Santa Cília de Sorerols

Santa Cília de Sorerols is a small, now-abandoned Romanesque chapel in the municipality of Tavertet, in the Osona district of Catalonia. Set on the old lands of Sorerols, right at the southern edge of Tavertet's territory, it looks out over the Sau reservoir valley — a scenic but rarely visited corner of this part of Catalonia.

Where exactly is the chapel located?

Santa Cília sits at the southern tip of Tavertet's municipal area, close to the neighboring municipality of les Masies de Roda, at an elevation of roughly 690 meters. Access runs along the local BV-5207 road, and from around its 8th kilometer mark, visitors need to continue several more kilometers on foot along a track leading into the site. That combination keeps the chapel mostly on the radar of hikers rather than casual drivers. From the surrounding area, the view opens onto the Sau valley, one of the defining landscapes of the Osona region.

What is the history behind this site?

Written records mention the chapel as early as 1061–1062, in connection with the consecration act of the church of Sant Romà de Sau, making it one of the older religious sites documented in the region. By 1091, it was recorded as a dependent chapel under the parish of Sant Miquel de Sorerols. The site was closely tied to the nearby Castle of Sorerols, first mentioned in 1086 in the will of Count Ramon Folc of Cardona, which shows that the surrounding area once carried defensive and administrative weight alongside its religious role. Worship continued here for centuries: bishop Pasqual visited the chapel in 1687, though services stopped around the mid-18th century. Until relatively recently, the property and its attached buildings belonged to the Tresserra family, connected to the parish of Sant Bartomeu Sesgorgues.

What structures remain on site?

Next to the chapel stands an old stone farmhouse, or mas, dating to 1685, which is now in ruins. After religious use ended, the buildings likely served as living quarters for a time before eventually falling into disrepair. The chapel itself has a single nave covered by a slightly pointed barrel vault, a decorated triumphal arch framing the former altar area, and an arched doorway on the south wall — a second entrance was sealed at some point. A semicircular bread oven was added later, positioned off-center relative to the original apse. The building technique, elongated stone blocks laid in horizontal courses and bound with lime mortar, points to 11th-century origins, although this kind of rural construction method remained in use into the 12th century as well.

What condition is the chapel in today?

The site is completely abandoned and continues to deteriorate. The apse has suffered serious damage, the vault is heavily cracked, and the roof covering has almost entirely disappeared, leaving the structure at risk of collapse without conservation work. This makes it a destination for those drawn to history and landscape rather than a monument with preserved architecture or visitor facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Santa Cília de Sorerols still an active chapel? No. Religious services ended around the mid-18th century, and the building is now an abandoned ruin.

How do you get to the chapel? On foot is best, following the local BV-5207 road toward the southern edge of Tavertet and then a track leading into the old Sorerols area.

Are there other historic remains nearby? Yes — a ruined 1685 farmhouse stands beside the chapel, and the medieval Castle of Sorerols, first documented in 1086, once stood in the surrounding area.

How old is the chapel? The earliest written reference dates to 1061–1062, making it one of the older religious sites in the Osona district.