Castle remains, medieval building history and destinations in the Montseny give Sant Pere De Vilamajor a range of different ways to explore. When planning, it is worth first deciding whether you want to focus on historic buildings, a set festival date, or trails and landscapes. Local examples range from an easy circular trail through the municipality’s lower-lying area to a forest track leading to a destination at an altitude of 1,000 metres.
Castle remains, bell tower and building history
The Castell de Vilamajor was built by the Counts of Barcelona from the 11th century onward. Parts of its walls and towers have survived. The free-standing, square Campanile of Sant Pere de Vilamajor is associated with remains of the former comital palace from the 11th and 12th centuries. The castle and campanile thus represent different, though related in time, aspects of architectural history: the surviving parts of a castle complex on the one hand, and a tower cautiously associated with the palace on the other.
The churches, too, tell of different building phases. The present-day Església de Sant Pere de Vilamajor was built between 1581 and 1610 in the late Gothic style, with Renaissance elements. Esglesiola de Santa Susanna had already been granted parish status in the Middle Ages; its current building was constructed in 1683. Elements from an earlier building, located farther north, were used in its construction. This sequence distinguishes the medieval parish status from the later building you see today at the Esglesiola.
Another chapter in the town’s history is the Pont Vell de Vilamajor. Built in the 17th century, the bridge changed how the Riera de Vilamajor was crossed. The Centre d’Art La Rectoria is housed in a former farmhouse dating from 1639. It has exhibition spaces for works by local and international artists; the exhibitions change. The Molà de Baix, also known as Molà de Can Derrocada or Molà del Samon, was a place of agricultural work on the Riera de Vilamajor for centuries. Its history can thus be understood as part of the working and riverside landscape, rather than reducing it to a building alone.
A set festival date and recurring traditions
The Aplec de Sant Elies has been held every year on April 25 since 1923. The festival includes walking up the hill, attending Mass and sharing a meal. Afterwards, participants spend time on the esplanade overlooking the Montseny Biosphere Reserve. The Panets de Sant Elies are also blessed after Mass. For a trip planned around a specific occasion, the Aplec therefore provides a clear date on the calendar and combines religious celebration, a shared meal and time outdoors.
Another recurring occasion is the medieval Vilamagore evenings, held every year in November. The exact dates vary each year, so check the dates for the relevant event before travelling. The Aplec takes place on April 25, while the Vilamagore evenings are held on a date in November that should be checked each year.
Trails and landscapes between the lowlands and the Montseny
The SL-C 126 Sender de la Plana de Vilamajor is an easy circular trail through the municipality’s lower-lying, less mountainous area. The Ermita de Sant Elies offers a different landscape: it stands on Turó de Sant Elies at an altitude of 1,000 metres within the Parc Natural del Montseny. A signposted forest track leads there from Sant Pere De Vilamajor and is about nine kilometres long. Conditions on the track may vary, so it is advisable to check the current situation before setting out. The two destinations differ in the features described: an easy circular trail in the lower, less mountainous area, or a longer forest track climbing to an ermita at high elevation.
Other landscape features have their own distinctive character. The centuries-old Roure Gros stands in the flat part of Vilamajor, on a ridge surrounded by fields and woods. From there, views extend to the Montseny and the mountain ranges of the Samon and Palestrins. Font Fresca del Samon lies on the shady slopes of TurĂł del Samont, on the path to Mas del Samon and Santa Susanna de Vilamajor. Font de Borrell forms a small wetland of great importance to local amphibians such as newts and salamanders. The tree, spring and wetland each offer a different way to experience the landscape: a ridge and distant views, a shady hillside, or a habitat for amphibians.
Planning your stay
La Mongia provides information about walking, cycling and horse-riding routes in the municipality of Sant Pere De Vilamajor. The outbuilding of the Ermita de Sant Elies is now used as a mountain refuge. If you are considering staying overnight there, check in advance whether access and stays are possible on your dates. To search for accommodation in Sant Pere De Vilamajor, you can first decide what you want to focus on: the Aplec on April 25, the architectural history, or the landscape destinations in the Montseny. This way, you can plan your stay around the specific things that interest you locally.
Discover more destinations
Canet De Mar, Montmajor, Capolat, Santa Coloma De Gramenet, Les Masuques, Premià De Dalt, Mollet Del Vallès, Collsuspina
For the main travel overview: Barcelona.
