Hike to the Font de l’Ermetá (Hermits Spring) and the Ermita de Sant Vicenç del Bosc (Chapel of Sant Vicenç of the Forest) and the Font de Sant Vicenç(Sant Vicenç spring)

From the restaurant we take the path from behind the farmhouse, sign posted with a banner for “Sol y Aire”. Just at the beginning there’s a footpath on the right marked with yellow and white paint, this is because it’s a registered short route hike (PR C-38) by the Federació d’Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya (Hiking Associations Federation of Catalonia).

The first stop is at the Font de l’Ermetà, we will have arrived here by crossing a chain. The site is especially beautiful, the magnificence of the hundred year old holm oak trees doesn’t let much sunlight in and creates a cool and fresh atmosphere.

Following the PR footpath once again we continue until we come across the ruins of Ermita de Sant Vicenç del Bosc. Listed in the X century, in 955 to be precise.

The precept of King Lotari confirmed all Sant Cugat Monasteries assets, in the year 986, the chapel is mentioned again as being close to the town of Cercedol (a small town of the region in medieval times). In the middle of the XI century, the chapel formed a parish. During the following centuries it lost importance. It was not until 1347, when a donation was made to rebuild the chapel roof, that it was regularly taken care of. However, towards the end of the century the parish continued to lose status and ended up being included in the parish of Sant Pere d’Octavía. Some of the images are conserved in the Sant Cugat rectory, others are in Barcelonas Museu Diocesà.

In 1981 a campaign to clean up and restore the surroundings was begun, the remains of the walls were rediscovered, the semicircular base of the apse and the floor of the nave made from large slate stones, also a fragment of the altar and a dark stone block that could be a circular bowl. El Consorci del Parc de Collserola placed an explanatory plaque next to the ruins.

The Font de Sant Vicenç is found in the same valley of Can Gordi, very close to the chapel. You won’t come across signs in the direction you are coming from, but it’s not difficult to find as it’s barely 50 meters from the chapel.