The Best Spots For Mushroom Hunting In Catalunya

The first of the mountainous areas north of Barcelona, the Montseny Natural Park is the perfect spot for a quick foraging day trip from Barcelona. Located just an hour out of the city by train, the mountain range combines Mediterranean and Alpine features, with woodlands as well as open fields in the surrounding countryside. The area around Viladrau and El Brull is especially renowned for the abundance of wild mushrooms which appear once there has been enough rainfall.

Nearest train station: Aiguafreda or Vich

This is the only place in Catalunya where mushroom hunters need to pay to forage – and this gives you a good idea of how prolific fungi are in the area. You can get a day pass for just €3 from the tourism office in Montblanc, L’Espluga de Francolí or the Santa María de Poblet Monastery. There is believed to be an average of 80 kilograms of mushrooms per hectare growing in the forest around Poblet each year, and it is one of the most famous foraging spots in the whole of Catalunya.

Nearest train station: L’Espluga de Francolí

Located in the comarca of Berguedà, the area around the towns of Berga and Borredá is famous for the foraging of rovellons, the small orange mushroom that is so popular in Catalunya. Located between the Picancel and Catllaràs mountains, there is an alpine climate in the area with plenty of water coming from the nearby river and lakes. So prolific are the mushrooms here, that throughout the season there are regular markets in the towns dedicated to the sale of wild mushrooms.

Nearest train station: Berga

Further inland from Berguedà, the comarca of the Solsonès surrounds the Medieval town of Solsona and is a well-kept secret of mushroom foragers in the area. Lesser known than other popular spots, the Solsonès has all the characteristics of a great mushroom habitat, with an alpine climate well provisioned in water via a network of rivers and subterranean lakes. Every year a Mushroom Fair is organized in the area, including talks and demonstrations, foraging tips and guidelines for safe practice.

Nearest train station: Solsona

Much closer to the Catalan capital than some of the aforementioned alpine foraging spots, the Bages is the comarca surrounding the city of Manresa. While mushrooms may not be as prolific in this area, there are a few great spots favored by locals and knowledgeable Barcelona foragers, such as the woodlands around the town of Santa Maria d’Oló. Its lesser hyped status also means it’s not so crowded, so you’re much less likely to bump shoulders with other mushroom foragers at the weekend.

Nearest train station: Manresa