The best MTB trails around Vila-Rodona

Great cook and waiter

Pla de Manlleu is a small village in the municipality of Aiguamúrcia (Alt Camp), located at an altitude of about 600 m. The village is located in the middle of a plateau surrounded by vineyards, forests and dry fields, with wide views towards the Gaià and Montmell mountains. It is a quiet and rural place, with few houses, a central square and the chapel of Sant Miquel as a spiritual and historical reference point. It is a good stop or waypoint for MTB: the surrounding paths combine gentle tracks between vineyards with stonier paths that connect to Montmell or the mountains of Alt Camp. Pla de Manlleu maintains that discreet charm of small villages, where time passes slowly and the silence is only broken by tractors or birds. A good place to regain strength before continuing cycling.

The chapel of Sant Miquel in Pla de Manlleu is a small rural temple that breaks with the typical image of mountain hermitages. Located in the heart of Pla de Manlleu, it stands out for its agricultural and peaceful environment, far from monumentality and mass tourism: everything here breathes simplicity. Its facade and austere interior recall popular architecture more than the great medieval stone. In MTB it is a different point to stop, with paths that cross vineyards and open fields, much more of a rural wipiperia than a classic postcard. The charm lies precisely in this: a discreet chapel that still today keeps alive the spiritual link with the territory and that offers you a respite before continuing to pedal along the paths of Penedès.

The Castillo de Selma, also known as the Castell de Selma, is a ruined medieval fortress located in the municipality of Montmell, in the Baix Penedès. Documented as early as the 10th century, it was one of the most important castles in the Penedès marca, controlling the roads and lands of the area. For centuries it belonged to the Order of the Templars and then to the Hospitallers, until it was abandoned in the 15th century. Today, only half-collapsed walls, towers and wall locks remain, surrounded by forest and silence. The path to the castle is stony and demanding, perfect for those looking for MTB with a touch of adventure. Once at the top, the view is immense: the entire Penedès plain at your feet, the surrounding mountains and, on clear days, the sea in the background. Despite its dilapidated state, it is a place full of history and mysticism, reminiscent of feudal splendor and the Templar presence in the area.

The trail that brings you to this point is in good condition and suitable for all ages. From here, you can choose to descend to Can Marles, or if you turn off the first path, you'll reach Cal Joan de la Torre and then Aiguaviva.

Three emblematic points of the mountain range come together: Castellot, with the remains of the medieval fortress that guarded the Penedès; the Romanesque hermitage of Sant Miquel, from the 11th century, small and simple, but full of history; and the Creu del Montmell, which crowns the ridge as a symbol visible from afar. Climbing it by MTB or on foot is demanding, with steep and rocky sections, but the reward is immense: a 360º natural viewpoint over vineyards, villages and, on clear days, all the way to the sea. It is a place where nature, heritage and epic panoramas meet in a single point.

The Bassa d’Aiguaviva, next to the Casa Gran in the town, is a small artificial pond that was once used to collect water and give life to the orchards and the village. Today it is a meeting point and refuge for ducks, a quiet corner that preserves the rural charm of other times. It is historically linked to the Casa Gran, which probably managed it, and is part of this everyday heritage that explains how people lived and took advantage of each resource in Montmell. Getting there by MTB is a good excuse to stop for a moment, breathe calmly and enjoy a different image: the old stone of the village reflected in the water and the ducks swimming, a pleasant contrast before pedaling again along the paths and tracks of the mountain range.

Aiguaviva, in the Montmell district, is a small village and at the same time a natural setting surrounded by vineyards, forests and old farmhouses. The town retains a peaceful rural atmosphere, with narrow streets, stone houses and the church of Sant Pere as its central point. On a MTB, getting to Aiguaviva means pedaling along dirt tracks and paths that alternate between demanding climbs and rapid descents between pine forests and farmland. It is a good place to stop, regain strength and enjoy the calm of a place where time seems to have stood still. In addition, paths leave from here that connect to other corners of Montmell, ideal for linking routes and discovering the mountain range from within.