l’Hospitalet del’Infant (or Hospitalet del Infante in Spanish) is a holiday seaside town on the Costa Dorada. It is located south of Barcelona, still a bit beyond Tarragona. It is not a popular place among Poles, there is not much information about it on the Internet, and from what I have noticed, a lot of Catalans come here, for example from Andorra.
The name of the place is certainly not associated with vacations, and when translated into Polish it means “infant hospital”. We ended up there completely by accident when we went south to spend part of the winter in Spain. We booked an apartment for a month…. turned out that this town has everything one expects from a vacation in Spain: long, sandy beaches, pleasant walking trails, beautiful views, and mountains at your fingertips. I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful there!
In this post, I will tell you what to do here and why you should choose l’Hospitalet del’Infant as your destination.
Table of Contents
- 1 Attractions of Hospitalet del Infante
- 2 The Town And The Famous Hospital
- 3 Vandellós Nuclear Power Plant
- 4 Beaches in l’Hospitalet del’Infant
- 5 Underwater routes
- 6 Beautiful walking route: La Rojala-Platja del Torn
- 7 Serres del Mistral mountain range
- 8 Where to stay overnight in l’Hospitalet del’Infant?
- 9 Interesting fact about l’Hospitalet del’Infant
Attractions of Hospitalet del Infante
Hospitalet del Infante is not one of the most popular destinations among tourists, but it is worth a visit. In addition to the attractions mentioned in this post, it makes a great base for exploring Catalonia and even Valencia and the surrounding area. There is an extensive train line here, which will take you to both Barcelona and Madrid. In addition, a smaller line was closed a few years ago, as you’ll read further on.
What is worth seeing in this Catalan town? This town is famous above all, for its sandy, beautiful beaches. You can stroll along the long promenade and watch sunrises and sunsets. The town is quiet and ideal for lazy relaxation. In addition, there is a local market on Passeig Maritim on Sundays. You can buy local produce, fresh vegetables and fruits there.
Below, I’ll list some of the attractions to discover when visiting l’Hospitalet del’Infant.
The Town And The Famous Hospital
Walking around the town, you will notice a building that resembles an old Gothic castle. This is where the famous hospital was located, which was built to receive pedestrians crossing the Coll de Balaguer (a pass that, even during the Spanish Civil War, was considered a strategic defensive position, saturated with fortifications).
Back to the hospital – it was thanks to Peter of Aragon and Anjou that the hospital was founded, that the city was founded. The building was built in 1344, on a square plan (side 54.43 meters), and was also surrounded by a high wall (more than 10 meters). Much of the hospital has survived, practically except for the towers and the chapel.
If you want to learn more about the hospital’s history, go to the visitor center. Note that the hospital is open on selected days and times, always outside siesta hours, and only on weekends in winter (siesta also applies).
Vandellós Nuclear Power Plant
There will be several nuclear power plants in Spain. The one here is located picturesquely, by the turquoise sea, a few kilometers from the village. It looks quite futuristic. It is worth reading about its history. There were two units, and one of the units was shut down due to failure, and only in 2028 will the third phase of decommissioning begin.
There are beaches right next to the power plant, so you can sunbathe right next to it. However, in winter, the parking lot at the beach is occupied by RV travelers. ?
Beaches in l’Hospitalet del’Infant
Here are some of the larger beaches located in and around L’Hospitalet del’Infant:
– Platja de l’Arenal – the main beach in L’Hospitalet del’Infant. It is a sandy, beautiful, and wide beach with a length of about 1.5 km
– Platja del Torn – a nudist beach located northeast of Arenal. It is about 1 km long and is famous for its crystal clear and turquoise water. It is beautiful.
– Platja Cristall – a long beach in Miami Platja, adjacent to L’Hospitalet del’Infant. It is an extremely pleasant beach with white sand, 1.7 km long
Other beaches in the area include the Platja Canina de la Punta del Riu dog beach. You will find quite a few coves and smaller beaches in the area. We often sunbathed on the beach by the power plant, because there was a small cove where it was not windy (we were in winter, so the temperature did not exceed 20 degrees in the shade).
Underwater routes
The sea in l’Hospitalet del’Infant is really clean. It finally got the Blue Flag certification, which is awarded to beaches as they meet high environmental quality standards. How do you see what’s hidden at the bottom of the sea? You don’t have to be a diver. Just put on a mask and a snorkel, doing snorkeling is the best way through which you can explore the underwater routes.
What can you see underwater? Posidonia, a long-leaved sea grass, grows here. You can see red starfish, octopus, and many fish and crustaceans, among others.
Beautiful walking route: La Rojala-Platja del Torn
There is a great walking route above the nudist beach. You can start from the side of El Templo del Sol Campground or the side of the power plant. It’s a very scenic and easy route, with spectacular views. What, besides the amazing views, is worth seeing there?
– El Torn: a mountain with a height of 152 meters
– Illot del Torn – a protruding rock with the remains of a bastion
– Decommissioned railroad line: you can imagine what the views from the train were like. The line was decommissioned in favor of a new, faster line that opened a few years ago
– Near the cove, just off the beach, is a mysterious cave: the Sea Wolf Cave (labeled Cova Del Llop Marà on the map). We didn’t manage to reach it, but it’s worth trying to go up, for example by kayak.
Serres del Mistral mountain range
You’ll find many trails and climbing spots in the Serres del Mistral mountain range. There are various walking trails in the area, including a hilltop church: Ermita de Sant Roc. One of the most interesting places in the area is this particular spot, because the trails there are really a lot. No wonder we went there for an afternoon trek! The views from the trail are really beautiful, with panoramic views of the coast on one side and a view of the mountains on the other. This is a place that is definitely worth a visit, especially lovers of hiking and climbing will love it.
Where to stay overnight in l’Hospitalet del’Infant?
In l’Hospitalet del’Infant you will find hotels, apartments, and houses for rent. We booked a spacious apartment located less than 5 minutes from the beach with underground parking and further sea views. You can find it here:
Booking.comInteresting fact about l’Hospitalet del’Infant
I don’t know if you know, but Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was forced to make a forced beach landing right in l’Hospitalet del’Infant due to strong wind gusts. He was flying to Morocco, or more precisely, to Casablanca. I wonder if this situation inspired him to write The Little Prince. ?
If you go to l’Hospitalet del’Infant, I’m sure you won’t regret it. It’s really beautiful there: picturesque mountains on one side, turquoise sea on the other. There is no kitsch, instead, there is an atmosphere, which I love on vacation.
See also:
13 Best Things to Do in Barcelona
Malaga – Best Things to Do & Top Places to Visit
Reus – What To See In Gaudi’s City?
Tossa de Mar – Discover the Extraordinary Beauty of the Costa Brava
Remote Work From Spain – How To Plan It?
Discover Costa Daurada – Attractions and Beautiful Places
