Lavit: Romanesque Church and Historic Paper Mills

Culture and History

Santa Maria de Lavit is a church of Romanesque origin; the original church building dates back to the 13th century.

Santa Maria de Lavit was built as a chapel of Lavit Castle, which has been documented since 956. The church grounds are part of the protected cultural heritage site BCIN R-I-51-5746, which safeguards the remains of the former Lavit Castle.

The Rectoria de Lavit has a gallery with eight round-arched arcades on Solomonic columns. The building has medieval origins and was completely remodelled around 1760.

The first mention of the Molí de Lavit dates from 1327; at that time, it was a flour mill below Lavit Castle. In the first decade of the 20th century, it was converted into a paper mill; previously, it had also served as an oil mill and forge.

Paper factories were established along the riverbanks, contributing to Lavit's historical development. The Molí Pelleter, formerly called Molí d'en Dias de Lavit, is historically associated with a concession granted on 3 October 1758 to build a paper mill and a fulling mill on the Bitlles River near Lavit.

The Centre d'Interpretació de l'Aigua de Torrelavit illustrates the close relationship between the Riudebitlles River and its tributaries and the history and landscape of Torrelavit. It conveys the importance of water for households, irrigation and industry, as well as the history of twelve paper mills that made Torrelavit an important centre of the paper industry from the 17th to the 20th century.

The work “Homenatge al raïm” by Ferran Capdevila was exhibited by the residents of Torrelavit and selected with 59 votes to remain permanently in Torrelavit.

Cultural Heritage

The Creu de terme de Lavit marks the former parish boundary between Santa Maria de Lavit and Santa Magdalena del Pla del Penedès. It was reconstructed in 1931, destroyed again in the same decade and re-erected at its original location in 1981.

The Capelleta-fita de Sant Isidre stands in a vineyard at the entrance to Lavit on the BV-2246 road. It may be a structure dating from the mid-19th century; it honours Sant Isidre, the patron saint of agriculture.

Santa Maria de Lavit is listed in the official register of places of interest in Torrelavit.

The historic Vot de poble de Lavit a Sant Sebastià was observed on 20 January in Lavit and Pla del Penedès; the agricultural community celebrated it with a sung mass and the recitation of Goigs in honour of the saint.

During the historic Festa de la Santa Creu, the faithful walked from the Capelleta-fita de Sant Isidre to the Creu de Lavit, where they blessed the parish territory.

Discover more destinations here: Molins De Rei, Sant Vicenç de Castellet, Arenys De Munt, Sant Joan De Vilatorrada, Vilanova I La Geltrú, Cervelló, Caldes De Montbui, Sant Jaume De Frontanyà.

Landscape and Trails

The three cycling routes of Penedès 360º pass through the municipality of Torrelavit or run along its edge.

The section of El Camí del Riu through Torrelavit includes a riverside path along the river, riparian vegetation, several well-preserved paper mills and a vineyard landscape with pine forests.

Historical depictions mention vineyards, grain fields, gardens and flour mills as elements of Lavit's agricultural landscape.

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