Santa Magdalena de l'Astor

Santa Magdalena de l'Astor is a Romanesque church in the municipality of Pujalt, in the Catalan comarca of Anoia. The building stands near the road connecting Pujalt with the hamlet of l'Astor, set somewhat apart from the main cluster of houses, on its southern side.

Where exactly does the church stand?

The church sits outside the former walled perimeter of l'Astor, a small medieval settlement that once had its own defensive enclosure. This places the building physically separate from the historic core of the hamlet — a layout found in a number of rural churches across this part of Catalonia, where the place of worship was sometimes raised beyond the fortified line of the village itself.

What is the history behind the church?

The earliest documentary reference to the church dates back to 1157, giving it more than eight centuries of recorded history. It originally served as a suffragan church of Santa Maria de Segur and depended on the canonry of l'Estany, in the Bages area. Ecclesiastically, it belonged to the bishopric of Vic — an affiliation that continues today, even though the building itself underwent major changes over the centuries.

The most significant turning point came in the sixteenth century, when the church was substantially reformed, and in 1520 a bell tower was added. That Renaissance-era intervention largely defined the appearance the church still has today.

What does the architecture look like?

The building follows a rectangular plan with a single nave, renovated in that same 1520 campaign. The entrance is closed by a vaulted archivolt doorway decorated with linear relief carving, and the imposts supporting the arch repeat the same decorative pattern. Above the entrance rises a small wall-mounted bell tower (an espadaña) with two bell openings, most likely built during the same 1520 renovation.

Inside, the church is covered by rib vaulting. Three side chapels line each flank of the nave, six in total. Two of them are closed with pointed stone arches, while the rest use rounded arches finished in render rather than exposed stone. This mix of materials and forms points to a building that was reworked and repaired in more than one phase over its long history.

What artworks does the church hold?

Two wooden sculptures depicting Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian survive inside the church, dated to the thirteenth century. They rank among the oldest surviving furnishings of the building and offer a rare, tangible link to medieval religious art in the Anoia region.

Is it worth visiting Santa Magdalena de l'Astor?

For anyone drawn to Romanesque architecture or the history of medieval settlement patterns in Catalonia, this church makes a rewarding stop. It combines a modest, rural structure with decorative details that mark the transition from the Romanesque into the Renaissance period, and its location off the main tourist routes means visits tend to be quiet and unhurried.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is the church of Santa Magdalena de l'Astor? The earliest record of the church dates to 1157, though its present appearance largely reflects a sixteenth-century rebuild, including the bell tower added in 1520.

Which diocese did the church belong to? It was a suffragan church of Santa Maria de Segur, dependent on the canonry of l'Estany (Bages) and part of the bishopric of Vic — a link that still holds today.

What can visitors see inside? The interior features rib vaulting and six side chapels (three on each side), along with two thirteenth-century wooden sculptures of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian.

Where is the church located relative to l'Astor? It stands outside the hamlet's former walled enclosure, near the road linking l'Astor with Pujalt, set apart from the main built-up area.