Els Corrals (Montllobar)

Els Corrals (Montllobar) is a former masia — a traditional stone farmhouse — in the municipality of Tremp, in the Pallars Jussà region of northwestern Catalonia. Sitting at an elevation of roughly 970 metres in a mountainous, sparsely populated stretch of the Pre-Pyrenees, it lies well off the main tourist routes, which makes it an interesting stop for travelers drawn to abandoned, rural mountain landscapes.

What is Els Corrals?

Els Corrals was one of several masies that once made up a small hamlet known as Montllobar. Other farmhouses in the same cluster included Mas de Montllobar, Mas de Casanova, Casota, and Hostalet. Today most of these buildings stand abandoned or in ruins — a common fate for many of the mountain hamlets of Pallars Jussà, which emptied out through the 20th century as people moved to towns and valleys in search of work. The name "corrals" (pens or animal enclosures in Catalan) points to the building's original farming use, likely tied to sheep and goat herding, a traditional livelihood across this part of the Pyrenean foothills.

Where is Montllobar, and how do you get there?

Montllobar, the hamlet Els Corrals belonged to, lies in the mountainous part of the Tremp municipality, near the Coll de Montllobar mountain pass. This pass historically carried the road connecting Tremp with Pont de Montanyana, across the border in the neighboring Ribagorça region on the Aragonese side — a route that mattered beyond purely local traffic, linking the Noguera Pallaresa valley with the lands west of the mountain range. Reaching the area today means driving local mountain roads, and it's best suited to visitors ready for walking on lightly signposted terrain.

What is the history behind this site?

Montllobar's history reaches back to the Middle Ages. Montllobar Castle (Castell de Montllobar) is documented from the 12th century onward and remained closely tied for centuries to the neighboring Eroles Castle — the two formed part of the same feudal structure controlling the surrounding land and routes. Jurisdiction over Montllobar, Eroles, and Sant Adrià was eventually absorbed into the royal domain in 1404, ending the era of local feudal lordship over the territory. Little survives of the castle today beyond scattered traces, much like most of the area's old masies — including, at least in part, Els Corrals itself.

What should visitors know about the Pallars Jussà region?

Pallars Jussà is a comarca in Lleida province, set in the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees and known for its mountain scenery, the Sant Antoni reservoir, and the town of Tremp, its regional capital. The area is recognized for its dark, unpolluted skies and appeals to stargazers, and it holds numerous partly abandoned mountain hamlets similar to Montllobar, echoes of a more agricultural past. It's a destination for travelers who value quiet, the history of mountain settlement, and hiking off the beaten path — with little built-up tourist infrastructure, but an authentic Catalan mountain landscape in its place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Els Corrals still a working farm? No — like most of the former Montllobar hamlet's masies, the building is now abandoned or in ruins, a common condition for mountain dwellings across Pallars Jussà.

How do you get to Els Corrals? Tremp is the best starting point, with local mountain roads leading toward the Coll de Montllobar pass; visitors should be prepared for driving and walking on lightly marked routes.

Are there other historic sites nearby? Yes — the area holds the remains of the medieval Montllobar Castle as well as ruins of other old masies, such as Mas de Montllobar and Mas de Casanova.

Who is this destination for? Mainly for travelers interested in the history of mountain settlement and off-the-beaten-path hiking, rather than those looking for typical tourist facilities.