Santa Maria dels Albats

Santa Maria dels Albats is a ruined medieval chapel in Olèrdola, in the Alt Penedès comarca of Catalonia, listed in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia. It stands within the well-known Olèrdola archaeological complex, one of the region's most important sites, where Iberian, Roman, Visigothic and medieval remains overlap on a single hilltop.

Where is Santa Maria dels Albats located?

The chapel sits just outside the walls of the old early medieval town of Olèrdola, right next to the church of Sant Miquel d'Olèrdola, which served as the main parish church within the fortified enclosure. Santa Maria dels Albats, by contrast, served the population living outside the walls — hence its old Latin name, Santa Maria foris murum, literally "Saint Mary outside the wall."

What is the history behind the chapel?

The earliest written reference to the church appears in the document recording the consecration of Sant Miquel d'Olèrdola, performed by Bishop Theodoric between 911 and 937. In that document, Santa Maria dels Albats is listed as a suffragan, or subordinate, church of the main parish. The last known documentary trace dates to 1511, in the record of a pastoral visitation listing the churches dependent on Sant Miquel. After that date, the chapel disappears from the written record and gradually fell into ruin. Today only the outline of its foundations survives, enough to trace the floor plan of a small Romanesque building, though no standing walls remain.

What is the Pla dels Albats necropolis?

Surrounding the ruined church is one of the most notable medieval necropolises of anthropomorphic rock-cut graves in Catalonia, known as the Pla dels Albats. More than 150 graves carved directly into the bedrock have been documented here, making it one of the largest burial grounds of its kind in the region. A striking feature of the necropolis is the large number of very small graves, sized for infants. These graves gave the site its name: in Catalan, "albat" refers to a child who died before baptism, and the plural "albats" named both the necropolis and the chapel beside it.

How does the chapel fit into the wider Olèrdola site?

The chapel and its necropolis form part of the broader Olèrdola Archaeological Park, managed by the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya. Across the park, layers of settlement stack up over thousands of years — Iberian remains, Roman and Visigothic traces, and the medieval defensive walls surrounding the church of Sant Miquel. Together, Santa Maria dels Albats and the Pla dels Albats necropolis document the daily life and burial customs of the community that lived outside the fortified town during the early Middle Ages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Santa Maria dels Albats be visited? The ruins lie within the Olèrdola Archaeological Park, managed by the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya, and are accessible as part of a visit to the park. Check current opening hours and access details before planning a visit.

What does the name "Albats" mean? It is the Catalan word for children who died before being baptized. The name comes from the many small infant graves found in the necropolis surrounding the chapel.

How does Santa Maria dels Albats differ from the church of Sant Miquel d'Olèrdola? Sant Miquel was the main parish church inside the town's defensive walls, while Santa Maria dels Albats was a suffragan chapel serving residents who lived outside them.

Are there visible graves near the chapel? Yes — the surrounding Pla dels Albats necropolis contains more than 150 rock-cut graves and ranks among the most significant medieval burial sites of its kind in Catalonia.