Santa Magdalena de la Vall

Santa Magdalena de la Vall (also known as Santa Magdalena del Soler) is a small Romanesque church in the municipality of Calonge de Segarra, in the Anoia region of central Catalonia. It stands off the beaten track, next to a long-abandoned farmhouse called Soler (also Solerot), far from any main road — a destination for travelers drawn to authentic, unrestored rural chapels rather than polished tourist sites.

Where exactly is the church located?

The building sits in the western part of Calonge de Segarra's municipal territory, on a small stretch of farmland. It is reached from the road linking Jorba and Ponts: near kilometre 32, a side track roughly one kilometre long branches off and leads straight to the church. Its coordinates are 41.75601 N, 1.45915 E. The keys to the interior were traditionally kept at the "ca l'Oliva" farmhouse in nearby Calaf, owned by the family of the Espinac farmstead — a small detail that shows just how remote and rarely visited this corner of Catalonia is.

What is the history behind the church?

The church has always fallen under the parish of Santa Fe de Calonge, first recorded in 1040 among the possessions of the cathedral chapter of Cardona. Santa Magdalena itself is first mentioned in writing in 1294, though architectural historians believe the actual masonry is older, likely dating from the second half of the 12th century. The hamlet of Soler, around which local religious life once centred, was in medieval times a small autonomous district under the castle of Calonge, yet it was never densely populated: census records from 1497 and 1515 list only three households there. In 1685, following an episcopal visit, the roof was ordered repaired and the interior was reworked.

What does the architecture look like?

The building has a single nave closed on the east side by a semicircular apse, covered by a quarter-sphere stone vault. The nave itself is roofed with a brick barrel vault, likely replacing an earlier stone one. Shallow arcades on either side of the nave form a series of small lateral chapels. Two windows let in light — one in the apse, one on the west wall. The bell tower is a modest, single-opening brick belfry added at a later stage. The walls are built from medium-sized ashlar blocks laid in horizontal courses. Historically, a second altar inside the church was dedicated to Saints Simon and Jude.

What condition is the church in today?

For years the church stood abandoned and in very poor structural condition, at real risk of collapse. That changed when the building and its surrounding land were donated to the municipality of Calonge de Segarra, opening the way to public funding for emergency restoration. The works, budgeted at 117,370 euros, were financed entirely by the Barcelona Provincial Council (Diputació de Barcelona). Restoration began in September, with completion planned for December of the same year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Santa Magdalena de la Vall? Take the road connecting Jorba and Ponts. Near kilometre 32, just before the turn-off to Calonge de Segarra, a side track leads directly to the church over about one kilometre.

Is this the same chapel as Santa Magdalena de Castelladral? No. They are two separate buildings. Santa Magdalena de la Vall stands in the municipality of Calonge de Segarra, in the Anoia region, while Santa Magdalena de Castelladral is located in the municipality of Navàs, in a different part of Catalonia.

How old is the building? The masonry is thought to date from the second half of the 12th century, although the earliest written record of the church comes from 1294.

Can visitors see the interior? The church was closed and neglected for years, but it is now undergoing restoration funded by the Barcelona Provincial Council, which should improve both its condition and its accessibility to visitors.

Where does the name "del Soler" come from? It comes from the nearby, now-abandoned Soler farmhouse (also called Solerot), next to which the church stands and around which a small settlement once existed.