# Sunday in the Montseny: Montsoriu Castle and Chestnut Cooking in Viladrau A climb through the forest to the Gothic castle of the Viscounts of Cabrera, a free guided visit and a lunch with Viladrau chestnuts all over the menu. An hour from Girona. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montseny/itineraries/montsoriu-castle-and-chestnut-lunch-from-girona · Revisado: 2026-11-12 ## El día - 08:45 · Salida: 1 h by car (from Girona via the AP-7 and Arbúcies, one hour) - 09:35 · Montsoriu Castle, in Arbúcies (2.8 km on foot from the car park · guided slot at 10:15 · free · booking required) - 45 min by car, 32,6 km - 13:30 · Xalet La Coromina (Xalet La Coromina, in Viladrau · mountain cooking with chestnuts · €€€ · booking required) · Xalet La Coromina, €€€ - 16:00 · Vuelta (In Girona around 17:00) The Montseny has a lesser-known side, the Selva one, which faces Girona. On it, above Arbúcies, stands Montsoriu castle, which the chronicler Bernat Desclot described in the 13th century as one of the most beautiful and noble in the world. You walk up through the forest, visit it with a guide, free of charge, and then cross the mountain to Viladrau, the chestnut village, for lunch. A perfect autumn Sunday an hour from Girona, and another from Barcelona. ## The Day, Hour by Hour 8:45 · Departure. From Girona, the AP-7 southwards and the Arbúcies road, an hour. From Barcelona, the AP-7 northwards, the same again. The castle is on the Fogueres road, between Arbúcies and Sant Feliu de Buixalleu; leave the car in the public car park. 9:35 · Climb to Montsoriu. From the car park it is 2.8 km on foot, 30 to 40 minutes along a mountain path, with steps near the end. Set off with time to spare: the group does not wait. 10:15 · The guided visit. The castle can only be visited in guided groups, at weekends at 10:15 and 12:30; in November a 11:30 session is added. It is free, but you must book on its website: places are limited, up to eight per booking, and everyone signs some conditions before going in. It is usually in Catalan; for other languages, write to the castle. The first written mention dates from the year 1002, but what you see is mainly the great Gothic rebuilding by Bernat II de Cabrera, in the mid-14th century, when it was the residence of the Viscounts of Cabrera. Underneath are remains of an Iberian settlement. After the visit, walk back down to the car without hurrying. 12:30 · On to Viladrau. The road crosses the mountain between chestnut and oak trees. If you have time to spare, stop in Arbúcies for a drink before setting off. 13:30 · Lunch at Xalet La Coromina. On the Vic road, 4, in Viladrau. It is a hotel and restaurant, with a wooden dining room, a fireplace in winter, large windows onto the forest and a garden under the cypresses. It serves lunch from 13:00 to 15:30 on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and on public holidays; it is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can book a table until 15:00, on 676 237 016. 16:00 · Return. Drive down while there is still light. In Girona around five; in Barcelona, shortly after. ## What to Order Viladrau is the chestnut village of the Montseny, and Xalet La Coromina is one of the four Chestnut Ambassador (Embaixador de la Castanya) restaurants; its chef, Juan Antonio Cuartero, is the Official Chestnut Chef (Xef Oficial de la Castanya). To start, the onion and chestnut soup with pancetta and thyme or the brandade churros with chestnut chutney. For a main, the wild boar civet with roasted chestnuts or the chestnut butifarra sausage with mushrooms and polenta. For two, the casserole noodles with secreto pork and sobrasada. For dessert, the chestnut baba. Starters cost roughly €9 to €14 and mains €18 to €24. If you prefer the grill, Can Barrina, a Montseny farmhouse with a terrace over the Tordera valley, serves holm-oak-grilled meat, seasonal mushrooms and stews. ## With Children and Dogs With children from about six, the climb to the castle is a small outing with a reward: a real castle, with a guide. The steps at the end call for holding hands. With smaller ones, swap Montsoriu for the Turó de Tagamanent, from El Bellver: 1.2 km and half an hour to a summit with a church and the remains of a castle. Ask when you book whether the castle allows dogs on the visit. ## Cómo llegar ### By car From Girona, an hour along the AP-7 and Arbúcies. From Barcelona, another hour. The road from Arbúcies to Viladrau is a mountain road: expect bends and cyclists on Sundays. ### Without a car This is not a plan to do without a car: the castle is far from any stop and there is no transport between Arbúcies and Viladrau on Sundays. ## Consejos ### Book the 10:15 session That way you reach lunch in Viladrau without rushing. Places are few. ### Allow 40 minutes for the climb If you arrive late for the session, you do not get in: the door closes when it starts. ### Walking footwear The path is a mountain one, with roots and stones. ### Order chestnut in autumn From October to December the La Coromina menu is at its best. ## Un consejo más ### If it rains The climb to the castle in heavy rain is not appealing and a good part of the visit is outdoors. Keep the lunch and swap the castle for Tagamanent if it clears. ## Cuándo no ir July and August: the castle closes until the first weekend of September. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Girona? An hour by car to the Montsoriu car park. From Barcelona, another hour. ### How much does it cost to visit Montsoriu castle? Nothing. The guided visit is free, with a booking on its website. ### Can you visit it on your own? No. Only on a guided visit, at weekends at 10:15 and 12:30, and in November also at 11:30. ### Is the climb hard? It is 2.8 km and 30 to 40 minutes, with steps at the end. Easy for anyone who walks a little. ### Is Xalet La Coromina open on Sundays? Yes, at midday, from 13:00 to 15:30. It closes on Wednesdays and Thursdays. ### When is the castle closed? In July and until the first weekend of September.