More than 290 participants will take part in this year's edition of Benvinguts a Pagès La Festa, which will take place on October 3 and 4. The event will feature 79 farms, 16 food producers, 32 restaurants, 136 accommodations, and 27 complementary activities spread throughout Catalonia.
This initiative allows visitors to combine tours of agricultural operations with gastronomy, rural tourism, nature, and culture. Reservations for visits to the farms are mandatory and can be made through benvingutsapages.cat, which centralizes all offerings and allows users to search by region, product type, establishment, or experience.
Benvinguts a Pagès reaches its eleventh edition this year, having successfully connected the primary sector with the public for over a decade. Since its launch, more than 240,000 individuals have explored farms across Catalonia to learn about food origins, meet producers, and appreciate the value of local and seasonal consumption.
“After more than ten years, Benvinguts a Pagès has evolved alongside the participating farms. Today, it not only showcases how food is produced but also creates new quality agrotourism experiences, connects various local agents, and generates new ways to bring local products to consumers,” said Òscar Ordeig, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing, and Food.
Miquel Sàmper, Minister of Business and Labor, added, “Benvinguts a Pagès is an initiative that highlights the richness of our territory. Such proposals help to desegregate tourist activity, distribute it more evenly across the country, and create opportunities for local agents while offering visitors authentic experiences linked to culture, gastronomy, and landscape.”
This year, 29 of the participating farms and producers will be joining for the first time, increasing the diversity of products, production models, and regions represented at La Festa. Visitors will be able to explore a wide range of Catalonia's agri-food sector, including vegetables, fruits, cereals, oil, honey, legumes, aromatic plants, livestock, poultry, and fish, as well as processed products like cheeses, cured meats, preserves, and other specialties.
The initiative includes both conventional and organic farms, with various production models, including dryland and irrigated farming, intensive and extensive methods.
A weekend in the countryside
La Festa offers more than just farm visits. The 32 restaurants, 136 accommodations, and 27 complementary activities provide opportunities for gastronomic experiences, rural stays, and activities related to culture, nature, and local products. Options include discovering local cuisine at restaurants like Restaurant Siurana in Cornudella de Montsant, which features Catalan cuisine with seasonal ingredients and signature dishes, or B-Crek Solfa in Olot, which focuses on meats from Garrotxa and products from small local producers.
Visitors can also stay at accommodations such as Xalet de Prades, located in the Prades mountains, or Cabanes Dosrius in the Natural Park of Corredor. This combined offering allows each visitor to tailor their weekend experience according to their interests.
From a tourism perspective, Benvinguts a Pagès La Festa aligns with the objectives of the strategy “(+) Catalonia, better tourism,” encouraging locals to discover their territory and enjoy authentic experiences through weekend stays that link accommodation, dining, and activities. This initiative values the essence of each destination and generates a positive impact on the territory and its residents.
Berguedà connects accommodations and producers in a pilot experience
One of the new features of this edition will take place in Berguedà, a region with significant representation in Benvinguts a Pagès. As part of a pilot experience led by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing, and Food, the Department of Business and Labor, through the Catalan Tourism Agency, and the Berguedà Development Agency, in collaboration with the Berguedà Agrotourism Association and the La Llar Foundation, a group of tourist accommodations in the region will offer guests a package made with products from participating farms. This initiative, linked to the “From the land, from Berguedà” brand, aims to strengthen connections among local agents and enhance visitors' experiences by incorporating knowledge and consumption of local products. Participating accommodations will also provide information about the offerings of Benvinguts a Pagès in the region and encourage their guests to take part in the scheduled activities.
Benvinguts a Pagès will continue beyond the weekend with Benvinguts a Pagès Todo el Año, which will offer visits to over 120 farms throughout the year. This offering is complemented by 16 agrotourism routes across different regions of Catalonia.
