Puigdàlber and Pacs del Penedès have unveiled a new cultural heritage map, developed with the support of the Diputación de Barcelona. The map documents a total of 185 heritage elements, including buildings, farmhouses, archaeological sites, movable and documentary items, festivals, oral traditions, popular music, and natural spaces, providing a comprehensive overview of the local heritage typical of the Alt Penedès region.
The Cultural Heritage Office of the Diputación de Barcelona has incorporated two new cultural heritage maps for the Alt Penedès area, one for each municipality. Despite differences in size and the number of documented elements, both maps offer a broad perspective on the local heritage of Penedès. They not only include buildings and archaeological sites but also highlight movable items, festivals, oral traditions, popular music, and natural spaces, all of which contribute to the value of a heritage closely linked to the rural landscape, vineyard culture, and the history that has shaped the region.
Puigdàlber: a small municipality with rich heritage
With an area of just 0.63 km², Puigdàlber is the smallest municipality in Catalonia. Its new map identifies 37 heritage elements, predominantly buildings. Key sites include the parish church of Sant Andreu, the main monumental reference of the village; the Casa Josep Parellada, known as l’Estanc; and the Quadra del Gorner, a group of three historic farmhouses linked to the agricultural and viticultural landscape. The map also reveals less visible yet significant elements of local identity, such as the capelletes, small religious figures that circulate among homes following a set calendar, and the Caramelles, local festivities, along with the legend of the bells of Serral.
Pacs del Penedès: a landscape of farmhouses and archaeology
The Cultural Heritage Map of Pacs del Penedès, delivered to the town hall on 6 October, documents 148 elements, with 113 related to immovable heritage. The map highlights the central square, which includes the square itself, the Casa de la Vila, and various buildings that illustrate the village's historical evolution, such as the Torre de l’aigua. It also records a significant number of masos (traditional farmhouses), rural houses, sínies (storage buildings), and cellers (wineries), reflecting the municipality's deep connection to agriculture, vineyards, and winemaking.
Notably, Pacs del Penedès boasts rich archaeological heritage, with 18 sites indicating continuous occupation since prehistoric times. Among the most significant is the Roman villa of la Rectoria or Mas d’en Boixos. The map also highlights a Republican airfield built during the Spanish Civil War, which includes two documented shelters, providing opportunities for further research and interpretation.
In terms of movable heritage, the map features a collection of typewriters belonging to Josep Rabanillo and items related to viticulture and winemaking, including a collection of wine boots that reinforce the narrative of the municipality's winemaking identity.
For over 26 years, the Cultural Heritage Office of the Diputación de Barcelona has been creating cultural heritage maps for municipalities in the province upon request. Including those of Puigdàlber and Pacs del Penedès, a total of 243 municipalities now have their own heritage map. The development of these maps aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 4 'Quality Education' and Goal 10 'Reduced Inequalities'. The 17 SDGs were proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015 and form part of the global agenda for 2030. The Diputación de Barcelona is committed to supporting local governments in the province in accordance with these goals.
