Ca l'Estruch — Hotel in Vallclara

We visited Ca L'Estruch from November 16-18, 2012.||Ca L'Estruch is a beautifully renovated stone building in a small village. We were greeted on a cold evening by our incredibly warm and welcoming hosts, who had built a crackling fire in the fireplace and were ready with wine and tasty appetizers. When we inquired about the evening meal we were asked what we'd like and what time. ||Maria, the chef, speaks little English, yet communicates tremendous care for her guests and their experience. Her husband Ramon is equally warm (and does speak some English). We were a bit "at sea" in Catalonia as we spoke no Spanish or Catalan, but Maria and Ramon made this issue fairly insignificant. It's clear they love what they do and they are most anxious to please their guests.||Our rooms were lovely and very comfortable. Bathrooms were modern and well equipped.||We felt completely nurtured and cared for at Ca L'Estruch. The meals offered were out of this world, the best during our 2 week stay in Catalonia, and very reasonably priced. Foods were traditional Catalan, locally grown, some even grown on the property. Maria makes ice cream that is heavenly. ||The surrounding countryside is the most beautiful I have ever seen. Ever. It's like driving through a particularly colorful Cezanne landscape. Breathtaking. ||If you're going to Catalonia, don't miss...

Our stay here was really relaxing. The room is in a beautifully-renovated old building in a charming village which is surrounded by mountains full of pines, almond and olive trees. The hotel owners are really friendly and welcoming, and you can see that they love providing their guests with the best stay possible. We enjoyed a delicious dinner each night - prepared by Maria-José and served on the terrace - wonderful!||||The room itself was super-clean and comfortable and had a terrace just outside, which was great for sitting and relaxing before going downstairs for dinner. ||||We'll definitely be recommending it to friends (coming from Barcelona like us, or visiting Spain), equally in the summer (there's a pool in the village) as in other times of the year - it looks like it'd be cosy in the winter and a nice place for a calçotada...

Maria and Ramon welcomed us and treated us as house guests, which is how we felt - privileged to be in their home. Our room was superb, clean comfy and with a little balcony to take in the idyllic scenery here. We ate dinner prepared by Maria on one evening - superb home cooking, with local wine to match.|We were also advised on places to go (don’t miss Prades!) and where to eat other meals. Every recommendation was perfect.|Breakfast was simple, fruits superb, just right. |Definitely one of our most memorable stays, and as we visited our 40 & 41 st Spanish cities during this trip, we have been to a lot of places to stay in Spain, and this ranks in the top 5 most memorable.|Although I do speak Spanish, there was enough English for complete understanding...