Sant Martí Sesgueioles lies on the gentle slopes of a small valley, at the edge of the last steps leading up to the Segarra uplands. One of the Anoia’s source areas is located in this valley, and the river runs through the town. As a result, the landscape and the town’s history are closely intertwined in the character of this destination. In the historic centre, the street names point to the town’s oldest structures.
Streets, buildings and local history
The oldest urban fabric developed at the foot of Tossal del Puig, around Carrer Vell, Carrer Roser, Carrer Pati and Carrer Portal. On Carrer Vell, the Voltes evoke the medieval town: the passage includes a late Gothic arch from the 15th or 16th century and was then one of three or four entrance gates. These two date ranges place the structure in context without assigning the arch to a single century.
Cal Dalmases reveals another side of the town’s history. This 16th-century palace house was the residence of the noble Dalmases family, who came from Sant Martí. Surviving details include an original stone window carved with a garland and a door lintel bearing the family coat of arms. Such features make the building’s history tangible, rather than leaving it to be inferred from names and dates alone.
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 single-nave building has four chapels on each side and galleries at choir level. The Campanar stands apart from the present-day church as a freestanding bell tower. The former church was demolished in the 18th century, while a new one was built in the centre of town. The Campanar’s present form dates to an addition by master builder Joan Reinald in 1708, when he raised the tower by twenty-nine palmos.
The town’s changing uses can also be seen beyond these buildings. La Fàbrica was once a blanket factory and now serves as a municipal social and multipurpose centre. An archaeological investigation in 2021 confirmed the historic location of Castell de Vilallonga castle and identified the remains of a round tower. The two sites represent different chapters: the municipal use of a former factory at one, and archaeologically verified castle remains at the other.
Paths, springs and archaeological sites
The section of the Torrent de la Guàrdia that runs through the municipality was redeveloped as a Via Verda for recreational use. A floodable path makes it easier to walk there. It offers a specific way to follow the watercourse, while the historic centre, with its streets and buildings, offers a different focus.
Beside a cultivated field on the Torrent de la Guàrdia lies the Font del Cargolet, a constructed spring shaft with a stone-vaulted gallery and an internal water channel. The Font is also said to have a water basin where woollen blankets made at Cal Fontanet were probably washed. This interpretation is based on oral tradition. Dense vegetation means the site is not accessible today, so the Font del Cargolet is not suitable as a freely accessible destination for a walk.
Another historic landmark is the Capella de Sant Valentí. Construction began on 29 August 1689, above the ruins of an earlier Romanesque church. About 300 metres southeast of the chapel are medieval anthropomorphic graves carved into the rock.
Local traditions and leisure
Caramelles is a living local tradition held on Easter Sunday morning. The Festa Major d'estiu is a four-day summer festival held 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 these festivals, check the specific dates in advance.
Margaridó is also part of the local culture: a tragic legend set in Sant Martí Sesgueioles and based on a poem by Apel·les Mestres. Its first theatrical performance took place in 2018; this does not establish that it is repeated regularly. Anoia Patrimoni offers guided visits to Sant Martí Sesgueioles’ cultural and historical heritage under the title “una vida moderna amb arrels medievals”. Check before travelling whether a suitable date is available.
Municipal swimming pools, a frontón court and a leisure area with barbecue facilities round out the local recreational options. Whether you are more interested in architectural history, local traditions or spending time outdoors, the different themes offer a range of ways to shape your stay.
Getting there and finding your way around
The station is on the western edge of the built-up area, on the Zaragoza–Lleida–Manresa–Barcelona line, at kilometre point 262.4. Rail services reached Sant Martí Sesgueioles in 1860, when the Manresa–Lleida section opened. Check the current timetable for your specific train journey.
Discover more destinations: Sant Pol De Mar, Vilanova I La Geltrú, L'Alt Penedès, Calders, Sant Vicenç Dels Horts, Sentmenat, Vilafranca Del Penedès, La Ràpita.
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