The Windmills of The King.

Molins de Rei.

Our very pleasant and friendly free now driver took us from The Ibis Styles, Saint Joan Despi to The Ibis, Molins de Rei. The staff were noticeably nicer here. Some had been nice in our first hotel and some had been incredibly rude. We were very pleased that the journey had gone smoothly, because there was a nation wide strike going on in support of the Palestinians and transport was supposed to be affected by this. There was apparently rioting in Barcelona, but thankfully Molins de Rei was very peaceful.

Our room here was fine, though not as good as in Saint Joan Despi, because there we had a kettle, a safe and a fridge. In Molins de Rei we had none of these things.

Our room.

Molins de Rei means The Windmills of the King and this name harks back to around 1188 when mills were built here by order of Alfonso II of Aragon. In 1430, Galcerán de Requesens , built a palace here, but this unfortunately fell into disrepair around 1564.

On our arrival day I took a wander around to find places to eat, the train station, supermarkets and just generally orientate myself. My first impressions were that this place looked more run down than Sant Joan Despi, but I think this was just because I was tired and the weather was dull. By the next day when I started to explore properly, I began to really like it here.

On my first day of wandering, though, I did find some beautiful buildings and interesting things to see.

View over Molins de Rei.

Wandering around on our first day.

Old buildings, Molins de Rei.

Casa Fàbrega.

Old buildings, Molins de Rei.

Houses on Carrer Carril.

Old building now used as a tattoo parlour.

Real Canal de la Infanta.

Japanese Restaurant in old building.

Foment Restaurant in old building.

That evening we decided just to eat in the hotel, because we had free drinks and the menu looked reasonable. We had chicken fingers and patatas brava. I realized I wasn't feeling too well. Peter, however, was really hungry and managed to eat most of our meal. Next day I woke up feeling fine, so I think it may just have been tiredness.

Our free drink was tiny.

Naturally we had to order more.

Patatas brava.

Chicken fingers.

Next morning I took Peter to Lidl and we bought rolls and cheese for breakfast, then went to the nearby park to eat it. The park was in front of Molins de Rei Library. There was a large chimney here, which was probably left over from Molins de Rei's industrial past

Park in Molins de Rei.

Peter's breakfast.

Peter in the park.

Molins de Rei Library.

Mural.

Peter with mural near the library.

I also took him to Placa de Catalunya to see The Ca n'Ametller a beautiful two story building covered with geometric sgraffito. Molins de Rei town hall is also on this square and there are outdoor cafes.

Town Hall in Placa de Catalunya.

Peter with the town hall.

The Ca n'Ametller.

The Ca n'Ametller.

Peter in Placa de Catalunya.

Then I took Peter back home and I went to explore the town further.

I started by going to the town market which is housed in a beautiful old building. Inside it wasn't as colourful or interesting as the market in Barcelona, but it was extremely impressive from outside. On another occasion when I passed here there were market stalls outside, too.

Mercat Municipal de Molins de Rei.

Mercat Municipal de Molins de Rei.

Mercat Municipal de Molins de Rei.

Outdoor stalls.

Outdoor stalls.

Outdoor stalls.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

Inside the market.

After looking around the market, I headed to the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel. There has been a church on this site since the thirteenth century. The original church was replaced by a newer one between 1850 and 1870. However this church was burned and dynamited during the Spanish Civil War in 1936

The present church was constructed between 1940 and 1945 by architect Joan Goma Cuevas.

The church looks very modern from the outside and I wasn't really prepared for how beautiful it would be on the inside. On the way to the church I passed a little fountain and some traces of the stations of the Cross.

Fountain outside the church.

Station of the cross.

The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel.

The first thing I noticed inside the church was the beautiful, brightly coloured stained glass. Some of this was quite modern in design and some was more traditional.

Stained glass.

Stained glass.

Stained glass.

Stained glass.

Modern stained glass.

Modern stained glass.

The altar of the church was incredible with amazing paintings and wonderful stained glass windows.

The altar.

Close up of the altar.

Stained glass around the altar.

Stained glass around the altar.

Stained glass around the altar.

There were also lots of images of the Madonna and Child, the Holy Family and several saints.

Madonna and child.

Madonna and child.

The Holy Family.

Saint.

Saint.

There were several religious paintings, too.

Painting.

Painting.

