Palau-solità i Plegamans

Discover Palau-solità i Plegamans, a municipality with history, nature and life.

Palau-solità i Plegamans is a municipality located in the Vallès Occidental region. With an area of 14.9 km² and an altitude of 140 meters, it is situated approximately 25 km north of the city of Barcelona. The municipality is formed by the historical union of two former parishes: Palau-solità and Plegamans, first documented in the years 955 and 962, respectively.

Palau-solità i Plegamans is a place where heritage, landscape and vitality come together to offer unique experiences.

An environment to breathe and enjoy: Between gentle hills and fertile plains, the municipality offers a pleasant and accessible landscape, ideal for walking, discovering charming corners and enjoying free time.

A thousand years of history at your fingertips: Palau-solità i Plegamans is the result of the union of two ancient parishes documented more than a thousand years ago. Its origins date back to Iberian and Roman settlements. Its past remains alive in every corner.

Tradition and modernity: Over time, the municipality has managed to evolve without losing its essence.

Culture, leisure and activities: Palau-solità i Plegamans is a lively municipality, with an active agenda and spaces for everyone.

Don't miss this:

• La Pedra Llarga, a testament to the megalithic past.
• The Castell de Plegamans, medieval emblem.
• Historic churches such as Sant Genís and Santa Maria.
• Farmhouses that explain the traditional life of the territory.

Come and discover it. Palau-solità i Plegamans awaits you with its history, its landscapes and its energy.

History

The municipality is situated between two mountain ranges with gentle hills and crossed by several streams, resulting in a fertile plain inhabited since prehistoric times. Paleolithic and Neolithic remains have been found, as well as a menhir known as "La Pedra Llarga," a prominent symbol of the megalithic past.

During the Iberian, Roman, and medieval periods, the territory was continuously inhabited. The Roman road that crossed it facilitated the formation of settlements. With the medieval repopulation, two parishes were established: Santa Maria de Palau-solità and Sant Genís de Plegamans. Many farmhouses and the Castell de Plegamans also date from this period.

The 19th century and the arrival of the railway boosted trade and industry, most notably the textile factory inaugurated in 1890, which transformed the lives of many families. The 20th century brought summer visitors, such as the writer Folch i Torres, and an urban transformation that included the reconstruction of the Sant Genís church after the Civil War.

From the 1970s onwards, urban and industrial growth transformed the rural landscape of the municipality. Today, it continues to evolve with a commitment to responsible growth and a focus on the future.

Places of interest

Folch Tower

Torre Folch was the Noucentista-style summer home of the writer Josep Maria Folch i Torres, who commissioned its construction in 1922. The restored gardens showcase the Noucentista features of the period and offer a walking tour that explains the history of the house and the Folch family. Located at Calle Castell, 33, Torre Folch is a private property of the family. However, the tower and gardens are open to the public and constitute a space of cultural interest for the municipality. In this regard, it is worth noting that they currently house the Palau-solità i Plegamans Cultural Center.

Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Castell de Plegamans

Plegamans Castle dominates the plain of Palau-solità i Plegamans from its location in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains. The building originated as a quadrangular tower dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, which underwent several transformations over time, especially between the 15th and 16th centuries, until it became the current fortified house. The building was restored in the late 1980s.

Currently, the Castell de Plegamans is the headquarters of the Municipal School of Music and also houses the Fundació Folch i Torres, dedicated to the conservation, study and dissemination of the legacy of the Folch i Torres brothers.

The Foundation has exhibition and documentary spaces that can be visited on dates and times that are announced periodically. It is recommended to check the schedule and visiting conditions beforehand.

Location: Camí de la Serra, s/n.

Old Schools

Built in 1934 in the Rationalist style, this building was designed by architects Josep Lluís Sert and Josep Torres Clavé (GATCPAC). It currently houses the Early Childhood Education classrooms of the CEIP Josep Maria Folch i Torres school. A careful renovation was carried out in 2004, respecting its original architectural style. Located on Passeig de la Carrerada, at the corner of Rambla del Mestre Pere Pou.

Museum-Archive of the Folch i Torres Foundation. Noble Floor of the Castell de Plegamans

On the first floor of Castell de Plegamans, known as the Main Floor, there are five rooms ceded to the Folch i Torres Foundation, where the Foundation's Museum-Archive is located. The space preserves and makes available to the public and researchers a documentary and museum collection that includes the works and biographical and bibliographical material of the five Folch i Torres brothers: Manuel, Lluís, Josep Maria, Ignasi, and Joaquim.

International Puppet Museum of Catalonia

This is the first museum of its kind in Catalonia, located in the Can Falguera farmhouse. Inside, you'll find a wide-ranging collection of puppets from around the world, both antique and contemporary, as well as an exhibition of different puppetry techniques.

The museum also offers activities related to the performing arts, visual arts, education, literature, and heritage. It was conceived and founded by Teia Moner, a renowned and prestigious puppeteer.

Menhir of Pedra Llarga

This megalithic monument, classified as a menhir, likely served a religious function related to the cult of the dead or the veneration of deities. It is also believed that it may have served as a boundary marker.

The stone, of non-local origin, possibly a rock from Montserrat, stands upright and measures approximately 2.5 meters in height. It is located at the intersection of Carrer de la Pedra Llarga and Carrer del Monòlit.

Parque de l'Hostal del Fum

The park is a 35,000 m² enclosed space that houses a representative sample of native vegetation, with species such as pines, holm oaks, poplars, and riparian trees. Aromatic plants like thyme, basil, rosemary, and many others grow among this Mediterranean woodland. The wooded areas are interspersed with wide grassy meadows, walking paths, and a small stream that connects several ponds, creating a very pleasant natural environment.

The park is located within the Riera de Caldes Industrial Estate, right next to the stream. The park's miniature train runs on Sundays from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Guided tours are also available on weekdays.

The Templar Commandery

The Templar Commandery of Santa Magdalena consists of a hermitage located within a walled enclosure. Santa Magdalena is one of the first Templar commanderies in Catalonia and dates back to the 12th century. It is situated on private property, and the City Council regulates visits and any special activities that take place there.