Santa Margarida d'Ardola

Santa Margarida d'Ardola is the ruin of a Romanesque church standing at the eastern edge of Tavèrnoles, in the Osona region of Catalonia, not far from Barcelona. It sits close to the Puigdefar hill (834 m), with views opening onto the valley of the Sau reservoir — making it as much a scenic lookout as a historical site.

What is this place?

The ruins belong to a small rural chapel first documented in 1064. The church was never an independent parish — it was dependent on the parish of Santa Maria de Vilanova de Sau, and its upkeep and worship were traditionally the responsibility of the parishioners of nearby Savassona. For centuries it served the scattered farms of the area before eventually falling out of use.

What did the building look like?

The church followed a single-nave plan, closed off by one semicircular apse — a layout that has been pieced together from stones scattered around the site. The entrance portal was built with small voussoirs set in an archivolt. The walls carried decoration typical of Lombard-influenced Romanesque architecture: lesenes (pilaster strips) and blind arcading, both hallmarks of 11th-century Catalan church building.

What will you see there today?

Only the north and west walls still stand; the vault, apse and south wall have collapsed, and their rubble now fills the nave. The church was abandoned in 1936, and the vault itself came down around 1945. Today the ruins are heavily overgrown with trees and shrubs, which gives the site a wild, atmospheric feel but also reflects its poor state of conservation. It's worth the trip with a camera — the combination of weathered stone, encroaching vegetation and the panorama over the Sau reservoir is one of the more striking sights in the Osona countryside.

How do you get there?

Santa Margarida d'Ardola lies in the rural outskirts of Tavèrnoles, close to the Sau reservoir and the Puigdefar hill. Local paths and dirt tracks used by hikers and cyclists exploring the Sau valley lead to the ruins, and the site is a popular stop for anyone combining history with landscape views in Osona. The most practical approach is to drive to the nearest village and continue the last stretch on foot.

When should you visit?

Because the site is an open-air ruin with no shelter or visitor infrastructure, spring and autumn are the best seasons — mild temperatures and lush surroundings make the ruins look their best. Summers in Osona can get hot, and the terrain around the Sau reservoir is fully exposed, so bring water and sun protection. In winter the views over the valley can be exceptionally clear, though paths may turn muddy after rain.

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Margarida d'Ardola still an active church? No. The building has been abandoned since 1936 and has stood in ruins since the 1940s; no services are held there.

How old is the church? It is first documented in 1064, and its surviving architectural details point to an 11th-century Romanesque style.

What's the main draw of this site? The combination of genuine medieval ruins with sweeping views over the Sau reservoir valley from the nearby Puigdefar hill.

Is there an entrance fee? No. The ruins sit on open, undeveloped land with no ticket booth or fencing — visitors can explore freely, though care is advised given the poor structural condition.