The municipality of La Floresta (Les Garrigues, Lleida Plain), where the 195 inhabitants live grouped around the Vinaixa stream, has always been historically connected to the  Castell de la Floresta (La Floresta Castle), a building listed as aMonument of National Cultural Interest. This small hamlet in Les Garrigues also has its own hidden treasures, such as its ice well, the church dedicated to Sant Blai, and a gastronomy with its very own stamp of quality: the Olive Oil of Les Garrigues. Let's pay it a visit.

What to visit

The Castle is listed as a Monument of National Cultural Interest and exhibits architecture from the late Romanesque, gothic, renaissance and baroque periods. The most outstanding features of this heirloom, which was passed down over the centuries by noble houses associated with the Dukes of Cardona, Pallars and Medinaceli, include its halls with their magnificent moulded ceilings.

The most significant features of the castle include: a quite notable square tower with battlements, which reflects the transition from the Romanesque to gothic style; several large mullioned windows; and a magnificent ceiling with polychrome moulding. The castle had originally been private property, but a large part of the complex was acquired for the municipality by the local council in 1997.

The baroque style parish church dedicated to Sant Blai, which is built onto the castle, is interesting to visit.

The stone ice well was built in the 14th century: in it, collected snow was used to conserve food. This is, in fact, one of the few very old elements to have survived the passing of time without substantial changes to its original form. It is also easily accessible.

It seems that the ice well of La Floresta was for private rather than communal use and was located 60 metres from the residence of its owners, the inhabitants of the gothic stylecastle of La Floresta which belonged to the Duke of Medinaceli. For a certain time, it was also used as a residence. Near the ice well there is a vaulted stone-arched shelter, and just 25 metres away, there is another well that had served as a source of drinking water for the inhabitants of La Floresta at an earlier period in its history. This second well is as old as the ice well. The group of monuments has great historical, artistic and cultural value.

The hall containing an exhibition of stone work shows the close relationship that the municipality had with this natural resource through an exhibition of old tools and works donated by the master stonemason Felip Martin. 

The Edith Schaar art gallery contains an exhibition of paintings and tapestries that are representative of the long and distinguished international carer of this German artist.

Traditions

• The festival of Sant Blai, the patron saint of La Floresta, is held on 3rd February and marked by a religious ceremony and communal meal.
• At Easter, the settlement celebrates a Cultural Week with a series of talks and presentations about current issues.
• The Festa Major d'estiu (summer festival) is held on the third weekend in August.

Oil

As La Floresta is only a very small settlement, the local farmers take their olives to the cooperative Sant Isidre in Les Borges Blanques, where they are packaged and sold under the brand name Castell de la Floresta. The settlement is also part of the Olive Oil Route of Les Garrigues.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil with the Protected Designation of Origin of Les Garrigues is widely regarded as the best olive oil in the world. It is an olive oil that you can discover and taste if you follow the Olive Oil Route of the comarques of Lleida.

• Oil Route
• Olive Oil