Vilalleons – Romanesque Architecture, Village History and Nature

Discover Vilalleons through its parish church and historic village centre: the two go hand in hand, as today’s village grew out of a medieval sagrera around Santa Maria. Anyone interested in Catalan architectural history will find different periods represented here. The landscape of the Plans de Vilalleons complements this focus with its natural and cultural landscape.

Santa Maria and the history of the village centre

Santa Maria de Vilalleons is a single-nave church with a barrel vault, two transverse arches and a semicircular apse. The vault spans the length of the nave, while the transverse arches divide it; the apse forms the semicircular end. The church is considered an example of Catalan Romanesque architecture. Its furnishings include Baroque altarpieces from the 17th century, considered unique in the Osona comarca. Romanesque architecture and Baroque furnishings thus stand side by side as distinct phases of design.

Alongside the church, the small village centre includes a group of houses dating from the 18th century. The houses in the historic centre are two or three storeys high, with inscriptions on their door and window lintels. The village’s origins also go back a long way: a sagrera was a settlement around a parish church, and today’s Vilalleons grew out of such a medieval sagrera. Since the 14th century, Santa Maria has also been a focus of Marian devotion beyond the parish and has been invoked as a Marian shrine.

Another historic landmark is La Sala de Vilalleons. The former manor house was later converted into a farmhouse and has been documented since 1231. As a historic monument, it is protected under the BCIN; its registration number is R-I-51-5645. The protection was established by decree on 22 April 1949. Together with the village’s medieval origins and its 18th-century houses, this gives the area a history with several clearly distinct points in time.

The landscape of the Plans de Vilalleons

The Plans de Vilalleons bring together natural landscapes and a history of land use. They are designated as a special conservation area within the Natura 2000 network. To the north of the village are cultivated land and forest; to the south is an oak grove. This contrast makes the transition between farmland, forest and woodland tangible. At the same time, the Plans form an ecological and landscape corridor linking the Plana de Vic with the mountain ranges of Vilalleons. If you would like your trip to include more than architectural history, this offers another way to explore the area: its protected status and varied landscapes are also part of its character.

Events and walking in the wider area

Vilalleons’ traditional Mongetada marks the start of the Festa Major. In 2026, it took place on 30 July. If you’re planning to visit on another date, check the announced festival dates and programme information, as annual dates and events may change.

In the wider region, the GR 2 route runs from Bellpuig Castle to the Santuari de Puig-l'agulla. It crosses a wooded ridge with holm oaks, oaks and pines before continuing to the neoclassical sanctuary. This offers a distinct way to experience the region’s landscape, separate from the sights in the village centre. Check trail conditions before setting out on a hike.

Discover more destinations: La Roca del Vallès, Mediona, Ripollet, Vilassar De Mar, Saldes, Masquefa, Els Monjos, Sant Quirze De Besora

For the main travel overview: Barcelona.