Mare de Déu dels Arquets

Mare de Déu dels Arquets is a small Marian sanctuary in the municipality of Sant Jaume dels Domenys, in the Baix Penedès area of Tarragona province, Catalonia. The hermitage sits on a rise between the town centre and the hamlet of Cornudella, surrounded by the dry, rolling farmland typical of the Penedès countryside.

How do you get there?

A short flight of stone steps leads up to a small square in front of the chapel's façade — arriving here is part of the experience, since the building stands slightly apart from any main road. The easiest starting point is Sant Jaume dels Domenys itself, from which it's a brief walk or a short drive along a local lane. Walking and cycling routes through Baix Penedès also pass by the hermitage, linking it with nearby villages such as Banyeres del Penedès, so it often shows up as a stop on countryside itineraries in the region.

What will you see?

What stands today is largely the result of a rebuilding carried out in 1821 — a date still legible on the oculus above the entrance. Inside, a single nave with an adjoining sacristy is covered by a two-slope roof resting on two round arches braced by external buttresses. The façade, remodelled in the 19th century, combines a low, flattened-arch doorway, that round oculus window, and a slim single-bell espadanya tower. At the back, a small niche in the apse holds the image of the Virgin that gives the place its name.

The name "Arquets" — literally "little arches" — has nothing to do with the chapel's own architecture. It comes from a nearby aqueduct: the section closest to its water source, where the arches were still low, was known by that diminutive. Over time the name attached itself to the image of Mary venerated here, to whom local people turned during droughts in the hope of rain — a devotion that likely grew out of older, pre-Christian water rituals later folded into Marian worship.

The earliest written record of the hermitage dates to 1632, found in the visitation records of the Vilafranca deanery, where it appears as "Capella Beatae Mariae dels Arquets." Further archival mentions turn up in 1753 and 1793. Its history hasn't been entirely peaceful, though: the sanctuary was burned down in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, and rebuilt around 1950 under the direction of Reverend Ros i Leconte, giving it the appearance it has today.

When should you visit?

The best time to come is Easter Monday, when Arquets hosts its traditional aplec — a gathering that combines a religious observance with a communal picnic for the people of Sant Jaume dels Domenys. It's the one day the hermitage is genuinely lively rather than simply a quiet heritage stop. On any other day, expect a peaceful spot mostly visited by hikers and cyclists passing through the Baix Penedès countryside.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Mare de Déu dels Arquets? In the municipality of Sant Jaume dels Domenys, Baix Penedès area, Tarragona province, Catalonia — between the town centre and the hamlet of Cornudella.

Where does the name "Arquets" come from? From a nearby aqueduct: its lowest section near the water source, where the arches were still small, was called "arquets," and the name later passed to the image of the Virgin kept here.

Can you go inside the chapel? It's a small, active place of worship for the local community; the interior is generally accessible during services and the annual aplec, while the exterior can be viewed at any time.

What's the main event to see here? The annual aplec on Easter Monday, the traditional community gathering of Sant Jaume dels Domenys.