Ascent to the surprising Roca Foradada from "el coll de Can Maçana".

ByRafa López Martín
Only from the inside can we get an idea of the size of the "Foradada Rock".

In the area of "les Agulles"It is a hole in the mountain, visible from many points of view. It is necessary to enter it to appreciate its grandeur and the spectacular views. On this route we suggest that you climb up to this curious rock formation, the "hole in the mountain".Foradada Rock".

Summary

We start our route at the "coll de Can Maçana". We will follow the steps of the GR 172 that will take us past the "collet de Guirló". A little later we will take an ascending path that will lead us to this spectacular geological formation, the "Roca Foradada".

Technical specifications

Distance: 3.2 km

Cumulative difference in altitude: + 215 metres

Timetable: 1 h 30 minutes (one way). Running time without stops:55 minutes

Water: At the information centre (weekends and public holidays).

Difficulty: The approach section is on a well-defined and well-marked track and path. The last stretch is on a moderately steep path. In a rocky section there is a rope installed to facilitate the progression. Be careful on the descent, as the terrain is very eroded.

Suggestions: Possibility of completing a circular route following the route: Circular through "les Agulles", from Can Maçana, passing by the Vicenç Barbé refuge.

Recommended equipment: Comfortable clothes, water and some food, sun protection and a walking stick for the climbs.

How to get there?

  • Coll de Can MaçanaLocated on the BP-1101 road. Km 2.6 (El Bruc). It is used as an information centre. Equipped with tables and a toilet. Free on weekdays, on weekends and public holidays it costs 6 €. See in Google maps

Itinerary

(0h00min; 0,0 km) Coll de Can Maçana (716 m). You leave the car park along a track marked GR 172, you are on the "camí de la Roca Foradada". In the whole area of Montserrat, work is being carried out to limit the risk of fires, by means of forestry work, favouring a mosaic landscape with open areas and encouraging grazing. Accompanied by white pines, strawberry trees, rosemary, steppe... you reach the Coll de Can Maçana viewpoint on the left of the track. You will see rocky areas with conglomerate, sandstone and clay strips typical of this part of the massif. A little further on, you leave the path to the right, which will take you to the Sant Pau Vell hermitage.

(0h25min; 1,0 km) Collet de Can Guirló (802 m). We pass a barrier and the track becomes a path. We walk between holm oaks and box trees.

The "Agulles" with the "Cadireta" and our objective "la Roca Foradada" on the left.

(0h45min; 3,0 km) Base Roca Foradada (835 m). We find the path that ascends to our right. We can divide it into three sections, the first a path. The second, a rocky section where we climb up with the help of a rope and then another winding section to the base of the spire.

First stretch of the ascent.
The rope helps us in our upward progression on the rocky section.
Last stretch before our goal.

(0h55min; 3.2 km) Roca Foradada (930 m). This triangular hole, with a flat base, is about 10 metres high and 6 metres wide at the base. As a curiosity, in mid-July from the chapel of Sant Pau Vell you can see the sun rise through this hole. You can also see it set, but for this you will have to go to other places (for example, Castellbell i el Vilar) and wait until mid-February. This visual phenomenon is called "flor de Sol" and is a tourist attraction in the area.

A small holm oak that has grown at the base of the "Roca Foradada", accompanies us in our contemplation of the landscape.

After relaxing and taking in the views and perhaps enjoying a small snack, it is now time to descend to the base of the rocky spire.

The same rope as before guides us on the descent.

From here we have two possibilities: to go back to the "coll de Can Maçana" or to link up with another route: Circular through "les Agulles", from Can Maçana, passing by the Vicenç Barbé refuge.

The legends of the "Foradada Rock".

This rocky hole has always symbolised a portal or threshold to cross, generally to the underworld. One of the legends tells how the devil, who had made himself lord and master of Montserrat, had to flee, pursued by the Virgin Mary. Seeing himself cornered, he hit the mountain, piercing it and opening a chasm that led him straight to hell. Another curious legend tells of a mountain in the sky that the angels would play with. This mountain would be dragged across the firmament with a rope. God, seeing the commotion they were making, made them bring the toy down to Earth. They dragged it so much that in the end the rope broke, although the hole through which they dragged it was visible.

The free fall of the "birdman

In December 2012, a Norwegian skydiver, Alexander Polli, free-fell 250 km/h into the interior of the "Foradada Rock". You have to be very skilled and daredevil to do this feat. Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4b3059u7gg