Discover Montcada through two distinct aspects of its water heritage: the former extraction of water and its conveyance. The Casa de les Aigües and the Rec Comtal represent these themes, while Sant Pere de Reixac and Les Maleses showcase different forms of architecture and settlement. A viewpoint overlooking Montcada Hill and the Besòs Valley, along with a tradition held every September, round out the cultural highlights.
Waterways and Industrial Heritage
The Casa de les Aigües was a station for extracting and pumping water from the Besòs River aquifer. As a central element of Catalonia’s industrial heritage, it represents the city’s technological history. It is an extension of the Museu Municipal de Montcada i Reixac and brings together the museum’s offerings on water heritage, science and sustainability. In this way, its former function as a water facility and its present-day museum themes come together in one place.
The Rec Comtal near the Mina de Montcada is a water channel more than a thousand years old and almost 13 kilometres long. It was built to carry surplus water from Montcada to the fertile plains north of Barcelona. The route available for a walk is on a different scale: over a distance of about two kilometres, you can follow visible sections of the canal from the Mina de Montcada to Barcelona’s Vallbona neighbourhood. The channel’s length and the walking route therefore describe different scales of the same water heritage.
For potential visits to the Casa de les Aigües, the guided tours offer a specific point of reference: they take place on the first Sunday of every month. Check the municipal schedule before travelling.
Architecture and Settlement History
Sant Pere de Reixac has a history stretching back more than a thousand years. The site lies on a hill in the Vallès, near the Besòs River, and offers panoramic views of the region. The architectural complex includes the church, bell tower, cemetery and wayside cross. The setting and views add a landscape perspective to the architectural history.
The Iberian settlement of Les Maleses reveals a different kind of historic structure. Its houses, made of stone, earth and wood, were arranged along a main street in a regular urban layout; a defensive wall encircled and protected the settlement. Here, the focus is not a single building but the layout of an entire settlement, with its street, dwellings and fortifications.
Views and Local Tradition
For a change of focus from architecture and settlement patterns to the landscape, the Mirador de Reixac offers a different perspective. The viewpoint terrace, made of sauló (local decomposed granite), is in front of the church of Reixac and offers panoramic views of Montcada Hill and the Besòs Valley. The municipal landscape heritage entry dated 6 October 2021 identifies the Mirador as a popular spot with Montcada residents and hikers.
The Festa del Fanalet is a seasonal highlight. It is part of the Festa Major of Terra Nostra and takes place every September. Residents greet a train at the station with lanterns. If you are considering a trip in September, this recurring custom adds a distinctive seasonal dimension to the architectural and historical themes.
Water Heritage and Local History
The Museu Municipal is developing a permanent exhibition and activities to bring the local history of Montcada i Reixac to residents and educational centres. Parc de les Aigües is also connected with Montcada’s historic water heritage, particularly the Rec Comtal and the area around the fountains; it enhances this site. Together, the themes span the former extraction and conveyance of water, archaeological settlement patterns, architectural history and landscape.
Discover more destinations: Sant Salvador De Guardiola, Campins, Sant Pere Sallavinera, Castellet i la Gornal, Aiguafreda, Dosrius, Begues, Cubelles.
For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.
