BARCELONA: CARRETERA DE LES AIGÜES

The Carretera de les Aigües is the perfect place for a bike ride or a walk while you enjoy views of Barcelona. Within easy access of the city, the trail also provides a magnificent viewing point from the Collserola Ridge.

Beginning of Carretera de les Aigües in Sant Pere Màrtir

The Carretera de les Aigües is so named because of the water pipes that once ran along this path, and retains its horizontal layout. It is almost 10 kilometres long and, at its highest point, stands 450 metres above sea level. It is one of the locals’ most popular cycling and walking trails. From Sant Pere Màrtir to the Carretera de la Rabassada, the viewing point on the side of Collserola that overlooks Barcelona is perfect.

Sant Pere Màrtir from Carretera de les Aigües

Carretera de les Aigües is a fantastic place for cycling and jogging

Collserola Tower and Tibidabo from Carretera de les Aigües

Personally I really like to walk around La Carretera de les Aigües on a sunny day by the beautiful views you can enjoy of Barcelona. 

I usually begin the walk at the beginning of the path in Sant Pere Màrtir, where you can arrive by car or walking.

Views of Barcelona

Barcelona from Carretera de les Aigües in the morning

Barcelona from Carretera de les Aigües in the afternoon

Other interesting places you can visit in Collserola Ridge are:

• Sant Pere Màrtir
• Bateria antiaèria in Sant Pere Màrtir 
• Pantà de Vallvidrera
• Tibidabo 
• Oreneta Park

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find more beautiful places you can visit in Barcelona.

BARCELONA: PANTÀ DE VALLVIDRERA

A sunny sunday of September we joined one of the activities organized by Els Castellers de Sants (Borinots.cat, @Borinots) to celebrate its twentieth anniversary. The activity consisted of a 20km hike (10km round trip) to Pantà de Vallvidrera in Collserola. The beginning was from the district of Sants in Barcelona.

We had a great time because Els Castellers de Sants are really funny and cheerful people.

Pantà de Vallvidrera in Collserola

The route was:

Route from Barcelona to Pantà de Vallvidrera

These are the most interesting places we went through during our hike from Sants-Les Corts to Pantà de Vallvidrera:

• Pedralbes Monastery
• Oreneta Park
• Carretera de les Aigües
• Turó de'n Corts
• Pantà de Vallvidrera
• Àrea de Lleure Santa Maria de Vallvidrera

Besides we could enjoy nice views of:

• Sant Pere Màrtir
• Tibidabo and Collserola Tower
• Barcelona from Carretera de les Aigües

Pedralbes Monastery

Getting closer to Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona

Bell tower of the church of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona

Oreneta Park

Walking along Oreneta Park in Barcelona

One of the trains you can see in Oreneta Park in Barcelona

Waiting for the train in Oreneta Park in Barcelona

Carretera de les Aigües

Barcelona from a point near Carretera de les Aigües

Sant Pere Màrtir Broadcast Station and Carretera de les Aigües in Barcelona

Tibidado and Collserola Tower from Carretera de les Aigües in Barcelona

Collserola

This was the highest point of our hike from Barcelona to Pantà de Vallvidrera. A nice place to take a break

Tibidabo and Collserola tower from the previous place

Turó de'n Corts

Leisure area in Collserola near Sant Pere Màrtir and Turó de'n Corts

Walking to Turó de'n Corts in Collserola

View from Turó de'n Corts in Collserola

We walked along this path to go from Turo de'n Corts to Pantà de Vallvidrera in Collserola

Pantà de Vallvidrera

And in the end we arrived at our destination after 10km walk: Pantà de Vallvidrera

Overview of Pantà de Vallvidrera in Barcelona

Dam of Pantà de Vallvidrera in Barcelona

This is a sort of viewpoint as a pier in Pantà de Vallvidrera

Santa Maria de Vallvidrera

Leisure area of Santa Maria de Vallvidrera

View of Barcelona

Barcelona in the afternoon from Carretera de les Aigües

Other interesting places you can visit in Collserola are:

• Tibidabo Amusement Park
• Collserola Tower
• Sant Pere Màrtir
• Turó de'n Corts
• Collserola - Carretera de les Aigües
• Collserola- Bateria Antiaèria Sant Pere Màrtir

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to other beautiful places in Barcelona.

BARCELONA: BATERIA ANTIAEREA IN SANT PERE MARTIR

Throughout history, the mountain of Sant Pere Màrtir, located in the Park of Collserola, has acted as a strategic point for the defence of Barcelona. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), an anti-aircraft defence point and a radio-telephony centre was set up on the mountain. Moreover, what is now the Casa de les Aigües (water distribution facility) was converted into the headquarters of the soldiers stationed there. 

