Spain – Vinyols i els Arcs (En)

We went to Vinyols i els Arcs because it’s a picturesque rural village with a historic old town, very close to Cambrils. We decided to visit this small village and take the opportunity to see Cambrils on the Costa Dorada. Highlights in Vinyols include the Baroque church of Santa Catalina and its town hall.

Where to stay

We stayed in the village’s private motorhome area (41.105491, 1.03508 lat, long) next to Samà Park. It’s a very spacious, enclosed area with everything you need for €15 a day. There’s a hose for filling the water tank and drinking water taps between the pitches. At the entrance to the area, there’s a drain for emptying the water tank. There are two unisex bathrooms with showers. The shower water is hot, and the pressure is decent. There’s a sink for washing dishes, but the water is cold. That’s the only downside I found. The chemical toilet is outside the bathrooms. There’s a washing machine and dryer that cost €3 each. You use them, then tell the owners and pay when you leave. There’s a seating area with tables, chairs, and armchairs, and free Wi-Fi that works quite well. Electricity is included in the €15. We stayed for seven days because we were caught in two days of terrible wind and had to move under the porch and against the wall for shelter. During our week there, we made friends, like María and her son Rafa, who had been there for a month, and Thomas and Sima, who were spending the winter there with their two lovely dogs and their cat, whom we hope to see again on one of our trips. Yolanda and her husband run the area and are wonderful; they help you with everything they can. I recommend staying here if you want to visit the area, as you can walk to Sama Park and the village.

What to see

The first place we saw was Mas Miret, a recently restored 16th-century defensive tower. Next to it is Parc Samà, a botanical garden with over 1,500 species of flora and fauna. Entry costs 10 euros. We didn’t go inside, but we took some photos from the outside.

We went to visit the village on the motorbike, but you can walk there, it’s about 15 minutes. We stopped at the village entrance to take a picture of the sign, which was really cool.

We went to the town square where the Parish Church of Saint Catherine is located. Built between 1770 and 1778, it’s notable for its 36-meter bell tower, visible from much of the town. It was a shame we couldn’t see the inside, as it was closed. We were told the priest only came twice a week because he lived in another village. In the square, you can also see Torrell House, the Town Hall, a late 16th-century building that retains a defensive tower dating back to the late Middle Ages.

Another day, we went on the motorbike to see Cambrils, a very cool coastal town, with an old town, a 14th-century tower and much more, which you can see in the next blog.