Spain – Barcelona (Els Hostalets de Pierola)
Centre de Restauració i Interpretació Paleontològica (CRIP)
About half of our courses are held at the premises of the CRIP, in the lovely town of Els Hostalets de Pierola, in Barcelona province. This town is located at 40 km from Barcelona centre (one hour and a half by public transport).
Located near Montserrat Mountain, and in the middle of vineyards, the 2,000 thousand people town of Els Hostalets de Pierola provide an incomparable framework for research, networking, and enjoying the countryside of Spain. Moreover, it is famous between palaeontologists by its Miocene fossils sites that have provided about 60,000 fossils, and between them, some new species of primates that have shed light into the evolution of Hominids.
Where to stay:
In Els Hostalets de Pierola participants have the option to stay together at the Youth Hostel Can Roviralta (check Accommodation in the course webpage), having the opportunity to keep discussing during dinners, and to enjoy some time together having a barbecue or visiting regional wine cellars. This option is strongly recommended.
Please be aware that from the centre of Barcelona city it takes about one hour by car and one hour and a half by public transport to arrive to Els Hostalets de Pierola.
Other options of accommodation nearby Els Hostalets de Pierola: Hotels en Igualada and Hotels in Martorell.
Why there:
We organize some courses in this small town because we want researchers to focus during one week only in the content of the course, with no distractions. Moreover, this isolation, and the quietness of the place, promotes networking and interactions between participants, including instructors.
How to get there
Centre de Restauració i Interpretació Paleontològica (CRIP)
Els Hostalets de Pierola, Barcelona, Spain
Two main train companies and one subway company operate in Barcelona city.
- The Barcelona metro (subway) has a high frequency and there are many lines (Barcelona subway map).
- One of the train companies is called Renfe Cercanías (Rodalies Barcelona in Catalan), the other is called FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya).
In some case both companies (and the subway) may share train stations. Please be aware of this when asking for directions to local people and buying tickets, as you may get wrong directions if not indicating which train company you want to take.
FROM BARCELONA CITY
- If you come by plane, take the Aerobus from the airport to Plaza España bus stop in Barcelona city (first stop once in the city).
- If you are coming by train, once in Barcelona Sants station, take the green line of the subway (L3 headed to Trinitat Nova) to Espanya subway stop.
Once you are in Plaza España, go to the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) train station and take the train line R6 (headed to Igualada) to Piera train stop. Upon arrival to Piera train station, you should take a bus to Els Hostalets de Pierola. This bus would be waiting outside the Piera train station, and should be headed to Els Hostalets de Pierola. In case of doubt, please ask the bus driver for Els Hostalets de Pierola bus stop. The same ticket you will buy for the train would work for the bus.
From Espanya it takes about one hour and a half to arrive to Els Hostalets de Pierola. The place of the course is about 5 minutes walking from the bus stop.
- If you are arriving late in the day, buses and trains run until almost 12:00 a.m. Taxis from the airport may cost about 70 €.
FROM MARTORELL
Martorell is located between Barcelona city and Els Hostalets de Pierola. The train from Martorell to Els Hostalets de Pierola takes about 35 minutes to arrive, and the frequency is intermediate (two trains each hour).
There is one hotel in Martorell near the train station.
In the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) Martorell Central train station, take the line R6 (headed to Igualada) to Piera train stop. Upon arrival to Piera train station, you should take a bus to Els Hostalets de Pierola. This bus would be waiting outside the Piera train station, and should be headed to Els Hostalets de Pierola. In case of doubt, please ask the bus driver for Els Hostalets de Pierola bus stop. The same ticket you will buy for the train would work for the bus.
It takes about 35 minutes from Martorell to Els Hostalets de Pierola. The place of the course is about 5 minutes walking from the bus stop.
FROM IGUALADA
Igualada is located at 20 km from Els Hostalets de Pierola in eastern direction and 67 km from Barcelona city. Igualada is the capital and central market of the Anoia comarca. The train from Igualada to Els Hostalets de Pierola takes about 35 minutes to arrive, and the frequency is intermediate (two trains each hour).
There are a few hotels in Igualada.
In the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) Igualada train station, take the line R6 (headed to Barcelona or Martorell) to Piera train stop. Upon arrival at Piera train station, you should take a bus to Els Hostalets de Pierola. This bus would be waiting outside the Piera train station, and should be headed to Els Hostalets de Pierola. In case of doubt, please ask the bus driver for Els Hostalets de Pierola bus stop. The same ticket you will buy for the train would work for the bus.
It takes about 35 minutes from Igualada to Els Hostalets de Pierola. The place of the course is about 5 minutes walking from the bus stop.
ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE
If you have chosen the Accommodation Package, transport from the centre of Barcelona city to Els Hostalets de Pierola is included. This will take place the evening before the first day of the course and the meeting point will be Plaza Catalunya (Catalunya Square) in Barcelona city.
To arrive to Catalunya Square:
- If you come by plane, take the Aerobus from the airport to Plaza Catalunya bus stop in Barcelona city.
- If you come by train, in the same train station you have arrived (Barcelona Sants), you should take the line R1, R3 or R4 of the company Renfe Cercanías (Rodalies Barcelona in Catalan) to Catalunya stop (Integrated Railway Network map).
- If you are not going to take the course bus, please check the previous information.
Where to stay near the Venue
If you do not want to take the accommodation package, there are a few options nearby. You will find them listed below.
Capellades
Hotel Tall de Conill.
The line R6 of FGC stops in Capellades. Please be aware that the train station in Capellades is outside the village, and you will have to take the bus that connect it with the center before taking the train.
La Pobla de Claramunt
From La Pobla de Claramunt train station is only one train stop to Capellades (R6 headed Barcelona).
Hotels in La Pobla de Claramunt:
- Hotel Robert; located at 6 minutes walking from the FGC train station La Pobla de Claramunt.
Martorell
Martorell is located between Barcelona city and Capellades. The city is located at 38 km from Barcelona and 37 minutes by train.
The train from Martorell to Capellades takes about 33 minutes to arrive.
There are 3 train stations in Martorell: Martorell Enllaç, Martorell Central and Martorell Vila. You should take the line R6 (headed to Igualada) in any of them to Capellades train stop.
Hotels in Martorell:
- Hotel Ciutat Martorell; located at 5 minutes walking from the FGC train station Martorell Central.
- Hotel Manel; located at 13 minutes walking from the FGC train station Martorell Central.
There are too some Airbnb options.
Igualada
Igualada is located at 13 km from Capellades in eastern direction and 67 km from Barcelona city. Igualada is the capital and central market of the Anoia comarca. The train from Igualada to Capellades takes about 13 minutes to arrive.
Hotels in Igualada:
- America Hotel Igualada; located at 22 minutes walking from the FGC train station Igualada.
- Apartments Ramblanova; located at 17 minutes walking from the FGC train station Igualada.
There are too some Airbnb options.