train, between La Pobla de Lillet and the Clot del Moro, usually adds Sant Joan and the following days to its calendar, and combines with the Cercs mine, with its mining train 450 metres under the mountain. If you go by motorbike, the climb to the Coll de la Creueta goes through Castellar de n'Hug and the Fonts del Llobregat; in June the road is clear and the meadows above are full of livestock. ## For the heat of the 24th At the end of June the Bages easily goes above thirty degrees. Look for height: the Santa Fe beech wood, in the Montseny, is above a thousand metres, and Prades is at 950. Walk in the morning and leave the afternoon for lunch in the shade. ## Tickets and beds The Núria Rack Railway and the Cement Train: buy online. The Vero walkways and the canyon, timed. Beds in Alquézar and in the Cité. And lunches on the 24th: many families eat out that day. ## A day of trains The Berguedà day is for them: two trains, a mine and Gaudí's garden at the Jardins Artigas. In Núria, the lake and the Coma del Clot cable car, which is included in the Rack Railway ticket. At Santa Fe, the loop round the reservoir is flat. And in Prades, the adventure park among the trees. ## Good to know At Montserrat, the Escolania stops singing from the end of June to the end of August: if you want to hear it, go before Sant Joan. In Sant Sadurní, the Cava Centre closes on 24 June. On the night of the 23rd there is a fire risk and in many forests lighting fires or setting off firecrackers is forbidden: respect the notices. And the return from the long weekend loads the C-16 and C-17 on the last day from five o'clock. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Is Sant Joan a holiday in Catalonia? Yes, 24 June is a holiday across Catalonia every year. The big celebration is the verbena on the night of the 23rd. ### When does the Flama del Canigó arrive in Manresa? On the afternoon of 23 June, with a parade to the Plaça Major before the bonfire is lit. The Town Hall publishes the time each year. ### Does the Cement Train run on 24 June? It usually runs that day and the following ones. Confirm the calendar on the Turistren website and buy your ticket online. ### Which getaway has no verbena? Carcassonne: in France 24 June is an ordinary day.