Church de Sant Genís de Plegamans

The Church of Sant Genís de Plegamans is the parish church of Palau-solità i Plegamans, a town in the Vallès Occidental comarca, Barcelona province. Built in exposed brick in the mid-twentieth century, it replaced a much older Romanesque church that did not survive the civil war. Today it stands as one of the town's landmarks and a worthwhile stop for anyone curious about twentieth-century Catalan religious architecture.

Why was the church rebuilt?

The original church, dedicated to Saint Genesius, had medieval roots but was destroyed in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. Its replacement was designed by architect Isidre Puig i Boada, who raised the new building between 1942 and 1944, essentially from scratch. The result reflects the architectural language of its era: exposed brick as the dominant material, a compact volume, and clear geometric lines.

What does the building look like?

The church follows a single-nave plan, closed at the east end by a seven-sided polygonal apse encircled by an internal ambulatory — an unusual feature for a parish church of this size. The main façade is dominated by a circular rose window, and the entrance is set within a narrow pointed-arch doorway. The roof is covered in the terracotta tiles typical of the region, with slender moldings running along the eaves. The exterior walls are enlivened by blind pointed arches, small rosette openings, and clusters of triangular window openings.

The bell tower, added only in 1992, is polygonal in plan and rises in three tiers pierced by elongated windows, capped by a pitched roof. In 1998, a porch was added at the entrance, formed by three round arches — today the first architectural element visitors see as they approach the church square.

What is inside?

The apse is decorated with frescoes by the painter Jaume Busquets, completed in the 1950s, around the same time as the rose window on the façade. Above the entrance, the tympanum bears an image of the face of Christ, a detail that draws the eye of anyone stepping into the church square. The building is listed on Catalonia's Inventory of Architectural Heritage (IPAC), confirming its recognized value as part of local heritage despite being less than a century old.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The church stands on Plaça de Sant Genís, in the centre of Palau-solità i Plegamans, a town belonging to the Diocese of Terrassa. Palau-solità i Plegamans lies within the Vallès Occidental comarca, close enough to the Barcelona metropolitan area to make it an easy stop for visitors exploring the region around the Catalan capital. A visit works well combined with a walk through the town centre, where the church serves as a natural landmark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the current church the original medieval building? No. An earlier Romanesque church with the same dedication was destroyed in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. The present building was constructed from scratch between 1942 and 1944.

Who designed the church? The architect was Isidre Puig i Boada.

What is most distinctive about the church's architecture? The seven-sided polygonal apse with its internal ambulatory, the exposed brick construction, and the circular rose window on the main façade.

When were the bell tower and entrance porch built? The bell tower was added in 1992, and the entrance porch in 1998 — both considerably later than the main body of the church.