This radio-telephony centre was set up on Sant Pere Màrtir Moutain during the Spanish Civil War

Franco’s army, aided by the Italian and German air forces, bombed the civil population systematically. In these circumstances, in 1937 the Government of Catalonia decided to build air-raid shelters. The main anti-aircraft defence group in Barcelona was located on the Rovira hill, whereas Sant Pere Màrtir and Montjuïc became support facilities.

An anti-aircraft battery was built on Sant Pere Màrtir comprising three cannons or artillery units to shoot down enemy aircraft. There are still some remains that bear witness to the presence of the reflectors and of the casemate. Two of these defensive platforms are now open to the public and are a testimonial to the fight to defend democracy in Catalonia.

The anti-aircraft defence of Sant Pere Màrtir

The day was lovely, so we enjoyed a lot this route around Sant Pere Màrtir

Tibidabo and Collserola Tower from Sant Pere Màrtir in the Park of Collserola

Broadcast Station in Sant Pere Màrtir

Here was located one of the artillery units of the anti-aircraft battery which was built on Sant Pere Màrtir

Another place where was located an artillery unit of the anti-aircraft battery of Sant Pere Màrtir in Barcelona

And finally, the third place where was located a artillery unit of the anti-aircraft battery of Sant Pere Màrtir in Barcelona

Sant Pere Màrtir in Barcelona

Casa de les Aigües in Sant Pere Màrtir

View of Barcelona from Sant Pere Màrtir in Collserola Park

Camp Nou and Montjuïc from Sant Pere Màrtir in Barcelona

Espai Plaça Mireia in Sant Pere Màrtir

Espai Plaça Mireia is a perfect place in Sant Pere Màrtir to have a drink

If you are interested in this guided tour to know more about the anti-aircraft defense or battery of Sant Pere Màrtir, next you have some useful information:

- Guided tours take place the first Sunday in February, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, November and December. Visits can also be rranged for school parties and other groups.

- Meeting point and time: Mireia Square in Esplugues de Llobregat at 11:00

- Visits must be arranged in advance at the Can Tinturé Museum

• Tel no.: +34 93 470 02 18
• e-mail: museucantinture@esplugues.cat

BARCELONA: SANT PERE MÀRTIR IN COLLSEROLA

Sant Pere Màrtir mountain in Collserola Park is easily identifiable by the Broadcast Station located at the top. Near this station there is a leisure area, called Font de la Mandra, perfect for a picnic with children after the necessary walk to get to it through the Collserola Park. Besides this walk will offer you fantastic views of Barcelona.

In this leisure area begins El Passeig de les Aigües, a track through Collserola   perfect for running, cycling or walking while enjoying fantastic views of Barcelona, for example, from El Xiprers viewpoint.

Next you have some pictures I took while going to Sant Pere Màrtir leisure area.

Our way to get to Sant Pere Màrtir in Collserola started here

There were more people walking around this area of Collserola in Barcelona

Montjuïc in Barcelona from Collserola near Sant Pere Màrtir

Passeig de les Aigües

Carretera de les Aigües in Barcelona near Sant Pere Màrtir Broadcast Station

Carretera de les Aigües begins here, in Area d'Estada Font de la Mandra

Mirador dels Xiprers

Walking along Carretera de les Aigües from Estada Font de la Mandra you will arrive at Mirador dels Xiprers

Turó de Sant Pere Màrtir 

Sant Pere Màrtir leisure area in Collserola

Plaça Mireia Picnic area in Sant Pere Màrtir

Sant Pere Màrtir Broadcast Station in Barcelona

The particular situation of Sant Pere Màrtir leisure area in Collserola makes it ideal as a starting point for several routes. At the same time, the high situation of the picnic area is a good starting point to routes on Turó d'en Corts, the top of Sant Peter Màrtir (20 min) and Vallvidriera (40 min).

Turó d'en Corts in Collserola

One of the ways to get to Sant Pere Màrtir is from Esplugues de Llobregat. There you have to take the road that leads to Ciudad Diagonal and, finally, to the square Mireia.

Other fantastic parks in Barcelona are:

• Laberint d'Horta Park
• Park Güell
• Ciutadella Park
• Pedralbes Gardens
• Montjuïc - Joan Maragall Gardens
• Montjuïc - Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer Gardens
• Montjuïc - Mirador Gardens
• Montjuïc - Mirador del Migdia Park
• Joan Miró Park
• Cervantes Park and Rose Garden
• Castell de l'Oreneta Park
• Collserola - Bateria Antiaèria Sant Pere Màrtir
• Collserola - Carretera de les Aigües
• Collserola - Pantà de Vallvidrera
• Torreblanca Park in Sant Feliu de Llobregat
• Can Vidalet Park in Esplugues de Llobregat
• Can Mercader Park in Cornellà de Llobregat

Finally, clicking on the following link, you will get more information about other interesting places in Collserola Natural Park.