landmark
Montserrat Monastery
A Benedictine abbey nestled among surreal serrated rock pinnacles, home to the revered Black Madonna and a renowned boys' choir.
30 km · about 35 min drive
EuropeSpainCatalonia
Balsareny
Catalonia, Spain · Europe
About Balsareny
Balsareny is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Navàs, 57km from Basílica de la Sagrada Família.
Balsareny is in Catalonia, Spain, with about 3,200 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Navàs, about 4 km away.
Balsareny (Catalan pronunciation: [bəlsəˈɾɛɲ]) is a municipality in the North of the comarca of Bages in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the valley of the river Llobregat, with its typical forests of Aleppo pines. It is connected by road (BP-4313) with Súria and Avinyó.
The name isRead more
thought to be derived from the Catalan words balç (escarpment) and areny (sand); the castle and the village have their origins on an escarpment in a sandy plane. The first written mention of the settlement (as pago bazarenensi) dates from 966.
The village developed around the castle, which was built at a strategic point at the confluence of the river Mujal with the Llobregat, but most people lived in dispersed masias (farms). At the end of the 16th century, Baron Ferran Oliver sold some land around the castle and three streets were created: Carrer Vell (Old Street, nowadays Àngel Guimerà), Carrer Nou (New Street) and Carrer de la Creu (Cross street). A sanctuary dedicated to Mary is documented since 1009. The romanesque Church of St. Mary dates from late 13th century, but the building has undergone many transformations since then. The town was walled, but with the increase of population, new streets were added outside the walls.
In the 19th century the walls were demolished and the roads were improved. Along with the Manresa-Berga railway (1885, closed down 1973), this contributed toward a flourishing textile industry, though this has now almost disappeared. In 1945 the extraction of the rich layers of potassium salts (sylvite and carnallite) started, and today this remains a major employer, but many other small and medium enterprises have also been created. There is also one of the major European production plants from Gates Corporation, an American manufacturer of power transmission belts and fluid power, employing about 240 people.
On 7 August 1963 the guerrilla leader Ramon Vila Capdevila - the last of the Spanish Maquis to hold out since the end of the Spanish Civil War - was killed by Guardia Civil officers near a castle in Balsareny.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Balsareny?
Within an hour or so of Balsareny: Montserrat Monastery (30 km), Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (46 km), Park Güell (55 km), Basílica de la Sagrada Família (57 km).
Are there any good drives near Balsareny?
The nearest famous roads are Port d'Envalira, Coll d'Ordino and Costa Brava.
Where is Balsareny?
Balsareny is in Catalonia, Spain, about 4 km from Navàs.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 3,233
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Spain
- Region
- Catalonia
- Timezone
- Europe/Madrid
- Coordinates
- 41.8631, 1.8736
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for SpainTags
Worth the detour from Balsareny
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
racetrack
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Home of the Spanish Grand Prix at Montmeló near Barcelona; its blend of fast sweeps and slow corners made it Formula 1's favourite pre-season testing venue.
46 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Park Güell
Gaudí's whimsical public park in Barcelona filled with colourful mosaic tilework and organic architectural forms.
55 km · about 65 min drive
cathedral
Basílica de la Sagrada Família
Gaudí's unfinished modernist basilica, Barcelona's most iconic landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
57 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
Casa Batlló
Gaudí's fantastical apartment building in Barcelona with a skeletal facade, coloured tiles, and a dragon-scale roof.
58 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
La Boqueria Market
Vibrant public market off La Rambla in Barcelona bursting with colourful fresh produce, seafood, and Catalan delicacies.
59 km · about 70 min drive
landmark
Museu de la Moto Barcelona
Barcelona's motorcycle museum showcasing the rich heritage of Spanish and international motorcycle manufacturing.
59 km · about 70 min drive
landmark
Aquarium Barcelona
Port Vell aquarium with the world's largest Mediterranean-themed exhibit and an 80-metre underwater glass tunnel.
60 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Balsareny
4 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 76 kmPort d'EnvaliraThe highest paved mountain pass in the Pyrenees at 2,408 m, linking Andorra with France above Pas de la Casa: a Tour de France classic with a bypass tunnel for winter.
Driving in Spain
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.55/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€4.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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