Santa Maria de Palautordera: Culture and River Landscapes

Santa Maria de Palautordera brings together several themes for planning your trip: church architecture and industrial history sit alongside river landscapes, an arboretum and designated routes. If you are looking for a hotel in Santa Maria de Palautordera, these different aspects of the town can help you decide how to pursue your interests during your stay.

Churches and Architectural History

The Església de Santa Maria was completed between 1562 and 1588 as a late Gothic church. Its round bell tower reuses a tower from the former 13th-century palace. The building thus brings together two distinct historical connections: the tower’s earlier use and the church’s later completion. The stained-glass windows also offer insight into the history of the church’s furnishings. Four Baroque windows were identified there in 2014. Two depict the Verge del Roser and Sant Pere and date from 1628; the other two have geometric designs.

The Ermita del Remei represents a different architectural direction: it was completed and consecrated in 1803 and is designed in the Baroque-Neoclassical style. Together with the late Gothic Església, it offers a point of comparison for the town’s architectural history without reducing the two buildings to the same period.

Bridge and Industrial History

The Pont Trencat is a 15th-century pre-Gothic-style bridge that crosses the Tordera River. Its restoration in 2005 made the original and modern sections visible. Older masonry and a later addition can therefore be clearly seen side by side on the bridge. The restoration received several national and international architecture awards.

Another historical focus is Route 3, “Les fàbriques de Palau.” It presents the industrial reality of Santa Maria de Palautordera at the beginning of the 20th century. The route takes visitors to the factories of Can Balada, Can Guiñau and Can Guarro. While the churches and bridge make the town’s architectural history visible, this themed route turns the focus to its industrial development.

Arboretum and River Landscape

The Parc de l'Arboretum “L'Arbreda del Montseny” is in Santa Maria de Palautordera, at the foot of the Parc Natural del Montseny. Around 80 labelled tree and shrub species from the Montseny massif are presented there. Ducks, turtles and fish are also found there. The site thus combines botanical themes with wildlife that can be observed, while the trees and shrubs provide a direct connection to the Montseny massif.

Route 8, “From the Reguissol to the Tordera,” runs along the two rivers that cross Santa Maria de Palautordera. The riverbanks have plane-tree plantations and riparian vegetation, and a wide variety of birds is also noted. The river theme is reflected not only in the route itself but also in the plants and wildlife described. For those more interested in views across a broader landscape, the “Ruta bici blava” offers a different focus: it provides views of the Montseny massif, including Turó de l’Home, Les Agudes and Pla de la Calma; the valleys of Mosqueroles and the Tordera; and the Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor.

Routes to Suit Your Interests

The “Ruta bici blanca” is an easy cycling route connecting Sant Celoni with Santa Maria and Sant Esteve de Palautordera. Its described connection and difficulty rating distinguish it from the views offered by the “Ruta bici blava.” For a focus on the town centre, there is the “Visita Turística per Santa Maria de Palautordera”: this easy walk shows significant features of the centre and is available in Catalan, Spanish, French and English. You can choose a route according to your interests—local history, rivers and plant life, or the landscape views described above.

Discover more destinations: Monistrol De Calders, Santa Margarida de Montbui, Caldes D'estrac, Castellar Del Riu, Vilassar De Dalt, La Pobla De Claramunt, La Palma De Cervelló, Els Monjos.

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