2024-02-11

Festa de Caldera in Montmaneu

Jaarlijks vind er in februari een groot dorpsfeest plaats in het dorpje Montmaneu: het Festa de Caldera, ofwel het feest van de stoofpot. Op het gezellige dorpsplein wordt een hele rij grote stoofpotten neergezet en wordt er voor het hele dorp en iedereen die het leuk vindt gekookt en samen gegeten.

Festa_de_Caldera_Montmaneu

Festa de Caldera in Montmaneu

On February 11, it was a beautiful spring day here in Catalonia and we went to Montmaneu, a small village about a 20-minute drive from Torre Nova. Every year in February an authentic village festival takes place here: the Festa de Caldera, or the festival of the stew. A series of large stew pans are placed on the village square and they cook stew for the whole village and everyone who likes it, whisch is afterwards eaten together. The ingredients of the stew are lamb, chicken, ham, spinach stalks, rice, noodles, beans, potatoes and water.

The origins of this village festival can be traced back to the times of feudalism in the 14th century. The nobility invited their vassals to a grand dinner once a year, to reward their hard work on the noble's lands. It was at this time that the inhabitants of Montmaneu began to organize the 'Festa de Caldera' for their Count, which has become an authentic ritual over the centuries. There is always something special, such as the Castellers who build their human castles on the village square.

Nowadays it is also a fair with local products, we unexpectedly even came across a Dutch cheese seller there :)


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2025-01-31

Gran Festa de Calçots in Valls

Every year on the last Sunday of January, the Gran Festa de Calçots takes place in the town of Valls. Calçots (spring onions) are a typical Catalan dish. On all the squares of the town, they are completely blackened over large fires until they are done. Then the 'calçotada' begins and they are eaten, by the crowd that has gathered, after the outer skin has been removed, with a delicious romesco sauce. This is of course accompanied by lots of cava, happiness and local folklore! It is the start of the Calçot season, which lasts until Easter.

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Tripadvisor Zoover Eliza was here Catalunya Turespana