molí de les Tres Creus

Molí de les Tres Creus is a former water mill on the banks of the Ripoll River in Sabadell, one of several historic industrial sites once powered by the same irrigation canal.

What is this place?

The ruins sit right at the edge of the Ripoll riverbed, near an old bridge and facing the grounds of a former textile factory. A building has stood on this spot since at least the 11th century — the earliest written record dates to 1098, when the mill belonged to the lords of Arraona. It later passed to the prebendary of the Sant Salvador church in Sabadell, and by the 13th and 14th centuries it was known as the Trilla mill.

The structure visible today was built at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, originally as a paper mill. Paper production continued until the mid-20th century, when the site switched to textile manufacturing. The name "Tres Creus" (Three Crosses) took hold around 1806, taken from boundary crosses that once stood at the end of what is now the street bearing the same name — the name later spread to the stream, the mill itself, and the path leading to it.

What will you see?

Little of the original structure remains standing. The most visible feature is the old millpond, known locally as "bassa de Ca la Paula," sitting on the higher part of the site. Nearby you can still trace parts of the irrigation channel that once fed the mill's large waterwheel, with water drawn from the Monar canal. The wheel and machinery themselves are gone, but the layout of the land and the surviving water infrastructure make it possible to picture how the whole system worked.

The surrounding landscape changed considerably after the 1962 flood, which caused serious damage to this stretch of the Ripoll valley — the current access road and bridge were both built after that event.

How do you get there?

The mill lies in the Ripoll river valley, surrounded by other historic mills that drew water from the same canal system. It's reachable on foot or by bike, forming part of hiking routes 20 and 21, marked along the Ripoll by a local outdoor association. It works well as a stop for anyone combining sightseeing with a walk or ride along the river, rather than a standalone destination.

When should you visit?

Since the site is an open riverside spot without covered attractions, a dry day works best — spring or autumn are good choices, when temperatures around Sabadell are mild and the vegetation along the Ripoll is at its fullest. In summer, the heat can make the walk to reach the mill less comfortable.

Frequently asked questions

Is the original mill building still standing? No. What survives today is mainly the old millpond (bassa de Ca la Paula) and remnants of the irrigation channel — most of the mill structure itself is gone.

Where does the name Tres Creus come from? From boundary crosses that once stood at the end of today's Carrer de les Tres Creus. Over time the name extended to the stream, the mill, and the access path as well.

Did the mill always produce paper? No — the earliest record from 1098 describes a grain mill. Papermaking began only with the new building at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, with textile production added later, in the 19th century.

What's the best way to visit? The easiest approach is to fold it into a walk or bike ride along the Ripoll River — the mill sits on marked routes 20 and 21, alongside other historic industrial sites in the valley.