The municipality of Sanaüja (whose name comes from the Basque term "zani-goia", which means "the guardian on high") is located in the north of the comarca (local district) of La Segarra (Lleida Plain), in the mid-section of the Llobregós river valley.
The settlement, which faces southward, dominates this emblematic setting. It is a peaceful little village with about five hundred inhabitants that still conserves its medieval structure, which makes any visit a veritable journey through history, full of treasures and surprises just waiting to be discovered!
 

Corners full of history

THE CASTLE OF SANAÜJA
The remains of the original castle can be found in the highest part of the village, on top of the hill that dominates Sanaüja. This was one of the first castles to be constructed in the comarca and its origins date back to the 11th century.
It was built on different rock strata and was originally a defensive structure, but it was later extended and its basic function modified, as it first became a fortified palace and then a bishop’s residence.

In 1580, bishop Hug Ambrós de Montcada, who used to spend winters at the Episcopal Palace of Sanaüja Castle, held a synod there. Three years later, the same Bishop of Urgell ordained Josep de Calassanç, founder of the Escoles Pies (a famous group of religious schools), as a priest in the chapel of the same palace. The magnificent bracketed belfry of this building, with its five windows, also dates from this period: it continued to serve the function of bell tower until just before the Spanish Civil War.

THE PARISH CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA
The parish church of Santa Maria, which presides over the Plaça Major (Main Square), is a temple with a gothic style interior and neoclassical facade.
Most of the structure was built during the 16th century, with this work being sponsored by the bishop in anticipation of the future growth of the village. It is a church with a single nave and side chapels whose most outstanding features include the sculptures on some of its capitals and keystones, which bear the local coat of arms.

THE BELFRY
Contrary to general practice in the majority of the villages of Lleida province, where belfries form an integral part of the architectonic structures of the churches themselves, the bell tower of Sanaüja is, somewhat curiously, located in another part of the Plaça Major.
The need to build a new belfry arose when the clock mechanism of the castle, which had already been in a poor state of repair for some time, needed replacing and the two bells in the façade of the church proved insufficient to assume all of the functions required of them as a single bell tower. The new belfry, the tower and the iron structure of the upper part of the building, which was officially inaugurated on 8th December 1929, were exclusively made by builders and iron workers from the village, while the clock was made in Barcelona.

THE MEDIEVAL BRIDGE
The medieval bridge (14th – 15th centuries) used to be the main access point to the village. It is a solid construction with Roman arches, corbels and a cut-water and constitutes one of the most interesting examples of civil architecture in the Lands of Lleida.
Sanaüja still conserves its medieval structure, which centres on the Plaça Major from where all of its streets lead out to the perimeter wall.

With respect to the former gates that give access to the inner part of the village –those of Sant Roc, and Els Escots... - it is interesting to highlight the one known as "La Portella" (The Side Door), a covered entrance with a series of arches that is one of the most picturesque places in the village.

THE MAIN SQUARE
The village of Sanaüja still conserves its medieval structure and the original centre of its Plaça Major. Sheltering under its porches or strolling through the surrounding streets is like travelling back through time.
Its features of interest range from the medieval charm of “La Portella” to the residences of the local nobility, with their great porches decorated with arched sections and sculptured lintels.

 

Routes

 

THE WATCHTOWERS ROUTE
Type: BTT
Difficulty: Intermediate
Total distance: 21,600 km.
Start and finish point: Sanaüja

Description:
Sanaüja used to be a walled settlement with an almost circular layout, but this was modified in the 17th century when houses were built with barbicans and arched porches. The 17th century Plaça Major and the Torre de les Hores (Hour Tower) are important heritage elements, as are the remains of the castle itself, what is left of the medieval fortress, the chapel dedicated to the Mare de Déu, and the episcopal residence built by the bishops of Urgell in the 17th century..

Another significant building along this route is the Castle of Lloberola, which is one of the oldest in La Segarra. The existence of this building has been documented since 1041 and it may have originally been a Moorish fortress. The castle, which bears witness to the early conquests of feudalism, has a tower dating from the 10th century, which is quite literally wrapped up inside another constructed around the year 1000.


The Watchtowers route runs between the Llobregós valleys and the Sanaüja stream, which are separated by higher ground that includes Pedrafita hill (627 m). This is a wild, dry area which those who like landscapes with character tend to find particularly attractive. This also means that cyclists who ride here must be fit. Furthermore, 904.28 ha of the municipal territory of Sanaüja fall within the PEIN of the Vall del Llobregós, which protects one of the best conserved examples of gypseous terrain in the Central Catalan Depression.

For details of the route, map and profile, see: www.lasegarra.org

Route GPS

The Place of Natural Interest corresponding to the River Llobregós Valley is located in the northern part of the comarca (local district) of La Segarra (Spain), in the triangle between the villages of Sanaüja, Biosca and Massoteres. The green area next to the River Llobregós Valley is a perfect place for following walking or mountain bike routes and enjoying little known and very fragile natural settings.


The part of the Llobregós Valley included in the PEIN is an area with truly unique characteristics. Its interest lies in both its geological form and its vegetation, with the latter including a number of very fragile and vulnerable species. The total area is about 1190 ha and includes the mid-course of this river, which flows through the municipal districts of Biosca, Massoteres and Sanaüja. This is one of the most characteristic gypseous zones of the Central Catalan Depression and also one of the best preserved.

Information provided by: Consell Comarcal de la Segarra www.llobregos.net

 

 

 

Were to eat

Restaurant Mallola
Afores, 1
Tel.: 973 47 61 98