Renovated in 2000, the three-storey whitewashed and terracotta-roofed Hostal del Senglar is now almost completely obscured by the evergreen trees of its own garden, together with those of the neighbouring civic park of Espluga de Francoli. It is a white-walled and wooden-beamed labyrinth inside. The many-chambered dining hall, with its wooden balconies, nooks, crannies and murals of country scenes, is highly festive when full, and pleasantly intimate when not. The five-course Menu de Calcotada is an appropriately medieval feast - a traditional celebration of the vine and onion crops specific to the area (calcots is Catalan for shallots). The bright bedrooms have stout wood and leather chairs, and decent-sized tables in addition to good, solid beds. Generous rugs add warmth to the red-tiled floors, and plants, pots and original oil-paintings are dotted around. |
