Church of Sant Romà

Church of Sant Romà is an 11th-century Romanesque parish church that spends most of the year resting beneath the waters of the Sau reservoir in Catalonia's Osona region. It once served the now-abandoned village of Sant Romà de Sau, within the municipality of Vilanova de Sau, in the hilly Guilleries area. Today only its bell tower breaks the surface of the water, making it one of the most recognisable landmarks in this corner of Catalonia.

How did a church end up underwater?

The church was consecrated in 1062, built in the Lombard Romanesque style typical of the period. It served a small riverside settlement for centuries until 1962, when a new dam was completed and the Ter valley was flooded to create the Sau reservoir. The rising water submerged the village along with its parish church and forced residents to relocate. Remarkably, the stone structure survived the flooding largely intact, leaving behind one of the best-preserved reminders of the vanished village.

Is the church always submerged?

Under normal conditions, the church sits roughly 23 metres below the surface of the reservoir. During dry spells, though, the water level can drop low enough for visitors to walk across the exposed reservoir bed and reach the ruins on foot. Even when the reservoir is full, the tip of the bell tower stays visible above the waterline, and for years it has served as an informal gauge of how much water the reservoir is holding.

What makes this site so distinctive?

The Official World Record Organisation recognises the Church of Sant Romà as the oldest standing church anywhere to have been submerged by a reservoir. Combined with its setting among the wooded hills of the Guilleries, that distinction has turned the site into a magnet for both history-minded travellers and photographers drawn to unusual landscapes. The lone tower rising from open water, framed by the surrounding Osona hills, is among the most photographed sights in the region.

How can visitors experience the site?

The church stands within the municipality of Vilanova de Sau, in the Osona comarca not far from the Barcelona area. Because access to the building itself depends entirely on reservoir levels, the best time to walk out to the ruins is during a dry spell, when the muddy bed around the tower is exposed. At other times, visitors can still take in the site from the shoreline or from viewpoints around the reservoir, watching the tower stand alone above the water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the Church of Sant Romà located? It lies within the municipality of Vilanova de Sau, in the Osona comarca of Catalonia, on the site of the former village of Sant Romà de Sau, submerged when the Sau reservoir was created on the Ter river.

When was the church built? It was consecrated in 1062 and built in the Lombard Romanesque style characteristic of 11th-century religious architecture in the region.

Why is the church underwater? A new dam was completed in 1962, and the resulting reservoir flooded the valley, submerging the village and its church.

Can the church be seen throughout the year? The bell tower is visible nearly year-round, but walking out to the full structure is only possible when the reservoir's water level drops significantly.

Is this the only church of its kind? According to the Official World Record Organisation, it is the oldest standing church ever submerged by a reservoir, making it a unique site on the map of Catalonia.