Santa Maria de Palautordera: Culture, Nature and Trails

Culture and History

In Santa Maria de Palautordera, the Església de Santa Maria was completed between 1562 and 1588 as a Late Gothic church. Its round bell tower reuses a tower from the former 13th-century palace. In 2014, four Baroque stained-glass windows were identified in the Església de Santa Maria. They include depictions of the Verge del Roser and Sant Pere dating from 1628, as well as two geometric windows. The Ermita del Remei was completed and inaugurated in 1803; it is designed in the Baroque-Neoclassical style.

The Pont Trencat is a 15th-century bridge in the pre-Gothic style. It crosses the Tordera River. During the restoration of the structure in 2005, the original and modern sections were made visible. The restoration of the Pont Trencat received several national and international architecture awards.

Nature

The Parc de l'Arboretum “L'Arbreda del Montseny” is located in Santa Maria de Palautordera at the foot of the Parc Natural del Montseny. It presents around 80 labelled tree and shrub species from the Montseny Massif. The Parc is home to, among other animals, ducks, turtles and fish.

Walks and Riverside Paths

The “Visita Turística per Santa Maria de Palautordera” is an easy walking tour that showcases significant features of the town centre. The visit is available in Catalan, Spanish, French and English.

Route 8, “From Reguissol to the Tordera”, runs along the two rivers that cross Santa Maria de Palautordera and follows riverbanks with plane-tree plantings, riverside vegetation and a great diversity of birds.

This provides two differently named routes for the town itself and its riverside landscape. The walking tour focuses on significant features of the centre and is available in four languages, while Route 8 describes the two rivers and their banks with plane-tree plantings, additional vegetation and bird diversity. Both offerings combine specific local information with distinct routes.

Cycling and Industrial History

The “Ruta bici blanca” is an easy cycling route connecting Sant Celoni with Santa Maria and Sant Esteve de Palautordera.

Route 3, “Les fàbriques de Palau”, conveys the industrial reality of Santa Maria de Palautordera at the beginning of the 20th century. Along this route, visitors can learn about the Can Balada, Can Guiñau and Can Guarro factories.

The “Ruta bici blava” offers views of the Montseny Massif. These include Turó de l’Home, Les Agudes and Pla de la Calma. Further views extend across the valleys of Mosqueroles and the Tordera, as well as towards the Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor.

Other places you can discover include Gallifa, San Celoni, El Masnou, Gualba, Gelida, Sant Sadurní D'osormort, Montornès Del Vallès and Sant Bartomeu Del Grau.

For the higher-level travel overview: Barcelona.