The lost medieval church of Sant Daniel de Palou

Sant Joan de Vilatorrada is no stranger to lost church buildings - its oldest, Sant Daniel de Palou, vanished more than 800 years ago, and its stones have never been found. But a medieval site remains on the hill of Sant Daniel, giving tantalising hints as to where the vanished church might lie. Built in 1114, the romanesque church of Sant Daniel de Palou is usually known as Sant Andreu de Palou, and it is thought to have been associated with this medieval site.

Where the church built in the 12th century has gone, a 18th century chapel now stands, built atop the same hill, and in the same spot as where Sant Daniel de Palou is thought to have been. Sitting atop Sant Joan de Vilatorrada, the chapel dates from 1786 and is dedicated to Saint Daniel. It is thought to have resulted from the transfer of the advocacy from the original church to this new chapel, but whether the site was intentionally built in the same spot is unclear.

Today, few signs of Sant Daniel de Palou remain. Historians suggest it once stood on the hill of Sant Daniel, but no remains of the church have yet been found.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons