If you walk through the olive groves of Les Garrigues, sooner or later you’ll come across one: a small stone building, with no mortar, topped by a perfect vault that has stood for centuries. These are the vaulted huts (cabanes de volta), the most emblematic structures of the area and a heritage well worth discovering at a relaxed pace.
What vaulted huts are
They are dry-stone buildings, meaning they’re made only with carefully placed stones, without any kind of mortar. Farmers used them to shelter during the olive harvest, ploughing or pruning, to store tools or to take cover from a storm.
There are a great many of them: Josep Preixens’ inventory lists more than a thousand in Les Garrigues, with up to nine different types of roof. The most common, in 82% of cases, is the barrel vault.
The vaulted huts route
There’s a signposted route you drive, with stops to walk to each building. Allow at least three hours. It passes through:
- Les Borges Blanques, the county capital.
- Castelldans.
- L’Albi.
- Vinaixa.
- El Vilosell.
Along the way you’ll visit nine huts, a cogulla (a cistern carved into the rock), a pond and a water tank.
Tips
- Wear comfortable shoes: some stretches to the huts are along dirt tracks.
- Respect the structures: don’t climb on them or take stones.
- Spring and autumn are the best seasons; in summer, set off early.
- Download the route map before you leave: some areas have poor coverage.
A getaway of stone, olive oil and silence
From Cal Xolva, in Llardecans, you can do the route in a day and combine it with the Els Vilars fortress in Arbeca or a visit to a cooperative to buy olive oil from Les Garrigues. And our house, built of stone like the huts, will be waiting for you to rest.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to see the huts?
No. They are open-air structures, but many are on private farms: view them from the path and respect the crops.
Can we do it with children?
Yes. The stops are short and many children love going inside a stone hut.
Come to Cal Xolva. Take a look at our rooms and spaces, check our rates and ask us about availability.
