Sant Pere De Riudebitlles: Heritage and River Landscape

If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Sant Pere de Riudebitlles, it is worth exploring the themes that shape the town: water engineering and milling history, buildings in the Barri Vell, the river landscape and cultural events. These highlights offer different starting points for planning your stay, from local history to trails by the water.

Pont Nou and the history of water

Pont Nou is an aqueduct over the Torrent d'en Guilló. The Sèquia Comunal, also called Rec de Dalt or Rec de la Vila, runs through the structure. Its water supplies the mills of the Vila and the gardens in the urban area of Sant Pere de Riudebitlles. Water management, milling and gardens are connected here. The central section of the aqueduct was rebuilt after collapsing in the 17th and 18th centuries. During restoration work in 1987, some parts of the structure were dated to the 12th century. Medieval fragments and later rebuilding phases thus stand side by side.

Buildings in the Barri Vell

Carrer Major runs through the Barri Vell of Sant Pere de Riudebitlles. The Església Parroquial de Sant Pere has Romanesque origins. The Casal dels Marquesos de Llió is a Gothic civil building from the 14th century. Today, this municipal building houses the Biblioteca Maria Àngels Torrents i Rosés.

Molí de Cal Xerta, known as Cal Fabra, also tells the story of different uses: it was a paper mill and is now a municipal multipurpose space where various activities take place, particularly in the field of artistic expression. At the same time, it is one of the Vila's oldest mills documented in records; the Capbreu of 1540 mentions it as a fulling mill. The remains of rooms and fermentation vats that have been found could point to a wine cellar dating from the 17th to the 19th century. Together, these places offer different ways to explore the town's architectural, milling and wine history.

River trails and landscapes

El Camí del Riu runs upstream along the riverbank and can be explored on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. The trail starts at the bridge in the Barri de l'Altra Banda and passes the Font dels Quadres, Parc dels Plàtans d'en Soler, the weir of the Rec de les Hortes and the Fàbrica del Valls, before reaching Pèlag Bullidor and Torrent de Barquies. Various canals, springs and weirs accompany the route; the river landscape is also rich in flora and fauna.

Another scenic spot is the Mirador de Sant Jeroni. From there, you can see a mosaic of gardens, orchards, olive groves, vineyards and forests. In the distance, the highest peaks of the Montserrat range are also visible. The two places highlight different aspects of the landscape: El Camí del Riu follows the riverbank and its waterways, while the Mirador offers views across the cultivated landscape to the mountains.

For another way to explore the heritage, there is the Ruta del Patrimoni, a walking route to the most important heritage sites in Sant Pere de Riudebitlles. Its focus differs from that of El Camí del Riu: here, the heritage sites take centre stage, while the latter follows the river and the landscape along the route.

Festivals and events

The Aplec del Pont Nou takes place every year on the first Sunday in May. This Sardana gathering is also a traditional festival. If you would like to plan your trip around the Aplec, check the exact event date in advance.

The Biennal d'Art Riudebitlles is a contemporary art event held every two years. It focuses on works on paper or paper as a material. During the biennial, the works are displayed at the entrances to houses in the old town, in dialogue with residents and visitors. Riudebirres is the Mostra de cervesa artesana of the Vegueria Penedès, organised in Sant Pere de Riudebitlles. Visitors can sample craft beer and enjoy live music at the event. El Mitjó is also a puppet festival.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lliçà de Vall, Cabrils, El Masnou, Vilanova del Vallès, L'espunyola, La Garriga, Sant Fost de Campsentelles, Olesa De Bonesvalls.

For the overview of the wider area: Barcelona.