The Montsant river carves a sinuous, steep gorge between the Montsant range and the Serra la Llena, with rounded rock formations bearing local names such as els Tres Jurats, el Camell, el Bisbe and la Cadira. At its upper end lies the Cadolles Fondes viewpoint, overlooking the Cossis de Sant Bartomeu: a series of deep hollows carved by the river into the conglomerate bedrock, through which the water squeezes in a narrow slot, much sought after for a summer dip. The gorge is named after the hermit Fra Guerau, who founded the Romanesque hermitage of Sant Bartomeu de Fraguerau here in the 12th century — a rectangular nave with a semicircular apse, in a wild, secluded spot — close to which stands a walled rock shelter as well.
The walking route, marked as the GR-65.5 and as a Nature Park trail, starts at the Sant Antoni i Santa Bàrbara hermitage (3.3 km from Ulldemolins by track, with free parking for 25 cars) and passes Coll del Prat before dropping to the river; at the Sant Bartomeu ravine it crosses the river on a wooden footbridge. It totals 8.3 km round trip, with 340 m of elevation gain/loss and an estimated time of 2h 45', rated easy by the Park with no equipped sections; it is walkable year-round, though it should be avoided in fog on the Serra Major and care is needed on slippery paths after rain.
- Best fornature, hiking, swimming, photography, families
- OpeningFree access on foot, year-round, via the GR-65.5 / Natural Park trail from the Sant Antoni i Santa Bàrbara hermitage (3.3 km from Ulldemolins by track, free car park with 25 spaces). 8.3 km out and back, 340 m of climbing, estimated time 2h 45', rated easy by the Park, no equipped sections. Natural swimming pools in summer at les Cadolles Fondes.
- AddressRiu de Montsant, Parc Natural de la Serra de Montsant, 43363 Ulldemolins
ℹ️ Hours and prices can change: check with the establishment before you visit.
Photo: Pere López Brosa · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Sources: turismepriorat.org · parcsnaturals.gencat.cat
Last updated: August 2026