On September 22nd, we officially entered the astronomical autumn, which will last until December 21st with the winter solstice. Throughout this period, we will observe significant changes in the landscape and the weather, and if you take the opportunity to do any section of the Tourdera, you will surely capture a postcard-worthy image!
The most striking feature of autumn is the falling leaves from deciduous trees. In the Montseny, where the Tordera river is born, there are large expanses of beech and chestnut forests, which at this time of year are tinged with yellow and reddish colors, just before losing all their leaves. We will always find these types of trees in cool, shaded environments, such as north-facing slopes, riparian forests, etc. All the higher sections of the Tourdera, in the municipalities of Montseny and Arbúcies, are filled with these magical forests!
While hiking or cycling through the natural environment is very relaxing in itself, doing so in autumn, with the falling leaves of deciduous trees, is even more so. On the Tourdera, we have large forest areas where you can enjoy this time of year and this spectacle of colors and textures. Much of the shadier slopes of the Montseny are full of beech and chestnut forests, which give us this characteristic and mesmerizing landscape of yellowish and reddish colors. Although the most characteristic and iconic point of the route to observe this phenomenon is the birth of the Tordera river, at the Font Bona of Sant Marçal, there are many other points where you can observe the falling leaves.
And what about autumn fruits? Chestnuts, mushrooms, panellets, pumpkins, and a long list of gastronomic products that remind us of the coziness of home, family conversations, etc. However, remember that you cannot pick chestnuts everywhere, as their collection is prohibited in many cases, so you must be attentive to signs that warn you. You must also be respectful when collecting mushrooms. We suggest that you take a walk along some section of the route and enjoy the landscape, letting the fruits of the forest follow their natural life cycle.
And another thing we love about autumn is traditions. From All Saints’ Day, that is, the day we remember our ancestors, to the castanyada (chestnut festival), a party that actually derives from ancient funeral meals, where there was an abundant presence of legumes and nuts and where breads were made based on these ingredients. In fact, these breads have also ended up deriving into another of our most deep-rooted autumn traditions: panellets. All these meals had a symbolic meaning of communion with the souls of the deceased.
We hope you enjoy the autumn on some section of the Tourdera route and “taste” this very special season. Remember that you can take the opportunity to go to one of the nearby local establishments to buy panellets, chestnuts, sweet potatoes, etc., and thus make the getaway a true experience! Are you encouraged to visit the Tourdera in autumn?
