Cal Catantingues

Cal Catantingues is an abandoned masia (traditional Catalan farmhouse) in Olèrdola, specifically in the small settlement of Sant Miquel d'Olèrdola, part of the Alt Penedès region in Barcelona province. The ruins sit on a hillside surrounded by woodland near the summit of Penya del Papiol, and today they're more of a hiking waypoint than a formal tourist attraction with signage.

What exactly is Cal Catantingues?

The building belongs to a class of rural farmhouses typical of Alt Penedès — standalone complexes combining living quarters with farm buildings, scattered across the hills between Barcelona and the coast. Judging by its remaining walls, this was once a farmhouse of some size, but it has sat empty for decades and keeps deteriorating; parts of it look ready to collapse.

The masia also has a family story attached to it: this is where Jaume was born in 1931. He later ran the farm with his wife Teresa and got involved in winemaking. Their children, Anna M. and Santi, took things further and in 1986 founded a cava winery called Torres Prunera, which still operates in the Penedès region today. Cal Catantingues is therefore not just a ruin among the trees — it's the starting point of a family history that eventually produced a local sparkling wine label.

The name itself has an interesting backstory. Research compiled by the Barcelona Ethnological Museum notes that "Catantingues" wasn't only used as a place name for this farmhouse — it also referred to a fireplace tool and to an agricultural implement used in the area. Catalan farmhouses were commonly named after everyday objects, nicknames, or personal traits of past owners, and this looks like one such case.

How do you get to Cal Catantingues?

The easiest starting point is the parking area at Sant Miquel d'Olèrdola, a small church-and-castle complex well known locally. From there, a hiking trail loops around Penya del Papiol, and the Cal Catantingues ruins appear on the way down, as the path heads toward Olèrdola's old quarry. The route isn't technically demanding, though sturdy footwear helps since parts of it cross rocky ground and Mediterranean scrubland.

By car, the drive from Barcelona takes roughly 40–45 minutes via the motorway toward Vilafranca del Penedès or Sitges, then local roads into Olèrdola. Trains reach Vilafranca del Penedès or Sant Vicenç de Calders, but the last stretch needs a car, taxi, or a walk.

What will you actually see there?

What's left today is mostly wall fragments and the outline of the original structure — enough to sense how large the farmhouse once was. The surrounding landscape is classic Alt Penedès: vineyards in the valleys, dry pine-covered hills, and views toward nearby peaks including Penya del Papiol itself. This is a stop for hikers and local-history enthusiasts, not for anyone chasing dramatic architecture.

When's the best time to visit?

Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September–October) work best, when temperatures are comfortable for walking and the trail isn't baking in summer sun. Summer heat in Alt Penedès can get uncomfortable, especially on the exposed sections of the route with no shade. Winter hiking is possible too, but with shorter daylight hours it's worth setting out early.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Cal Catantingues? No — the building is a structurally unsound ruin, and visits are limited to viewing it from the outside for safety reasons.

How long does it take to reach the ruins? That depends on which version of the Penya del Papiol loop you take; the ruins sit partway along a longer circuit starting at Sant Miquel d'Olèrdola, so plan for a few hours for the full hike rather than a quick detour.

Is it worth combining the visit with Sant Miquel d'Olèrdola? Yes — it's the natural starting point for the trail and one of the region's more significant historic sites, so most visitors combine the two in a single outing.

What's the connection between Cal Catantingues and cava wine? Jaume, born at the farmhouse in 1931, saw his children found the Torres Prunera cava winery in 1986 — making the ruin part of the family history behind that Penedès sparkling wine label.