Pujalt between village history and starry skies

Pujalt combines a walled old town and medieval buildings with astronomy visits and a cycling route through the landscapes of Alta Anoia. You can get to know the village from different perspectives: through its architectural and artistic history, on an evening visit to the Parc Astronòmic, or along the Ruta dels 5 pobles.

Old town, castle and religious buildings

Pujalt’s old town is a walled village that grew around its castle. The surviving remains of the castle are at the highest point of the village. The Portal de Baix has also been preserved; it lies between Cal Franquesa and the Gothic Capella de la Concepció. These places provide tangible points of reference in the historic old town, whose history is not limited to the castle alone.

The Romanesque Capella de Sant Ponç lies near the castle ruins. The parish church of Sant Andreu de Pujalt is in a different location: it has medieval origins and lies outside the former walled area. The two churches can therefore be distinguished by their architectural history and location; the Gothic Capella de la Concepció at the Portal de Baix adds another architectural feature.

The artworks mentioned include the Retaule de la Puríssima Concepció, a gilded, polychrome-painted wooden altarpiece. The Mare de Déu de la Puríssima Concepció is a Gothic, polychrome-painted marble depiction of the Virgin Mary holding the Child in her arms; the Child is holding a book. Local oral tradition also tells how, around the year 1600, the Mare de Déu de la Concepció was found in a rose bush in the scree field of Coma d'en Roig. As a tradition, this story preserves a different kind of local history from that embodied in the buildings and artworks.

Starry skies and a visit to the observatory

The Parc Astronòmic de Pujalt is located at an altitude of 750 metres. The site has clear, dark skies, far from the light pollution of large cities. An evening visit includes an introduction to the Observatori de Pujalt and its facilities, as well as an immersive 360° planetarium. Visitors can also observe the sky with the naked eye and look through a TGS telescope with a 51-centimetre aperture. The visit thus includes both a planetarium show and two different ways of observing the sky.

Advance reservations are required for public visits to the Observatori de Pujalt, and visitor numbers are limited. If you plan to include this activity, book in advance and check availability for your preferred visit. This is especially important because attendance without a reservation is not предусмотрed and only a limited number of places are available.

Cycling route and the history of the memorial

The Ruta dels 5 pobles is a mountain bike or e-bike route through the landscapes of Alta Anoia. It passes through La Guàrdia Pilosa, Conill, Pujalt, l'Astor and Vilamajor. The type of activity is therefore the main consideration when choosing: the route is intended for a mountain bike or e-bike ride and connects five named villages. Another way to explore Pujalt is to visit the Memorial de l'Exèrcit Popular.

The Memorial presents the museum-preserved facilities of the former training camp of the XVIII Army Corps of the Republican People's Army along a walk through the forest. The site's history dates back to the spring of 1938, when a training base for this army corps was established in Pujalt. The Memorial focuses on the facilities and their historical context; the route passes through the forest. This makes the visit distinct from the stops in the old town as well as from observing the night sky.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Viladellops, Olost, Castellar De N'hug, Premià De Dalt, La Quar, Jorba, Rellinars, Sant Martí Sarroca.

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