The Abellera hermitage, wedged into the cliff

What it is

The hermitage of the Mare de Déu de l’Abellera is set in a cave, at the foot of a cliff that reaches 1,020 m in altitude, about 2 km from Prades. The cave had served as a refuge, and the hermitage, possibly from 1570 and much altered afterwards, was fitted inside it. The double-gable bell tower was probably built in 1578. From the enclosure you see the valley, the hills and, in the distance, the plain, with woods everywhere and old chestnut groves now abandoned.

The name comes from bees (abelles). According to legend, a shepherd found the image in a holm oak where he went to look for honey. Inside the hermitage there were beehives with their honeycombs, and that is why the Virgin’s crown, from 1956, bears fifty silver bees with their queen. She is the patron saint of Catalan beekeepers, and one of the few Virgins depicted nursing the Child. The present image is from 1940, a faithful copy of the previous one.

Getting there on foot

It is the prettiest way up, along the old path that passes the hermitages of Sant Antoni and Sant Roc:

1. From the tourist office, take Carrer de la Caballa on the right and follow a path lined with mulberry trees. About 200 m along is the hermitage of Sant Antoni, on the right.
2. Continue along the street, which turns right and then left, passing near a pond, to the start of a tarmac stretch.
3. From there a path leaves to the right with signposts to “Ermita de St. Roc” and “Capafonts per l’Abellera”. Follow it: it turns right and then left, with a hazelnut field on the left. Ignore a path that leaves to the left towards some fields.
4. The path climbs between red rocks, marked with white and yellow marks, to a tarmac track that you take to the left.
5. Soon afterwards you reach the hermitage of Sant Roc. Follow the track, pass a parking area and you reach l’Abellera.

Allow about 2 km each way. The climb has some slope between the rocks: wear closed shoes.

Getting there by car

Leave Prades in the direction of Capafonts and La Febró. About 500 m along, the sign for the l’Abellera hermitage appears on the left. Follow the tarmac track to the esplanade of the Sant Roc hermitage and continue to the free l’Abellera car park, a few metres from the hermitage.

The key to the enclosure

The hermitage enclosure is locked. To get in, ask for the key at the tourist office, at Carrer Muralla, 3:

• It is lent free, always during office hours, with a €20 cash deposit that is returned when you bring it back.
• It opens the enclosure, not the chapel: the building stays closed.
• You can keep it for a maximum of 2 hours and must return it 30 minutes before the office closes.
• The same person who left the deposit returns it.
• If the office is closed, ask at the Town Hall.

The office is open Monday to Friday mornings, until 15:00 (Tuesday until 16:30), Saturday from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00, and Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 to 14:00. Telephone 977 868 302.

When the chapel opens

The hermitage opens inside on two special dates: Easter Monday, in the morning, and the first Saturday of September, with an offering to the Virgin and mass. On Easter Monday and on 8 September, the day of the Marededéus, many people go up.

With children and with a dog

The walk up is short and entertaining, with two hermitages on the way and red rocks to scramble over. By car you can get almost to the door, which makes it easy for all ages. In the enclosure, keep an eye on children near the edge of the cliff. With a dog, on a lead.