# December long weekend from Tarragona: castles, the Priorat and markets for Constitution Day and the Immaculate Conception Six getaways and plans from Tarragona for Constitution Day and the Immaculate Conception: the Matarraña and Peñíscola with their castles open, the quiet Priorat, the Caldes thermal market, Vic and Montserrat. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/tarragona/getaways/december-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Tarragona - [A weekend in the Matarraña: Valderrobres, Beceite and the Puertos, under two hours from Zaragoza](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana/itineraries/matarranya-valderrobres-beceite-weekend.md) (2 nights, Valderrobres and the Matarraña): The castle and church at Valderrobres have guided visits every day of the December long weekend, several sessions a day and without booking; on the 8th there are fewer sessions. The Parrizal in winter is cold and damp: footwear with grip and set off in the morning. - [A weekend in Peñíscola and the Sierra de Irta, an hour from Castellón](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/peniscola/itineraries/peniscola-sierra-de-irta-weekend.md) (1 night, Peñíscola): The Papa Luna castle opens every day of the long weekend on winter hours, from 10:30 to 17:30, and in December it only closes on Christmas Day. Without the summer crowds, the old town is toured in peace; the boat to the rock sails if the sea allows. - [Two nights at Terra Dominicata, the winery hotel beside the Escaladei charterhouse, with tastings across the Priorat](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/priorat/itineraries/two-nights-between-charterhouse-and-vineyards-priorat.md) (2 nights, Priorat): In December the harvest is over and the Priorat is empty of groups. The Escaladei charterhouse is closed on Mondays: if your long weekend includes one that is not a holiday, visit it on the 6th or 8th. Falset schedules a concert of the Terrer festival that long weekend. - [A thermal night in Caldes de Montbui, half an hour from Barcelona](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/caldes-de-montbui/itineraries/thermal-night-caldes-de-montbui.md) (1 night, Caldes de Montbui): Caldes holds its Mercat de Nadal on the December long weekend, with stalls in the old town and broth made with thermal water. The guided visit to the Roman baths is suspended on those days, but the baths continue: book them with a time slot before leaving. - [Montserrat: flat path and mató](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montserrat/itineraries/montserrat-flat-path-and-mato.md) (Day itinerary, Montserrat): The Escolania sings on 6 and 8 December at the eleven o'clock Mass and at vespers; on the 7th, only the midday Salve, with booking. From Tarragona it is an hour and a half: arrive for Mass and leave the mató for the way back. - [Vic: square, cured meats and inn](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/vic/itineraries/vic-square-and-inn.md) (Day itinerary, Vic): The Vic Medieval Market is held every year on the Immaculate Conception long weekend, with hundreds of stalls and shows throughout the old town. It is two hours from Tarragona: set off early and leave the car outside the centre. From Tarragona the December long weekend looks in two directions. To the south and inland, the Matarraña, Peñíscola and the Priorat spend these days without the summer or harvest crowds, with castles open and winter sun. To the north are the markets that open Christmas in central Catalonia. Between Constitution Day, the 6th, and the Immaculate Conception, the 8th, there is room for one getaway on each side. ## How many nights you really get Montserrat, an hour and a half away, fits into a day there and back. Peñíscola and Caldes call for a night so you do not spend the day on the motorway. And the Matarraña and Priorat getaways are two-night ones: they are only fully worthwhile if the long weekend gives you three days or more. ## South, castles without queues Peñíscola in December is a different village. The Papa Luna castle opens every day of the long weekend on winter hours, and the old town is strolled without the summer queues. The Sierra de Irta, with the Badum tower, is better now than in August: it is not hot and the light is low. Out of season not every restaurant opens, so book lunch. Further inland, the castle at Valderrobres runs guided visits every day of the long weekend, without advance booking. The Parrizal de Beceite, with its walkways, is a cold, damp outing in winter: go in the middle hours of the day. ## The Priorat after the harvest In December the vines are bare and the wineries work without the autumn visitors. It is a good time to taste unhurriedly and to see the Escaladei charterhouse without groups. Falset, the capital, holds the Fira de Sant Andreu at the end of November, just before the long weekend, and in December its Christmas programme begins. Bear in mind that in the Priorat the roads are full of bends and it freezes in the morning on the passes. ## North, the Christmas that begins Vic and Caldes de Montbui hold their markets on the long weekend. The Medieval Market in Vic is two hours away: it is a long day, but it can be done. Caldes de Montbui is an hour and a half away and makes more sense with a night, to combine the market and a thermal bath. ## The weather On the Tarragona coast and at Peñíscola, the long weekend is usually mild by day, with low sun and cool nights. As soon as you climb to Prades, the Montsant or the Ports de Beceite, it changes: morning frosts, fog in the valleys and, sometimes, snow on the peaks. Bring layers, and expect it to be dark by half past five, so outdoor excursions go in the morning. ## Peñíscola and Caldes with children Peñíscola works well with children: the castle is toured in an hour and there is plenty of open space. In Caldes, during the Mercat de Nadal there are children's workshops and shows in the Plaça Can Rius. The Parrizal is suitable for children who walk, but the walkways have narrow stretches and in winter they are slippery. The Priorat, on the other hand, is for adults: the Escaladei hotel in our getaway admits only from age fourteen. ## Matarraña beds and Peñíscola tables First, accommodation in the Matarraña and in Escaladei, which have few rooms. Then the Parrizal ticket and the Priorat tastings. In Peñíscola there are plenty of beds in December, but not tables: the restaurants that stay open fill at midday. ## The delta and the vines, in another season The Ebro delta is best seen in spring and late summer, with the rice fields flooded or golden. The coloured Priorat vines are for the end of October. And the Terra Alta greenway is better without the cold north wind, which often blows in December.