No Car Needed (no. 2): The Train To Vic, Or, Why I Was Wrong Yet Again

Central Square in Vic where market is held on Saturdays

By Regina Winkle-Bryan

Vic. Don’t you like that name? Short and sweet. For the first few years I lived in Catalonia I poo-poohed Vic, thinking it to be nothing more than some farming town, and since I grew up in a farming town, I had little interest in seeing cows and rows of wheat. But as usual I was proven wrong and my stereotype was obliterated. Vic is indeed surrounded by farms and fields, but the town, city if you will, is filled with interesting bits of history such as a Roman temple, a bridge (Pont Queralt) from the 11th century, and lots of fancy-pants ‘Modernista’ homes.

I’ll admit, when I hear Vic, I still do think ‘racism issues’ immediately (more on that here), but at the same time I’ll recommend Vic as an excellent day-trip from Barcelona to the inland heart of Catalonia. Vic and the area around it is famous for its sausage or ‘botifarra’ which should be sampled if you dig on swine. Here are some photos to give ya a little Vic inspiration:

Vic, Catalonia

Vic - shadows on the streets

Vic - Roman Temple

Vic - Market day

Vic - Bridge from 11th century - still in use!

Get the train from Barcelona to Vic. It takes between an hour and an hour and 30 minutes depending on which train you take. See the RENFE times here.

Want more ideas for No Car Needed day-trips from Barcelona? See here.