The rocky cliffs of Coves i cingles de Sant Martí almost surround the town of Sant Martí. They preserve cave habitats from the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age; the stated period spans from 3500 BC to 700 BC. This very ancient past shapes the town’s character alongside its churches and historic buildings.

Valley, Volcano and Forests

The municipality stretches along the middle valley of the Riera de Llémena, which runs through its territory. The river and valley give the landscape a clear sense of place. Much of the mountainous terrain is covered by holm oak and chestnut forests. The townscape thus brings together the valley, wooded heights and a volcanic landscape.

Banya de Boc is an ancient volcano. Its lava flows reach down into the Llémena Valley. This offers a different way to experience the landscape from looking at the river or forests: here, the focus is on geological formation. When planning a trip, you can consider these different themes as separate interests without combining them into a set itinerary.

Hiking and cycling routes lead to Banya del Boc. The area is of particular geological significance in connection with Catalonia’s Quaternary volcanism. Visitors interested in geology will find a tangible connection to the subject here; the routes combine it with outdoor activity.

Churches and Historic Buildings

The years 1031 and 1065 are recorded for the parish church of Sant Martí. The former Castell de Granollers tells another part of the town’s history: it was the centre of the Barony of Granollers. The church and castle therefore represent different historical contexts that complement one another when exploring Sant Martí De Llémena.

In Llorà, Sant Pere is a well-preserved Romanesque church. It has a single nave, a semicircular apse and two small side apsidioles. Restoration work uncovered remains of Romanesque wall paintings in the lower parts of the apse and apsidioles. These painted remains are part of the building’s history, alongside its floor plan.

The Esglesiola de Sant Joan del Pla was built in the 11th century and retains its original appearance, as it has not undergone any major alterations. It stands right beside the road between Llorà and Sant Martí. Both details matter: its long-preserved form and its specific location on this road.

The Ermita de Sant Nazari is an 18th-century chapel on the opposite side of the Llémena from Sant Martí. Its architecture includes an elongated nave, a rectangular door and two side windows. The bell gable has an opening, and the porch is supported by two smooth columns. These individual features give a vivid picture of the chapel without presupposing a particular order for visiting it.

Peradalta also brings architecture and history together. The three-storey masia lies south of the Pla de Sant Joan plain, near the Llémena. It predates the years 1600 and 1611 inscribed on some of its door lintels, and dates from the 15th or 16th century. It was fortified with a square tower. The dates on individual lintels and the building’s earlier construction date are distinct chronological clues.

Another prehistoric find comes from Cova de Boratuna, where Neolithic pottery was found. Together with the cave habitats at Coves i cingles de Sant Martí, this find adds an archaeological perspective on the municipality’s past to its churches, chapel and masia.

Discover more destinations: Llorà, Sant Mori, Santa Llogaia D'àlguema, Darnius, Sant Tomàs De Fluvià, La Vall De Bianya, Lladó and Campllong.

Go to the broader travel overview: Girona.