The future of La Mola, the emblematic peak of the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac natural park and a landmark in Vallès, involves “promoting environmental education and the promotion of historical heritage”, but without the restaurant to which it has been linked in the last 57 years.
The Barcelona Provincial Council will invest 2.6 million euros until 2026 to condition the environment and reduce the “current overcrowding and the strong environmental impact.” According to their studies, 177,000 people visited the summit between September 2022 and the same month of 2023, but 300,000 visit different areas of the park annually. This was announced today by the deputy for Natural Spaces, Xesco Gomar, and the mayor of Matadepera, Guillem Montagut, in the presentation of the future plan for La Mola.
In November, there was already talk of the possible closure of the restaurant, unique in Spain because the food was brought up on foot or on donkeys, after the end of the 2018 concession, which expires in February. Today, it was confirmed as definitive, which means a bucket of cold water for the family of Gemma Gimferrer, who has taken charge, along with 20 workers, of this space to which many Vallesans are emotionally attached.
The employees have presented almost 15,000 signatures to the Provincial Council and the Consistory against the closure, but they have not served to stop a chronicle of a death foretold. The family feels that "they blame us for everything and a sustainable alternative has not been sought with us, who know the space in depth." “And we have strictly complied with the requirements of the concession,” says Gimferrer. “We feel mistreated,” he adds.
In the closing argument, Gomar has detailed that “it is not only about the impact of the 23,000 annual meals that are served, but also that 54,000 kilowatts are spent per year with generator sets that consume fossil energy, 6,500 kilos of waste from the treatment plant, "82,648 kilos of goods (food and drink) carried by donkeys and 46,540 kilos of waste are consumed." He has also pointed out that the habitual transportation of mules “affects the quality of the soil and is destroying native species,” although he has not specified which ones.
“Restoration – he argues – has been prioritized over environmental education and heritage protection, taking into account that the monastery is an Asset of National Cultural Interest. “There is graffiti on the walls.” As for water, La Mola does not have a supply system with sufficient capacity to deal with drought episodes and the wastewater treatment plant must absorb a volume much higher than its capacities.
With the climate crisis in the background, the plan aims for 30,000 kwh annually to come from renewable sources, reduce energy demand by 44% and reduce water consumption by 61%. There will be day and night security guards and environmental informants to raise awareness among visitors. On January 23, the kitchen and the warehouse will be closed, “but anyone who wants can continue going up to La Mola.” The mayor of Matadepera has said that the objective is to promote other routes “that relieve the pressure and thus be able to enjoy the natural park as a whole.”
