Discover Sant Martí Sesgueioles

Sant Martí Sesgueioles lies on the gentle slopes of a small valley at the edge of the final steps leading up to the Segarra uplands. One of the headwaters of the Anoia River, which runs through the town, is located in this valley. The landscape and the town’s history shape different aspects of the destination: alongside the valley and river, the historic urban fabric offers particular clues for a closer look at its architectural history.

Townscape and Architectural History

The oldest part of the town developed at the foot of Tossal del Puig, around Carrer Vell, Carrer Roser, Carrer Pati and Carrer Portal. Notable historic buildings include Cal Dalmases, a 16th-century mansion. It was the residence of the noble Dalmases family, originally from Sant Martí. Preserved features include an original stone window carved with a garland and a door lintel bearing the family coat of arms.

The Campanar stands as a detached bell tower, separate from the present-day church. After the former church was demolished in the 18th century, a new one was built in the town centre. The Campanar took on its present form in 1708, when master builder Joan Reinald raised it by twenty-nine palmos. The parish church of Sant Martí was built between 1779 and 1783. Its foundation stone was laid on 6 June 1779, and construction was completed in 1783. The church has a single nave, four side chapels on each side and galleries at choir level.

Passageways and chapels also tell the story of different building phases. The Voltes del carrer Vell include a late-Gothic arch dating from the 15th or 16th century. In the Middle Ages, this passageway was one of three or four gateways into the town. Construction of the present-day Capella de Sant Valentí began on 29 August 1689, over the ruins of an earlier Romanesque church. About 300 metres southeast of the chapel are medieval anthropomorphic graves carved into the rock.

An archaeological survey in 2021 confirmed the historic site of Castell de Vilallonga and identified the remains of a round tower. La Fàbrica illustrates another part of the town’s history: the former blanket factory now serves as a municipal social and multipurpose centre.

Paths, Water and Local Stories

The stretch of the Torrent de la Guàrdia that runs through the municipality has been converted into a Via Verda for recreational use. A path designed to be passable when flooded makes it easier to walk here. For travellers interested in the landscape and outdoor activities, the path adds a practical leisure option to the historic townscape.

Municipal facilities include swimming pools, a frontó court and a leisure area with barbecue spots. Fountains and springs are also among the town’s distinctive features. Font d’Emili Donadeu is a stone fountain with ornamental details in the square named after it. Font del Cargolet is a spring tunnel beneath a cultivated field beside the Torrent de la Guàrdia; inside are a stone-vaulted gallery and a water pipe. A water basin is also associated with the town, where woollen blankets made at Cal Fontanet were presumably washed. This use is based on oral tradition; the site is now inaccessible because of dense vegetation.

Local culture also includes the tragic legend of Margaridó, whose story is set in Sant Martí Sesgueioles and is based on a poem by Apel·les Mestres. The first theatrical performance took place in 2018. Those interested in cultural and historical heritage can also find a guided experience of Sant Martí Sesgueioles from Anoia Patrimoni, titled “una vida moderna amb arrels medievals”. Check the booking calendar for specific visit dates.

Plan Your Visit Around Festivals and Travel

A municipal festival calendar updated in August 2020 describes Caramelles as a vibrant local tradition held on Easter Sunday morning. The same calendar lists Festa Major d’estiu as a four-day summer festival on the weekend after 15 August. Its programme includes dances, human towers, games, concerts and other events for all ages. If you would like to plan your trip around one of the festivals, check the latest dates in advance.

The railway station is on the western edge of the built-up area, on the Zaragoza–Lleida–Manresa–Barcelona line, at kilometre marker 262.4. Train services reached Sant Martí Sesgueioles in 1860, when the Manresa–Lleida section opened. Check the latest timetable when planning your journey.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: El Bruc, Palau-solità i Plegamans, L'avellà, Vilanova I La Geltrú, Sant Joan Samora, Castellet i la Gornal, Bigues I Riells, Moia.

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.