Sant Pere De Vilamajor: Cultural Heritage and Landscape

In Sant Pere de Vilamajor, preserved castle walls and historic churches meet natural sites, trails and recurring festivals. The buildings tell the story of different periods; the landscape and traditions add further highlights. You can tailor your stay to cultural history, nature or local events.

Architectural History and Cultural Sites

The Castell de Vilamajor was built by the Counts of Barcelona from the 11th century onward. Parts of its walls and towers remain. Another structure is the freestanding, square bell tower of Sant Pere de Vilamajor. It is associated with the remains of the former comital palace, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

The present-day Església de Sant Pere de Vilamajor was built between 1581 and 1610 in the Late Gothic style, with Renaissance elements. The Esglesiola de Santa Susanna also has a long ecclesiastical history: it was granted parish status in the Middle Ages. Its current building was erected in 1683, reusing elements from an earlier building located farther north. The Torre Roja was designated a Bé Cultural d’Interès Nacional in 1949.

The Centre d’Art La Rectoria is housed in a former farmhouse dating from 1639. Its exhibition spaces display works by local and international artists. Exhibitions may change. Contemporary art and the historic building thus add another cultural perspective to the older ecclesiastical and stately buildings.

Buildings along the Riera de Vilamajor also reflect earlier uses. The Pont Vell was built in the 17th century and changed how people crossed the river. The Molí de Baix, also known as the Molí de Can Derrocada or Molí del Samon, was more than a building on the Riera for centuries: it was a place where agricultural work and life came together.

Landscape and Trails in the Montseny

The Ermita de Sant Elies is located on the Turó de Sant Elies, at an altitude of 1,000 metres, in the Parc Natural del Montseny. A signposted forest track, about nine kilometres long, leads from Sant Pere de Vilamajor to the hermitage. As conditions on the track can vary, check them in advance. The SL-C 126 Sender de la Plana de Vilamajor offers a different kind of route: an easy circular trail through the lower-lying, less mountainous part of the municipality.

The two routes therefore differ in their destinations and character: the forest track leads to a named destination on the Turó de Sant Elies and is approximately nine kilometres long; the SL-C 126 is an easy loop through the lower-lying part of the municipality. La Mongia provides information about hiking, cycling and horse-riding trails in the municipality of Sant Pere de Vilamajor, making it a place to go for guidance on these types of routes.

Other landscape sites show different sides of the surrounding area. Font Fresca del Samon lies on the shady slopes of the Turó del Samont, along the path to Mas del Samon and Santa Susanna de Vilamajor. Font de Borrell is home to a small wetland that is important for local amphibians such as newts and salamanders.

The Roure Gros is a centuries-old tree in the flat part of Vilamajor. It stands on a ridge surrounded by fields and forests, with views of the Montseny and the Samon and Palestrins mountain ranges. Together with the shady slopes and the wetland, this site offers a different landscape from the higher-lying area around the hermitage.

Traditions and Event Dates

The Aplec de Sant Elies tradition has been celebrated every year on April 25 since 1923. It includes a walk up the hill, a Mass, a shared meal and time spent on the esplanade overlooking the Montseny Biosphere Reserve. After Mass, the Panets de Sant Elies are blessed. The tradition thus combines an ascent with religious and community elements.

The medieval Vilamagore evenings take place every year in November; the exact dates vary by edition. If you want to plan your trip around this event, check the dates for the relevant year. The Aplec and the Vilamagore evenings fall at different times of year: the former takes place every year on April 25, while the latter are held in November.

Discover more destinations: Pruit, Sentmenat, Torrelles De Foix, Cardona, Berga, Bellavista, Castellolí, La Garriga

For the main travel overview: Barcelona.