The best walks and hikes around Vilallonga Del Camp

A nice trail that also allows us to learn a bit of history about how water was brought to La Selva del Camp in the past.

chic town

The Rovellat or Més Avall mill must be related to a series of hydraulic mills that took advantage of the same water drop from the Riera de la Selva. There were nine mills that worked with the same water, which was going to end up in the town of Selva del Camp. The mill was used for many centuries. This is indicated by the agreements and acts of sale, such as the one of 1653, where reference is made to the sale of the mills of Mig and Més Avall, owned by the common, located on the Sant Pere road.

The channelization of the waters is a work that cannot be dated exactly, but throughout the 13th century there are many documented references. La Resclosa collects water from the Riera, and through the Dry Bridge it is led to the town’s Rec. Above the parabolic stone bridge you can see the remains of the cacao mill from the Pont or Porta mill, which in 1285 belonged to Joan Mulné.

This emblematic monument popularly known as the Bridges, a name that comes from its two arches, is an aqueduct originally from the s. XIII that was built to raise water from the Rec to the town wall in order to supply the Molí de la Canal in the courtyard of the Butchery, on the Castle wall. Before it was built, the water ran along the ground and when the mill was built it was necessary to raise the water level in order to cover the tank. On one of the walls there is a commemorative tombstone with a text written in Latin that refers to the stone cladding works of the Rec that, begun in 1539, are said to have been completed in 1557, a time when the aqueduct itself had to be restored.

The Romanesque church The current church of Sant Andreu was built on top of a Romanesque church that was in the same place. Although the first reference places it in the 12th century, the original trace is not known. It had smaller dimensions and was also dedicated to Sant Andreu. Beyond its walls, there was a moat on the southern facade, which was the first cemetery of La Selva. Right in front of the church there was a porch where the General Councils of the town and, on occasion, those of the Comuna del Camp met. The Renaissance church The current church of Sant Andreu dates from the end of the 16th century and was designed by Pere Blai (1553-1621). It is one of the few works of the Mannerist Renaissance in Catalonia and is distinguished by its rectangular plan, the lateral chapels communicating with each other and the height inspired by the proportions of Vitruvius Man. The dome on a drum, one of the most innovative architectural features of the building, help to distinguish the church on the horizon.

Until well into the 20th century, in most squares or courtyards in the municipality there were public fountains to supply the population with running water. But before the 16th century there had only been one public fountain in the whole town, that of the Castle. That is why, in 1519, by decision of the Comú de la Selva, another one was built, the Font Nova or de Mitja Vila. Initially, the Font de Mitja Vila received water from "the water lily of the Calsinada courtyard", but from 1665 it was decided to bring it from the Rec de la Vila, as it was considered cleaner. Later, new fountains were built in most of the courtyards of the old town along the main street: in Plaça de l’Hospitalet, Plaça Major, Portal d’Avall or Portal de Mates; nowadays most of them have disappeared. In the decade of 1950, the repair of the source was carried out, due to the poor state of conservation. It was then that he took the opportunity to move it inside and create a square in front. It was also at this time when the old Chapel of the Angels was demolished.

The Baró tower, or Sol de la Vila tower, known in the 14th century as the Beixa tower, is one of the most impressive in the complex due to its privileged location in the Plaza del Portal d'Avall. Its modern name, Torre del Baró, links it to the adjacent mansion that was owned by the barons of Montoliva, from Vilallonga del Camp. Its relationship with La Selva was evident when Pau de Magrinyà, in 1723, was appointed councilor of the municipality.