The calçotada is Catalonia's great winter ritual: tender spring onions charred over a fire of vine shoots, wrapped in newspaper, peeled by hand and dipped in salvitxada or romesco sauce, bib on and no rush. Valls, capital of the Alt Camp, is where it began, and it is also the cradle of the castells, the human towers. The season runs roughly from November to April, and the Gran Festa de la Calçotada is held on the last Sunday of January.
The route is planned for 3 nights: you collect the motorhome on day 1 in the afternoon and return it on the morning of day 4. It adds up to about 350 km, well within the 900 km you get from the 300 km a day included on Segimon Rental hires of 3 to 6 days. From November to March, except Christmas and Easter, the minimum hire is 3 days, so it fits exactly. For more monasteries and Roman Tarraco, extend it with our Tarragona and Cistercian route.
Route plan
Route map
Tap a day or a stop to see it on the map, or press "Follow the route" to travel it stage by stage.
Approximate line between stops, not a navigation itinerary. Check road conditions and restrictions for large vehicles before you set off.
What you will see
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 · Pick-up and drive to Valls
Collect the motorhome between 16:00 and 19:00 in Les Franqueses del Vallès and head south on the AP-7 and AP-2 without going through Barcelona: in about 1 h 15 you are in the Alt Camp. Sleep at a campsite or authorised aire in the area or around Tarragona. The V66's Truma heating keeps a January night as comfortable as home; use the evening to confirm tomorrow's restaurant booking.
Day 2 · Valls, the calçotada and Santes Creus
In the morning walk around central Valls: the Plaça del Blat, the church of Sant Joan and the streets where the town's two big castell teams build their human towers at festivals. Park outside the old centre. At lunchtime, the calçotada itself: farmhouses and restaurants around town serve them by the dozen, followed by grilled meat, white beans and dessert. If you are here on the last Sunday of January, the Gran Festa fills the town; arrive early and check the official programme. In the afternoon, 15 minutes away, the Cistercian monastery of Santes Creus and its Gothic cloister.
Day 3 · Montblanc, Prades and Reus
Half an hour takes you to Montblanc, whose walled town keeps its towers and gateways; tradition places the legend of Saint George and the dragon here. Leave the motorhome outside the walls. Then climb mountain roads to Prades, the "red village", built of reddish stone with a Renaissance fountain in its square. Alternative: the viewpoint at Siurana, a village on a crag above a reservoir; the last stretch of road is narrow. Drop down to Reus for its modernista buildings and a vermouth, a deep-rooted local habit. Sleep nearby: on day 4 you are back in the Vallès in about 1 h 20 to return the motorhome between 9:00 and 12:00.
Where to sleep
The Alt Camp has few dedicated motorhome spots, but around Tarragona and on the Costa Daurada, 20–30 minutes away, you will find campsites open in winter and authorised aires. Calçotada weekends are busier: if you are going to the Gran Festa, book or have a plan B. Park4Night and Campercontact show facilities and recent reviews, and our winter motorhome guide has tips for the cold.
Remember that wild camping is generally not permitted in Catalonia. Parking wherever any vehicle may park is legal (DGT instruction 08/V-74), as long as you do not put out the awning, chairs or levelling ramps and do not empty any water. Local bylaws vary, so follow the signs.
Where to sleep with a motorhome in Catalonia
Practical tips
- Book your calçotada ahead for a weekend: the best-known restaurants and farmhouses fill up, especially from January to March.
- You can buy calçots and sauce to grill them yourself, but only where barbecues are allowed, such as campsites with a grill area. Never light a fire in the countryside: fire in natural areas is tightly restricted.
- Wear clothes you do not mind ruining: even with a bib, ash and sauce get everywhere. Keep wet wipes in the van.
- Parking in Valls on Gran Festa day is tricky: arrive early and leave the motorhome on the outskirts, where the organisers indicate.
- The roads to Prades and Siurana are winding and can be icy early on winter mornings: check conditions with the Servei Català de Trànsit.
Frequently asked questions
When is calçot season in Catalonia?
Roughly November to April, peaking between January and March. The Gran Festa de la Calçotada in Valls is held on the last Sunday of January; check the official programme each year.
How many days do I need for this motorhome route?
Three nights cover Valls, Santes Creus, Montblanc and Prades at an easy pace. In low season that is exactly the minimum hire; to add Poblet and Tarragona, allow 4 or 5. In April, mid season, the minimum is 4 days.
Can I have a calçotada with the motorhome?
You can buy calçots and grill them at a campsite with an authorised barbecue area. Do not light fires in woodland or at overnight areas without permission.
Where can I sleep near Valls in a motorhome?
At campsites and authorised aires around Tarragona and on the Costa Daurada, a short drive away. Book if your trip coincides with the Gran Festa or a busy weekend.
