La Doma

La Doma is a complex of Romanesque-Gothic buildings in la Garriga, in the Vallès Oriental region of Catalonia — the former parish church of Sant Esteve, an adjoining building known as the domeria, and a cemetery. The complex sits on a low rise above the Congost river valley and served for centuries as the town's religious centre, before that role passed to a new church built on the opposite bank.

Where does the name come from?

The name "Doma" derives from the Latin word "hebdomada," meaning week. It refers to the weekly shifts once kept by clergy serving the church of Sant Esteve de la Doma and its dependent parishes. Originally three such clergymen, known as domers, rotated the duty; their number was later reduced to two, which is how the institution came to give the site its name.

How old is the building?

The earliest written reference to the church appears in the will of Count Miró of Barcelona, dated 966. The oldest surviving part of the current structure is the central nave, built in Romanesque style in the 12th century — the church originally consisted of just this single nave. In 1139, the bishop and canons of Barcelona placed the church under the patronage of the monastery of l'Estany, an arrangement that lasted until 1592.

What can visitors see there today?

From the original Romanesque building, the west wall survives, with its distinctive double-splayed window, along with part of the north wall and a clearly pointed barrel vault. Gothic side aisles were added in 1559 and 1561, widening the church's original layout. The fortified walls surrounding the building, complete with crenellations and loopholes, also date from the Gothic period and point to the site's defensive role. The entrance portal, the work of master builder Bertran Felip, was completed in 1563. Inside stands a Gothic altarpiece dedicated to Sant Esteve, dating from the late 15th century and considered the most important artistic piece in the whole complex.

What role did the church play in the town's history?

Sant Esteve de la Doma served as the parish church of la Garriga until 1737, when a new Baroque church was consecrated on the other side of the Congost river and took over as the town's main place of worship. The older church, together with its domeria and cemetery, remained an important record of the region's medieval history, and later restoration works have uncovered further traces of its original architecture.

Frequently asked questions

Is La Doma a single building or a group of structures? It is a complex made up of the former parish church of Sant Esteve, the adjoining domeria, and a cemetery, all enclosed by defensive Gothic-period walls.

How far back do the earliest records of the site go? The oldest surviving document mentioning the church is the will of Count Miró of Barcelona from 966, though the current Romanesque structure dates from the 12th century.

Why did the church stop being the parish church? In 1737 a new Baroque church built on the other side of the Congost river took over as the main parish church, while La Doma was preserved as a historic monument.

What is the most valuable feature inside? The late-15th-century Gothic altarpiece of Sant Esteve, regarded as the finest artwork in the entire complex.