Sant Mateu de Bages: Churches, Dolmens and Serra de Castelltallat

In Sant Mateu de Bages, the Castell de Sant Mateu o de Les Planes has been documented since 983. The Església de Sant Mateu has been documented since 1078.

History

The Església de Sant Mateu contains a Gothic sarcophagus from the 14th century that belonged to the parish priest Guillem Despuig. Immediately next to the Església de Sant Mateu, the Tombes Antropomòrfiques de Sant Mateu form a medieval necropolis. They comprise four anthropomorphic tombs aligned from east to west.

The Museu de Sant Mateu is located on the ground floor of the Sant Mateu rectory. The Conjunt Monumental de Coaner is a Lombard Romanesque ensemble comprising the church of Sant Julià, the former castle tower and the Can Serra farmhouse.

The Ermita de Sant Miquel de les Planes is a chapel dating from the 13th century. Its partially preserved early Romanesque structure comprises the rectangular apse section and the presbytery. Its portal dates from the 15th century and features a round arch built with voussoirs.

The Capella de Sant Martí de les Planes is a Romanesque chapel dating from the late 12th or possibly the 13th century, located within the Les Planes estate. It is listed in the Catalogue of Catalan Cultural Heritage as an archaeological site.

The Dolmen de Castelltallat consists of the remains of a small megalith with a simple chamber at a prominent point on the Serra de Torribalta. Based on comparisons, it is assigned a chronology ranging from the Late Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age, approximately 2500–1200 BC.

Geographical setting

Sant Mateu de Bages has a predominantly mountainous landscape with several high plateaus, foothills and small valleys drained by the Salo, Coaner and Fonollosa streams. The Serra de Castelltallat crosses Sant Mateu de Bages and is included in the Pla d'Espais d'Interès Natural and the Natura 2000 network.

The Conjunt Monumental de Coaner is located in a rocky landscape within the protected natural area of the Serra de Castelltallat. The BV-3003 provincial road runs through Sant Mateu and connects the C-55 at Callús with the BV-3008 at the municipal boundary with Aguilar and Fonollosa.

Find more places here: Sallent, Capellades, Rupit, Cerdanyola Del Valles, Sant Pere Sallavinera, Sant Marçal, Castellar Del Riu, Les Roquetes.

Experiences

The Observatori Astronòmic de Castelltallat is located at an altitude of 910 metres. The absence of light pollution enables high-quality observations of the sky.

Caramelles are sung and performed throughout the municipality of Sant Mateu de Bages on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. The Festa Major de Sant Mateu de Bages is scheduled for the third Sunday in September.

The De Súria a Coaner route provides direct contact with the rocks and geological processes that have shaped the history of the places of Súria and Coaner. The De Súria a Coaner route leads, among other places, to the medieval monumental ensemble of Coaner.

For the overarching travel overview: Barcelona.