Several layers of history come to the fore in Montfullà: a pre-Romanesque basilica, traces of Roman times and a waterworks structure with an industrial past. The town also has its own festival. When planning your trip, it helps to first choose the focus you are interested in: sacred architecture, archaeological history or the use of water raise different questions about Montfullà.
Sant Pere de Montfullà: early mention, later alterations
The church of Sant Pere de Montfullà is a pre-Romanesque basilica with a nave, transept and bell tower. It was first mentioned in a document in 882. Between 1617 and 1760, it was altered with Baroque and Plateresque elements. The two dates therefore refer to different milestones: the church’s first mention and a change to the building several centuries later. Nave, transept and bell tower name the architectural components, while the Baroque and Plateresque elements mark a later layer of design. Sant Pere cannot therefore be reduced to a single architectural style or period.
Montfullà’s Festa Major is associated with June and Sant Pere. If you would like to plan your trip around this occasion, check the specific event dates and programme in advance.
Roman traces and a medieval house
The Montfullà route includes a Roman villa dating from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD. A mosaic, walls and silos, among other remains, have been preserved there as evidence of the everyday lives of its inhabitants in Roman times. The villa also helps us understand the historical processes that led to Rome’s arrival in this area. The different traces bring the subject to life: they point both to material evidence of everyday life and to a broader historical context.
The Torre Ferrana adds another architectural historical highlight. The fortified medieval house was later converted into a manor house. It retains a blocked-up Coronella window, which may date from the 13th or 14th century. This dating is only a possibility. By contrast, the alterations to Sant Pere are dated to the period from 1617 to 1760. When considering Montfullà’s architectural history, you can therefore distinguish between a precisely dated alteration and an architectural feature whose date is given with caution.
Sèquia Monar and Central de Montfullà
The history of waterworks offers another way to explore the town’s past. The Sèquia Monar begins at the La Pilastra weir in Montfullà and has five water drops, which are currently used to generate hydroelectric power. Conditions may change over time.
The Central de Montfullà was built above the Sèquia Monar: a two-storey building with an attic. J. Coma i Cros built the Central in 1922 to supply the company J. Coma i Cros, SA, in the Sant Antoni district of Salt. The building’s purpose is therefore part of its industrial history. For orientation, the Central is next to the N-141 at kilometre 112. The canal, water drops and building can be viewed as a connected technical site, distinct from the sacred and archaeological themes.
Montfullà therefore offers several distinct cultural themes to consider when planning your trip: Sant Pere represents a long ecclesiastical history and later building alterations; the Roman villa offers archaeological evidence and historical context; Torre Ferrana tells a story of medieval architecture; and the Sèquia Monar is linked to waterworks and energy generation. Which of these themes you focus on depends on whether you are more interested in sacred architecture, Roman traces or industrial history.
Discover more destinations: Estanyol
For the main travel overview: Bescanó.
