Tresors monumentals sorprenents de l’Anoia
In this excursion to Capellades and La Pobla de Claramunt we can delve into pre-history, make artisan paper and climb Claramunt castle. Let's go!
CAPELLADES PREHISTORIC PARK
An extraordinary treasure has been found in L'Anoia: the remains of a skull belonging to a Neanderthal who lived more than 60,000 years ago. This ancestor of ours lived in Abric Romaní in Capellades, and it has taken more than 40 years of continuous archaeological excavations to come across the find. The discovery, made last August, is highly significant since it has elevated Abric Romaní to the podium of the world's most important archaeological sites for learning about the social and cultural behaviour of our ancestors. Abric Romaní is one of the sites forming part of the Capellades Prehistoric Park. It can be visited and is located amongst the curious geological features of the Capelló cliffs, where Capellades peers over the river Anoia.
MUSEU MOLÍ PAPERER
Without moving from Capellades you can visit another of its iconic attractions, the Museu Molí Paperer (papermill museum), which shows the legacy of an important industry. During the 18th and 19th centuries the town was one of the most important paper-producing centres in the country and achieved international renown. The museum explains the history of paper from its origins, to modern-day production techniques. Hand-made paper continues to be made in the basement of the mill. In fact, amongst the educational activities available is one where visitors can make recycled paper, emphasising the need for recycling and sustainability.
The papermill in Capellades was not the only one in the area. The 'Paper Route' (Els Camins del Paper) consists of 5 routes that explain the legacy of an industrial landscape comprising the river Anoia, the streams, dams, weirs and papermills.
CLARAMUNT CASTLE
L’Anoia is also a land of castles. Many were built between the 10th and 11tgh centuries to protect the lands bordering those conquered by the Muslims. One of the Castles to acquire the most power was Claramunt castle, located in La Pobla de Claramunt, next to Capellades and towering over the Guàrdia mountain range, from where it protected the Conca d’Òdena.
It has the classic structure of 12th-century castles, having two walled precincts: an upper precinct containing the residential area, the Gothic hall and four towers, and the lower precinct that housed the castle services and which is today a large courtyard surrounded by walls. It's an ideal place to take the kids because the footpath leading there is full of surprises: La muntanya dels nens (or "kids' mountain") pulls you into the surroundings through games, experimentation, fun and action.
