Balma d'en Marimon i Casulleres

Balma d'en Marimon i Casulleres is a rock shelter near Rubió, in the Anoia region of Catalonia. Tucked into the Serra de Rubió ridge north of the village, it has long been tied in local memory to a notorious pair of 19th-century bandits.

What exactly is this place?

Despite being called a "cave" in some records, it's technically a balma — a shallow rock shelter formed under an overhanging cliff face, rather than a cave system with passages. The opening is roughly 50 square meters in floor area, but the ceiling height changes dramatically from front to back: near the entrance you can almost stand upright (about two meters), while toward the rear it drops to only around 25 centimeters. The shelter extends roughly 10 meters into the hillside.

Its name comes from Marimon and Casulleres, leaders of a Carlist bandit gang active in the area during the 19th century. Local tradition holds that they used the shelter as a hideout while carrying out robberies, kidnappings, and killings across a stretch of territory reaching from Rubió toward La Panadella and Santa Coloma de Queralt.

How do you get there?

There's no vehicle access to the shelter itself — it's reachable only on foot. The shortest option is a short walk from the Cal Perdiu farmhouse, which sits close to the site. A longer and more scenic alternative is a circular route starting at the Mas del Tronc refuge, following a stretch of the long-distance GR-7 trail, which turns the visit into a proper half-day walk through the surrounding hills.

What will you see once you're there?

The most striking thing about Balma d'en Marimon i Casulleres is how well it blends into its surroundings. The whole area is covered in dense black pine (Pinus nigra) forest mixed with other tree species, and this cover camouflages the shelter almost completely — from even a short distance, it's practically invisible, which explains why bandits could use it undetected for so long. Up close, the dramatic drop in ceiling height from front to back is the shelter's most distinctive physical feature, along with the raw rock overhang itself.

When should you visit?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, with mild temperatures for the walk in and enough shade from the pine forest without summer heat. In summer, an early start is worth it — the trail can get warm despite the tree cover. Winters in the Anoia region are generally mild, though the trail can turn muddy after rain.

Frequently asked questions

Is this an actual cave you can explore? No — it's a balma, a single open shelter under a rock overhang, not a cave system with tunnels or chambers to explore.

Can I drive close to the shelter? No, the final stretch is on foot only. The shortest approach starts from the Cal Perdiu farmhouse; a longer, more scenic option follows the GR-7 trail from the Mas del Tronc refuge.

Who were Marimon and Casulleres? They led a 19th-century Carlist bandit group known for robberies, kidnappings, and violence against landowners and residents in and around Rubió.

Is the walk suitable for families? The short approach from Cal Perdiu is relatively easy and works for active families with children. The full loop via Mas del Tronc and the GR-7 is longer and requires better fitness.