Discover Piera: Castle, Architectural Heritage and Les Flandes

History and Architectural Heritage

The Castell de Piera, also known as Castell de Fontanet, is a fortification of medieval origin that underwent a significant historicist intervention at the beginning of the 20th century. The first documentary mention of Piera Castle dates from 955. The church of Santa Maria de Piera is located next to the Castell de Piera.

The two names of the building refer to the same historic site: as Castell de Piera and Castell de Fontanet, it represents both its medieval origins and the historicist intervention of the early 20th century. The complex therefore combines a history documented since 955 with a considerably later architectural transformation.

Inside Santa Maria de Piera, the Sant Crist de Piera is venerated, a reproduction created by the brothers Soslé Saenz de Medrano of the original carving from the 13th century. The original carving was destroyed during the Civil War; only a fragment of the hand and the crown of thorns remain.

Piera's architectural tour leads through the town's streets, where its architectural heritage can be discovered. It is divided into four major stages that reflect the town's social, cultural and artistic changes. The modernist stage showcases distinctive buildings and lavish ornamentation. The tour thus traces the history of individual buildings as well as the visible changes that have shaped the townscape in different periods.

Trails

Route 6 is an explicitly family-friendly walk through the historic centre of Piera and to the Castell de Piera; it ends at the Font del Prat recreational area.

Route 5 begins in Ca n'Aguilera and leads uphill to Turó de l'Avellana, from where there is an impressive view over the valley. The ascent and the viewpoint are part of the described course of this route.

Nature

Les Flandes is a 64-hectare nature area of great geological and scenic value. It was shaped by the erosion of clay, marl and limestone deposits caused by water. The named rock deposits provide the landscape with its geological foundation, while water is explicitly associated with this area as a shaping force. The landforms of Les Flandes are therefore directly connected with the interaction between these deposits and erosion by water.

The Biblioteca de Piera serves as a tourist information office where visitors can obtain information sheets with routes through Les Flandes. At the information boards set up around Font del Prat, visitors can explore various ways of crossing Les Flandes on site.

More Destinations

More destinations: Sant Sadurní D'anoia, Barcelona, Santa Eulàlia De Ronçana, Santa Coloma De Gramenet, Santpedor, Vilada, Mura, La Beguda Alta

To the higher-level travel overview: Barcelona.