You can get to know Montfalco through its landscape and architectural history. The Sió stream, a very easy path along its banks, and village scenes featuring medieval, Romanesque and later building elements each offer a different perspective. The buildings, too, invite a closer look: a square tower from the 12th century tells a different story from a Roman tower with a circular ground plan. You can choose to focus on the landscape, the village scene or individual historic architectural forms.

The Sió landscape and the path

The Sió stream crosses the municipality of Ossó de Sió from east to north-west and forms its northern boundary for a short stretch. The La Ribera del Sió path – PR C57 passes through the Plans del Sió and along a section of the Sió’s banks. It is described as a very easy route. Two specific features can therefore guide your choice of landscape focus: the river’s course through the municipality and the path through the Plans del Sió along the bank.

If you are interested in an easy route, you can focus specifically on the Plans del Sió and the riverbank.

The village centre and church in Ossó de Sió

The medieval village centre of Ossó de Sió has a rounded ground plan. The houses formed a continuous, enclosed group that served as a defensive wall. The village centre is also home to the Mare de Déu del Remei church and a large square. This arrangement links the description of the village scene to two clearly identified features, rather than viewing the place solely through individual buildings.

The Mare de Déu del Remei has Romanesque origins but was extensively remodelled. It was probably originally dedicated to Santa Maria; around the 14th century, its dedication changed to the Mare de Déu del Remei. The qualification around the earlier dedication is important: it is considered probable, while the change in dedication is dated to around the 14th century. The year 1139 is also documented for a church in Ossó de Sió.

The Gothic wayside cross, Creu de terme d’Ossó, stands in Plaça Major. Together with the church and the square, it is one of the described features of the village centre. The Mare de Déu del Remei Festa Major takes place on the second weekend of October. If you would like to plan your trip around this festival, check the local programme in advance.

Towers and architectural forms in the named villages

In Montfalcó d’Ossó, a square tower from the 12th century stands beside the remains of a medieval fortress. Its position beside the fortress remains and its square shape set it apart from the Roman tower in the village centre of Castellnou d’Ossó. The tower dates from the 2nd century BC, has a circular ground plan and measures about 24 metres in diameter.

The church in Montfalcó d’Ossó offers another architectural contrast: it dates from the 17th century and is Baroque, while its bell gable retains an earlier Romanesque appearance. This brings together two distinct architectural styles in a single building without changing its Baroque classification.

Castellnou d’Ossó is also home to a Romanesque hydraulic grain mill building from the 13th century. The building has a square ground plan and two storeys, and it also served as a dwelling. In Bellver d’Ossó, the church houses a Gothic wayside cross from the 13th century. Together, these examples show different building purposes: the tower, mill and wayside cross can be distinguished by their form, function and date. Montfalco therefore offers more than a single point of historical interest; you can focus on the village scene, religious architecture, fortress remains or the history of technical buildings.

For the wider travel overview: Ossó De Sió.