Renau: History, Churches and Routes

Renau combines traces of history with routes to different destinations. When planning a stay, you can consider these themes separately: the town’s history ranges from remains of Roman villas in the municipality to architectural changes in the 19th century; the routes focus on farmhouses, the Santes Creus Monastery, and a stage of the Camí de Sant Jaume. Two recurring Festa Majors also provide seasonal reference points.

History and Townscape

Numerous remains of Roman villas have been found in the municipality of Renau. Renau’s origins are dated to the mid-12th century, during the Reconquista; the first written reference dates from 1161. The archaeological remains of villas and the first written record therefore represent different periods: the Roman evidence dates back further than the medieval written reference.

The term “Castell” also helps put the town’s history into context. In Renau, it refers more to a manor house than to a feudal castle. The remains of the former Castell de Renau were demolished in 1876 to make way for the church square. The name thus refers to an earlier structure, while the square is associated with a specific change to the townscape in the 19th century.

Churches and Art

The Ermita de la Mare de Déu del Loreto was built at the end of the 17th century. In 1930, the architect Josep M. Jujol decorated and renovated the hermitage. The parish church of Santa Llúcia was built in 1769 and contains a Gothic carved statue of the Mare de Déu del Loreto from the 16th century.

The parish church’s building and furnishings belong to different periods: the church dates from the 18th century, while the carved statue is from the 16th century. At the hermitage, too, the late-17th-century building can be distinguished from Jujol’s work in 1930. These dates offer two specific ways to explore Renau’s architectural and artistic history.

Annual Festivals

The Festa Major d'estiu is a votive festival in honour of the patron saint Santa Llúcia and takes place on the third Sunday in July. The Festa Major d'hivern is celebrated in honour of the Verge del Loreto on 10 December or the nearest Sunday. The two recurring festivals therefore differ both in whom they honour and when they take place: one is in July, the other in December.

If you would like to plan your trip around one of the festivals, note that the summer festival takes place on the third Sunday in July, while the winter festival is held on the nearest Sunday. Check the specific date for the year in question before making plans.

Routes to Different Destinations

The Ruta dels Masos is a signposted route maintained by the Consell Comarcal del Tarragonès. It connects various farmhouses around Renau and Vilabella. The GR 172 passes through the municipality of Renau and takes hikers from Renau to the Cistercian monastery of Santes Creus. Renau is also on the first stage of the Camí de Sant Jaume.

The route descriptions focus on different things: the Ruta dels Masos connects farmhouses, Santes Creus is the destination on the GR 172, and Renau is part of the first stage of the Camí de Sant Jaume. Another planning consideration is how to get around: the Itinerari Saludable i Parc de salut a Renau can be completed on foot or by mountain bike. Part of the return route is quite narrow for bicycles; if you are planning to ride a mountain bike, you can take this into account when choosing your route.

Discover more destinations: El Rourell, Conesa, Godall, Alcanar, La Morera De Montsant, Arnés, Margalef, Vilaverd.

For the broader travel overview: Tarragona.