Santa Maria de Lavit, the former castle and the mills tell different chapters of the area's history: from medieval origins to the use of the riverbanks and religious customs. In the municipality of Torrelavit, a riverside path, cycling routes and the history of the paper industry offer further points of interest. This lets you shape your stay around your interests without combining the historic sites and landscape into a single walk.

Church, Castle and Historic Buildings

Santa Maria de Lavit has Romanesque origins; the original church building dates from the 13th century. The church was built as the chapel of Lavit Castle, which has been documented since 956. Its grounds form part of the protected cultural heritage site BCIN R-I-51-5746, which safeguards the remains of the former castle. Santa Maria de Lavit is also listed as a visitor attraction in Torrelavit. If you would like to see inside the church, check access in advance.

The Rectoria de Lavit also offers a glimpse of several building phases: its origins date back to the Middle Ages, and it was completely remodelled around 1760. A gallery with eight round-arched arcades on Solomonic—that is, twisted—columns gives the building a distinctive architectural feature.

The Creu de terme de Lavit marks the former parish boundary between Santa Maria de Lavit and Santa Magdalena del Pla del Penedès. Its history is marked by repeated rebuilding: reconstructed in 1931, destroyed again in the same decade, and re-erected at its site in 1981. The Capelleta-fita de Sant Isidre stands beside the BV-2246 road, in a vineyard at the entrance to Lavit. It honours Sant Isidre, the patron saint of agriculture, and may date from the mid-19th century.

Mills and the History of Water

The first mention of the Molí de Lavit dates from 1327. At the time, it was a grain mill below Lavit Castle. Before being converted into a paper mill in the first decade of the 20th century, it also served as an oil mill and a forge. Paper mills on the riverbanks contributed to Lavit's historical development; the history of milling therefore encompasses more than a single use.

The Molí Pelleter, formerly called Molí d'en Dias de Lavit, is associated with a concession dated 3 October 1758. It concerned the construction of a paper mill and a fulling mill on the Bitlles River near Lavit. Along with the former grain mill, this shows how the history of the mills can be traced through different uses and building projects.

Historical descriptions of Lavit mention vineyards, grain fields, gardens and grain mills as features of the agricultural landscape. The Centre d'Interpretació de l'Aigua de Torrelavit adds to this theme with an overview of the Riudebitlles River and its tributaries, as well as Torrelavit's history and landscape. It explains the importance of water for households, irrigation and industry. This includes the story of twelve paper mills that made Torrelavit an important centre of the paper industry from the 17th to the 20th century.

Customs and Cultural History

Historical religious customs include the Vot de poble de Lavit a Sant Sebastià. It was observed on 20 January in Lavit and Pla del Penedès; the agricultural community celebrated it with a sung mass and Goigs in honour of the saint. The custom is no longer observed. The historic Festa de la Santa Creu is also a thing of the past: worshippers walked from the Capelleta-fita de Sant Isidre to the Creu de Lavit, where they blessed the parish grounds. This custom is no longer practised either.

Another cultural trace is Ferran Capdevila's work “Homenatge al raïm”. In a selection process in 2008, it was exhibited by the residents of Torrelavit and chosen by 59 votes to remain permanently in Torrelavit.

Riverside Path and Cycling Routes in Torrelavit

The section of El Camí del Riu through Torrelavit includes a riverside path, riverside vegetation, several well-preserved paper mills and a vineyard landscape with pine woods. The three cycling routes of Penedès 360º pass through the municipality of Torrelavit or run along its edge. This gives visitors access within the municipality to a range of clearly described perspectives on the river landscape, mills and vineyards.

Discover more destinations: Lliçà D'amunt, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, La Batllòria, Oleiros, Collsuspina, Sant Vicenç de Castellet, Premià De Dalt, Cantallops.

For the main travel overview: Barcelona.