Santa Càndida

Santa Càndida is a now completely ruined hermitage in the municipality of Vilademuls, in the Pla de l'Estany district of Girona province. It stands in the Olives area, right on the bank of the Riera la Farga stream, facing the far better preserved sanctuary of Sant Mer on the opposite side of the water. The site's coordinates are roughly 42.100°N, 2.859°E.

What legend explains this place?

The origin of Santa Càndida is tied to the local legend of Sant Mer, a semi-legendary hermit credited with founding the monastery of Banyoles. According to the story, his mother, Càndida, wanted to live near her son, but he wanted solitude and quiet. To settle the matter, they agreed to throw a stick: wherever it landed would become the mother's home. The stick flew across the Riera la Farga, and it was there, on the far bank from her son's hermitage, that a chapel dedicated to Càndida was eventually raised.

How far back does the record go?

Documents place a chapel dedicated to Santa Càndida here as early as the 13th century, alongside the neighboring hermitage of Sant Mer, dedicated to her legendary son. Written sources naming the building directly date back to the 14th century. From then on, the site functioned as a modest sanctuary tied to the wider cult of Sant Mer, well known across the Pla de l'Estany district.

What does Santa Càndida look like today?

Unlike the nearby hermitage of Sant Mer — rebuilt in 1627 and listed as a Local Cultural Interest Property — Santa Càndida was never restored. The building survives today only as a ruin; from the Sant Mer hermitage, across the Riera la Farga, visitors can make out its remaining stonework. The plot where the ruins stand is private property and is not open to visitors.

Why does this spot matter for anyone visiting Vilademuls?

Although little survives of Santa Càndida beyond scattered stones, its story is inseparable from the still-active cult of Sant Mer. Relics attributed to the saint and his mother, unearthed in 1627 during excavation work, are kept in the church of Sant Esteve de Guialbes and carried in procession to the sanctuary every year on the first Sunday after 27 January. Anyone exploring the Olives area of Vilademuls can pair a visit to Sant Mer with a glance across the Riera la Farga valley toward the spot legend assigned to his mother.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Santa Càndida located? In the municipality of Vilademuls, in the Pla de l'Estany district of Girona province, in the Olives area beside the Riera la Farga stream, opposite the Sant Mer sanctuary.

What legend is connected to this place? Tradition holds that Santa Càndida was the mother of Sant Mer; a thrown stick marked the spot across the stream where she was to settle apart from her son.

How old is the chapel? It is recorded from at least the 13th century, with documented written sources from the 14th century onward.

Can Santa Càndida be visited today? No — the building is a complete ruin on private land; it can only be viewed from across the valley, from the Sant Mer hermitage side.