Canyelles

Canyelles is one of the six municipalities that make up the Garraf region. This municipality borders the Alt Penedès region, as it is located on the edge of Garraf. In fact, the Canyelles stream once connected the coastal villages with those inland.

As for its natural surroundings, it is strategically located between the Olèrdola Regional Park and the Garraf Natural Park.

Within its municipal boundaries are several hills: Puig de Sant Miquel, Puig Rodó, Puig de l'Àliga, and Puig Montgrós, which form a route that offers a magnificent viewpoint overlooking much of the region. The Canyelles stream, which collects water from various tributaries, also flows through the municipality, as previously mentioned.

In Canyelles, you can find the remains of Canyelles Castle, where part of the wall and a circular tower, dating from the 15th century, are still visible. The castle belonged to the Bouffard family and, apparently, before serving this purpose, it was a defensive tower. The old town of Canyelles is located just behind the castle.

Nearby is the Church of Santa Magdalena, documented in the 17th century. This building belonged to the castle, which explains its location.

In 1861, a meteorite fell in this municipality. The fragments that were preserved were distributed among different museums throughout the peninsula. Since then, Canyelles has been known as "the meteorite village."

The villages of Cases Xum and Llacunalba are also part of this area, as are all the farmhouses scattered throughout the territory, most notably Can Sàbat and Can Faló. These buildings allow visitors to identify and distinguish dwellings from different eras.

The first documents in which Canyelles appears as a town date from the year 992, when its territory bordered Viladellops.

History

Canyelles is a municipality with over a thousand years of history. Its castle, the streets of the old town, and the landscape of vineyards and farmhouses bear witness to a past full of traditions, transformations, and unique events.

Medieval origins

The first written reference to Canyelles dates back to the year 992, when the toponym Canellas appears mentioned in a document from the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès.

During the Middle Ages, Canyelles was part of the territory of Olèrdola and gained importance thanks to its strategic location between the coast and the interior of the Penedès.

One of the great symbols of this past is Canyelles Castle, located in the upper part of the old town, next to the Church of Santa Magdalena. This heritage site is one of the most emblematic features of the municipality and preserves the memory of its medieval history.

A people building their identity

Between the 16th and 17th centuries, Canyelles consolidated its identity. In 1623, the title of baron was granted to the lord of Canyelles, and in 1627, the Church of Santa Magdalena became an independent parish of Olèrdola.

Throughout the centuries, the municipality experienced various conflicts, from the War of the Spanish Succession to the Carlist Wars. Agriculture, especially viticulture, was for a long time the main economic driver of the population.

Amazing stories and curiosities

Canyelles also holds some very unique stories. In 1861, a meteorite fell within its municipal boundaries, near the Casa Nova farmhouse, and some of its fragments ended up in natural history museums.

Another notable event took place in 1886, when nearly two hundred people rebelled against the collection of taxes, in a context of economic difficulties in the countryside.

From agricultural village to present-day municipality

During the 20th century, Canyelles underwent major transformations. Following the agricultural crisis, the Civil War, and depopulation, new housing developments and second homes began to appear from the 1960s onwards, gradually changing the appearance of the municipality.

Today, Canyelles retains the charm of its rural and medieval past, surrounded by a stunning Mediterranean landscape. The castle, the Church of Santa Magdalena, and the old farmhouses invite you to discover a village with its own unique identity, where history and tranquility meet in every corner.