The mixture of past and present is the main attraction of Osona, a region that glitters with its own light right in the heart of Catalonia. This mountain-ringed plain has been home to Bishops and shepherds, bandits and Lords, and the echo of their stories can still be heard.

Get your visit to Osona off to a great start with a wander through Vic market. Ever since medieval times, it has taken place every Tuesday and Saturday, and it’s definitely the best place to chat with the stall-holders and try the region’s great culinary wealth. Then you can join a guided tour of the old town and uncover all the secrets of the Roman temple, the Cathedral, the walls, the Town Hall or the Episcopal Museum.

If you want a quieter time, come to Vidrà and find out all about a shepherd’s daily life. Depending on the season, you can take part in the many tasks that need doing; you can even try your hand at the ancient art of sheep-shearing.

One of the region’s other unusual attractions is the Perot Rocaguinarda Centre, a museum located in Olost which explains the fascinating history of the bandit Rocaguinarda. And how about rounding off our visit in a large 13th-century fortified manor House, Montesquiu Castle has belonged to many families, from nobles to commoners, but its medieval charm remains intact.