# Pilar long weekend from Tarragona: getaways for 12 October, the National Day Three getaways with a night away and four day trips from Tarragona for 12 October, the Pilar and National Day: the Priorat vines as they begin to change colour, the Siurana reservoir, Guara and Añisclo in their autumn, the Parrizal without heat, the Codorníu cellars and the top of Montserrat. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/tarragona/getaways/pilar-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: Tarragona - [Priorat: autumn vineyards by 4x4](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/siurana/itineraries/vineyards-by-4x4-and-autumn-tasting.md) (Day itinerary, Siurana): After the harvest, from October, the Priorat and Montsant vines begin to turn yellow, and the off-road vehicle tours them along the garnacha tracks. It is an à la carte outing with a single vehicle: book days ahead. - [A weekend in Siurana and the Priorat: cliff, reservoir and vineyards](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/siurana/itineraries/siurana-priorat-weekend-vineyards-reservoir.md) (2 nights, Siurana): The kayak on the Siurana reservoir opens on autumn weekends, and in October the Trona ledge is done in cool air. On the long weekend, the 4x4 route is the first thing to sell out; the accommodation, the second. - [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): September and October are the other good season for the Guara canyons, with summer's warm water. 12 October is a big festival in Aragon: book canyon, walkways and winery weeks ahead. - [A weekend in Aínsa: Añisclo, a canyon descent and the square at dusk, an hour and a half from Huesca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ainsa-and-sobrarbe/itineraries/ainsa-anisclo-canyoning-weekend.md) (2 nights, Aínsa and the Sobrarbe): In October the Añisclo canyon has the beech woods changing colour and fewer cars than in summer; the narrow HU-631 is entered early. It is three hours from Tarragona: two nights, and Sunday's canyon, booked beforehand. - [Valderrobres and the Parrizal](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/valderrobres-and-matarrana/itineraries/sunday-in-valderrobres-castle-and-parrizal.md) (Day itinerary, Valderrobres and the Matarraña): In October the Parrizal is toured without August's heat and with the mid-season ticket. At the Pilar many Aragonese arrive: buy the ticket with a time and avoid the last Sunday of the month, when El Salt closes. - [Codorníu: cellars by train and lunch in the tower](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/penedes/itineraries/codorniu-cava-cellars-by-train-sant-sadurni.md) (Day itinerary, Penedès): Just after the harvest, the Codorníu cellars have the new grape fermenting and are toured underground by train. They open all year, holidays too: book the visit and lunch at the tower. - [Montserrat: cable car and Sant Jeroni](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/montserrat/itineraries/montserrat-cable-car-and-sant-jeroni-from-manresa.md) (Day itinerary, Montserrat): The good season for going up Sant Jeroni begins in October, with clean air and without summer's heat. The Aeri changes its timetable with the season: check it for your date and go up early. ## Grapes cut, vines changing 12 October, the Pilar and National Day, arrives when the Priorat has finished harvesting. The garnacha and cariñena are in the tanks, and the vines on the slate terraces begin to turn yellow and red. It is the region's prettiest season, and an hour from Tarragona: the off-road tour among the vines leaves from Cornudella and ends with Siurana at midday. When the 12th falls on a Friday or Monday, it is three days; midweek, the October long weekend depends on each company. With the single day, the Priorat; with three days, Aragon. ## Aragon in festival For Aragon the Pilar is the big festival of the year. Zaragoza celebrates its fiestas and many Aragonese head for the Pyrenees and the Matarraña: the Hispanidad long weekend is, across the border, the busiest of the autumn. If you go to Alquézar or Aínsa, book weeks ahead. In return, October is their best month: canyons with warm water, the Añisclo beech woods changing colour and less traffic on the canyon road. The Matarraña is closer, less than two hours via the Ebro. The Parrizal walkways are done in a morning and Valderrobres in the afternoon. ## The Ebro, on the way to Aragon To go to the Matarraña or Guara from Tarragona you cross the Ebro. On the N-420, the river is crossed at Móra d'Ebre and the road climbs through the Terra Alta, the land of white garnacha, to Gandesa; in October, its vines too are freshly harvested. It is a stop worth a coffee before entering Aragon, and the shortest way to Valderrobres. ## 4x4, canyon and ticket, in that order In the Priorat, 4x4 outings and timed tastings; in Guara, the canyons, which go in small groups; in the Matarraña, the Parrizal ticket. Then the rooms: Siurana, Alquézar, Aínsa and Valderrobres have few. At the Priorat wineries many serve only at midday: book lunch with the visit. ## Mild October, with storms On the Tarragona coast, October is still mild, and some people still swim. In the Montsant and Guara, cool mornings and good afternoons. It is also the month of Mediterranean storms, which can discharge a lot in a short time: if there is a warning, leave the canyon for another day. For a rainy day, the Codorníu cellars are under cover, less than an hour away. ## Montserrat from above October opens the good season for going up to the summit of Montserrat: the 1930 Aeri, the Sant Joan funicular and a two-and-a-half-hour circuit to Sant Jeroni, at 1,236 metres. On a clear autumn day you can see the Pyrenees. ## Kayak and underground train with children The village of Siurana and the kayak go well with children; the ledge, from age ten. The Parrizal is flat and under-sixes go free, but dogs cannot go. In Guara, some companies have canyons for families. At Codorníu, the underground train appeals at any age, and under-eights go free. ## The AP-7, the N-420 and the return The afternoon before the holiday, the AP-7 southwards and the N-420 towards Aragon get heavy with Barcelona's traffic. Towards the Priorat, via Reus and Falset, it goes better. The return on the last day from Aragon, from five to nine, is slow on the N-420 and C-12: leave after lunch. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### When do the Priorat vines change colour? After the harvest, in October and November, depending on the year. ### Are there lots of people in Aragon on the Pilar long weekend? Yes, it is their big festival. Book Alquézar, Aínsa or the Matarraña weeks ahead.