La Pobla de Cérvoles (Les Garrigues - Spain) is a mountain village that lies at the foot of the Serra de la Llena and stands at an altitude of between 900 and 1025 m. The municipality of La Pobla has 261 permanent residents, but its population tends to almost double in summer. Interesting features of the village include its pebbled streets and important cultural heritage which are an open invitation for those searching for a peaceful setting. Why don’t you visit it?

What to visit

The church was constructed in 1728 upon the remains of an earlier Romanesque-style church. The building contains the Mare de Déu de la Jonquera (Virgin of la Jonquera), which is kept in a small chamber behind the altar. This Virgin is also the patron saint of La Pobla. Inside the church it is also possible to admire a baroque-style organ (made by Anton Cases in about 1752), which is excellently polychromed and was completely restored by Wilfried Praet. In summer, within the Cicle de Concerts dels Orgues de Catalunya (Cycle of Catalan Organ Concerts), it is possible to enjoy concerts given by prestigious organists, while throughout the year the organ accompanies liturgical songs. Since 200, it has also been possible to see the mural paintings of the main altar, which constitute quite a daring mural by the well-known and prestigious Lleida painter Víctor P. Pallarès. They now occupy the space vacated by a magnificent baroque-style altarpiece that was unfortunately destroyed.

The Ermita de Sant Miquel (Hermitage of Saint Michael) was built in 1610. It originally housed the Mare de Déu de la Jonquera until this was transferred to the parish church. The hermitage then changed its devotion to the Archangel Sant Miquel and was subsequently presided over by a gothic-style altarpiece of this saint. This work, by Bernat Martorell, remained in the hermitage until the beginning of the 20th century when it was transferred to Tarragona for restoration and can now be seen in Tarragona Cathedral. The work that can now be seen in the Ermita de Sant Miquel is a reproduction of the original by the painter Salvador Jané.

Another obligatory visit is the former Molí de la Societat 1870), which now houses the Ajuntament (local council) and the Ecomuseu de l'Oli (Olive Oil Ecological museum).

The Ecomuseu contains a series of panels that explain such questions as: the history of the olive tree; how and where it is grown; the process by which olive oil is obtained; and implements associated with its exploitation. Visitors will also find two most significant elements: the millstone and press. The press, which is 12 m long (and is called a pound, beam or sixtieth press), is an example of one of the four presses that were used at the mill when it was still used. In front of the building there is a monument to the memory of Josep Espasa i Anguera (La Pobla de Cérvoles 1840 - Barcelona 1911), who was born in the village and went on to found the famous Enciclopèdia Espasa.

Olive Oil

The cooperative of La Pobla de Cérvoles is the only one in the comarca (local district) that produces its olive oil according to time-honoured tradition; using a stone roller and hydraulic press. The olive oil of Les Garrigues is produced from olives of the Arbequina variety, which is considered one of the best in the world, both in terms of its constancy of production and the quality of its oil.

Routes

• The Serra de la Llena via Les Marradetes:
  this 2.3 km long route will take visitors from to the Serra de la Llena via Les Marradetes. They will reach an altitude of 800 metres, from where they will be able to enjoy an impressive panoramic view. This route can only be followed on foot.
• · Dr. Barberà Arboretum of Les Garrigues:
  a 2 km route along which it is possible to see a wide variety of tree species.

Traditions

The Festa Major d'estiu (summer festival) takes place on the weekend before the festival of the Mare de Déu d'agost (Virgin of August).

The Festa Major d'hivern (winter festival) is held on the weekend immediately before or after 21st November; the day commemorating the Mare de Déu de La Jonquera. Once every four or five years, the local church hosts a historical-religious enactment of the work Ombres i Clarors de la Pobla de Cérvoles (Shadows and Light in La Pobla de Cérvoles).