Sant Miquel de Martres de Caldes de Montbui

Sant Miquel de Martres is a vanished chapel in Caldes de Montbui, in the Catalan province of Barcelona. Its recorded history goes back to the early 12th century, though the building itself disappeared long enough ago that no source can pin down exactly when it happened.

Where did the chapel stand?

The building stood at the Baduell pass (also called Armentera), on the old road linking Caldes de Montbui with Granollers, east of the town centre. This modest saddle between two valleys was a natural resting point for travellers moving between the two towns, which likely explains why a chapel was built there in the first place.

What is the history behind it?

The earliest record of the chapel dates to 1126, when the Sant Pau del Camp monastery in Barcelona acquired the Martres estate. Documents from that period refer to the building in Latin as "ecclesiam Sancti Michaelis de Martres" — the church of Saint Michael of Martres. The name reflects the old settlement or estate of Martres, with which the chapel was administratively tied.

From the 14th century onward, a second name starts appearing in the sources: Sant Miquel de Baduell, taken from the pass where the chapel stood. Both names were used interchangeably over the following centuries. Records confirm that as late as 1608 Mass was still celebrated there on Saint Michael's feast day (29 September), showing the chapel remained in active religious use by local residents for a long stretch of time. In the 18th century, the building was restored by a landowner named Duran.

What happened to it afterwards is unrecorded. The chapel disappeared entirely, and no document specifies whether this was due to deliberate destruction or simple decay after the building was abandoned.

What is left to see today?

No trace of walls or foundations survives at the site. Sant Miquel de Martres belongs to a fairly large group of medieval chapels and hermitages across the Vallès Oriental region that survive only as entries in historical records. For visitors, this means the spot is more of interest to local-history enthusiasts and hikers than a conventional sightseeing destination — best treated as a waypoint on the route between Caldes de Montbui and Granollers rather than a standalone attraction.

How to get there?

The site lies near coordinates 41.6381 N, 2.190055 E, east of the centre of Caldes de Montbui, along the old route toward Granollers. Caldes de Montbui itself — best known for its hot springs and Roman baths — is the natural starting point, with local roads and trails leading out toward the Baduell pass.

Frequently asked questions

Can you still see the ruins of the Sant Miquel de Martres chapel? No. The building has disappeared completely, and neither the date nor the cause of its destruction is documented in the available sources.

Where does the name "de Martres" come from? From the old settlement or estate of Martres, first recorded in 1126 when it became property of the Sant Pau del Camp monastery in Barcelona.

What is the difference between Sant Miquel de Baduell and Sant Miquel de Martres? They are the same chapel — the second name, used from the 14th century onward, comes from the Baduell pass where the building stood.

Is it worth visiting? The site's value is historical rather than visual — it works best combined with a visit to Caldes de Montbui itself or a walking route toward Granollers.