From the Ribes Blaves Residential Area to Sant Jaume

This route begins at a unique and important natural heritage site: Ribes Blaves. A short distance from there, we will take a forest track downhill to the left, which has also been adapted for vehicles. After crossing a fire break, the road zigzags on its way downhill. Once we've passed all the curves, we reach a crossroads: the left will take us to the Sant Jaume fountain and stream, while to the right is the hermitage and the farmhouse.

From History to Heritage:

The fountain is private property, although it is open to the public.

The name Sant Jaume is of uncertain origin. In the 14th to 15th centuries the name appeared in records as Mansum de Questeo or Questeyo, which subsequently evolved into Sant Jaume de Castayo.

The farmhouse is still inhabited. On the property there is a winery and an old mill.

History records an event here that could almost be taken from a detective novel. In 1855, seven individuals disguised as members of the Catalan militia (including three locals from Olesa) broke into the farmhouse. They locked the women and children in a bedroom and tortured the father and son, throwing them into the fireplace. Once the perpetrators were caught, they were tried and sentenced to death. Some of them were locked up in the Olesa prison (in the Clock Tower) and publicly executed by garrote in the Plaça Nova.

The hermitage chapel dates back to the late 18th century and is in very bad condition.

(Route created by Joan Soler Gironès - Hiking Guide for Olesa de Montserrat and environs)