During a stay in Vilalleons, it is worth considering the village’s history and landscape as two distinct points of interest. The small village centre is home to Santa Maria de Vilalleons and a group of houses dating from the 18th century. The Plans de Vilalleons offer a different perspective: the area is designated as a protected area and includes landscapes north and south of the village. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether your main focus will be architectural history or the natural environment.
Church and Village Centre
Santa Maria de Vilalleons is a single-nave church with a barrel vault, two transverse arches and a semicircular apse. The barrel vault forms an arched ceiling; the transverse arches divide it, while the apse marks the semicircular end. These architectural features can be distinguished from the church’s stylistic classification: Santa Maria is considered an example of Catalan Romanesque architecture. The church also has Baroque altarpieces dating from the 17th century, considered unique in the Osona comarca.
The small village centre also includes houses built in the 18th century. They are two or three storeys high, with inscriptions on their door and window lintels. Together with the church, the houses form a historic village centre, where the religious building, group of houses and façade details can be understood as distinct elements.
Village History and Heritage Listing
The present-day village developed from a medieval sagrera that formed around the parish church. Santa Maria is therefore also connected with the beginnings of the settlement centre. Since the 14th century, the church has enjoyed Marian devotion extending beyond its own parish and has been invoked as a Marian shrine. “Extending beyond the parish” refers to a significance reaching beyond its own parish community. This religious history adds another perspective on the church’s role to its classification as an example of Catalan Romanesque architecture.
The history of Vilalleons also includes La Sala de Vilalleons, a former manor house that was later converted into a farmhouse. The building has been documented since 1231. La Sala is protected as a historic monument under the BCIN designation; its listing number is R-I-51-5645. Its protection was established by decree on 22 April 1949. La Sala’s long documented history and its subsequently established heritage status therefore belong to different historical periods.
The Landscape of the Plans de Vilalleons
The Plans de Vilalleons are designated as a special conservation area within the Natura 2000 network. To the north of the village, the area includes farmland and woodland; to the south, an oak grove. The Plans also form an ecological and landscape corridor connecting the Plana de Vic with the mountain ranges of Vilalleons. The protected-area designation describes its status; the corridor function adds the connection between these landscape areas.
Regional Route and Festival Date
In the wider region, the GR 2 runs from Bellpuig Castle to the Santuari de Puig-l'agulla. The route crosses a wooded ridge with holm oaks, oaks and pines before continuing to the neoclassical sanctuary. If you plan to walk this route, check the trail conditions beforehand. The route has a different focus from the architectural history of the village centre: here, the trail, woodland and sanctuary take centre stage.
The traditional Mongetada marks the start of Vilalleons’ Festa Major; in 2026, it took place on 30 July. If you would like to plan a future visit around the festival, check the dates in advance, as the timing and programme may change.
Discover more destinations: Palau-solità i Plegamans, Sant Cebrià De Vallalta, Baix Llobregat, Collsacreu, Montornès Del Vallès, Castellar Del Riu, Monistrol De Montserrat, Sant Joan De Vilatorrada
See the main travel overview: Barcelona.
