La Sanabra and Sant Llorenç valley

The oldest part of this architectonic complex is the circular tower, which probably dates from the 12th century, which corresponds to the remains of the birthplace of Raymond of Penyafort (1185-1275). In addition to this medieval tower, the complex includes various buildings erected as of the 17th century, which were a Dominican convent up until the confiscations of Mendizábal in 1836. Afterwards, the building passed into the hands of the bourgeois Puig i Llagostera family, who made it their summer residence. This building has had several owners over the decades, who have implemented various improvements and projects, until in 2001 it became the property of the municipality.

Certainly la Sanabra was one of the municipality’s first farmhouses. The name comes from the Latin “Xenna Abra”, which means “server of meals”. Later it is documented as “Sinapis” and as of the years 992 and 993, as “Sanabra”. Its reconstruction took advantage of the gothic structure of 1674.

Beside it is the rectangular-shaped Santa Maria de la Sanabra hermitage, of Romanesque architecture. It has a semi-circular monumental portal and a semi-circular apse with loophole windows, and it is built with large cut stone ashlars that are very well preserved.

Located at Sant Llorenç valley, this fountain often flows, though we cannot guarantee how safe it is to drink the water. The vegetation of this coomb is notable, where the holm-oak predominates with shade-loving species such as laurustine (Viburnum tinus), boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) and ivy (Hedera helix). The site is very beautiful, shady, a place to sit, eat, rest, listen to the birds…

A few metres up we find an old restored lime kiln that, like the numerous dry stone terraces around it, is evidence of the intense agricultural and forestry activity that had been carried out in these forests many years ago.