After leaving the church, I decided to go and see a few of Molins de Rei's most famous buildings. The first one was called Can Tarrago. This is a family dwelling in Modernist style.It is situated on a corner and has a courtyard behind it. This ground floor of this building was once used as a shop. This building was restored in 2018. I'm not sure if this building is still residential, but it's not possible to go inside.

Can Tarragó.

Can Tarragó.

Window.

Detail.

Further along on the same street is The Edifici de la Federació Obrera or Workers' Federation Building. This building dates back to 1922 and was once home to the Local Federation of Workers' Societies of Molins de Rei. I think there may be some kind of museum inside, but I didn't go in.

Edifici de la Federació Obrera or Workers' Federation Building.

There's a square near here with a lovely building called Casa Asensi. This Modernist building was constructed in 1913.

Casa Asensi.

Nearby there is a statue. I discovered that the Statue represents King Alfonso II and Bernat Ferrer. The King is presenting Ferrer with a parchment granting him a concession for the royal mills. I've no idea why they are both naked. Seems a strange way to depict a king and an industrialist.

Statue.

Round the corner is the Antiga Clínica i Centre Mèdic. This building was originally a school of the Sisters of Christian Doctrine. Later it became a medical clinic. Nowadays it's a residential building and only the facade is original.

Antiga Clínica i Centre Mèdic.

Antiga Clínica i Centre Mèdic.

I continued along Jacint Verdaguer, the street that the Can Tarragó and The Edifici de la Federació Obrera were located on and turned right when I reached a sign for the Font del Casats. The Font dels Casats was a Modernist fountain. It was shaped like a horseshoe and had benches around it. Now only a small part remains and there is no water in it, as most of the fountain was buried in 1973 and the stream that fed the fountain was channeled away.

Font del Casats.

Fonts del Casats.

Fonts del Casats.

Near the fountain and maybe once part of it

Close to Fonts del Casats there was a path that would take me up to Molins de Rei's ruined castle. This castle is known as Castellciuró. There's not a lot of it left, but it's still interesting to visit.

On my walk up to the castle I befriended several cats.

Smiling cat.

Lucky black cat.

View on my walk.

View on the walk up.

When I got near the castle, I could hear lots of children laughing and shouting. There was a school outing going on. The kids looked like they were having a great time.

Castle sign.

School trip.

I walked all the way around the castle and passed a house that was right next to it.

Castle tower viewed on walk around castle..

Castellciuró viewed from below..

House near the castle.

Vegetation.

Fallen leaves.

Then I took the path up into the castle. There was a man and his dog at the top, enjoying the view.

Inside Castellciuró.

One man and his dog inside Castellciuró.

Selfie with castle.

There are good views from the castle, though the sky darkened over and threatened rain when I finally got there.

View over Molins de Rei.

View over Molins de Rei.

View from the castle.

There are many hiking trails near the castle. I'd have loved to do a longer walk here, but had no real idea how long these trails were or where I would end up. Apparently this area is famous for hiking and cycling.

Hiking trails.

Hiking trails.

Castellciuró viewed from hiking path.

Castellciuró viewed from hiking path.

View from the trail.

View from the trail.

View from the trail.

View over the countryside.

From the castle I returned to the town and headed to The Renaissance Museum. It turned out to be closed. I could have waited for it to reopen but decided not to. This museum is dedicated to Renaissance Art and life in the sixteenth century. The museum is housed in in the Palau de Requesens, which was once the palace of the Requesens Family, an important aristocratic family in Molins de Rei. The palace dates back to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

The Museum.

Instead of visiting the museum, I continued exploring the town. I went to Plaça de la Creu, or Place of the Cross. This used to be where Molins de Rei's market was held. There's a large Cross here. On the wall of one building there's the faded coat of arms of the Requesens Family. There's a fountain here called the Patufet Fountain. It depicts a very small boy who features in many Catalan folk tales.

Place of the Cross.

Coat of arms of Requesens Family.

Patufet Fountain.

All around the Place of the Cross there was political Street art in support of feminism. I found huge amounts of political Street art all over the place in Spain.

Street arti the Place of the Cross.

In another area of town near Catalunya Square I found a monument dedicated to the actress Margarita Xirgu i Subirà, who was born in Molins de Rei.

Monument dedicated to the actress Margarita Xirgu i Subirà.

Monument dedicated to the actress Margarita Xirgu i Subirà.

The final place I wanted to see was the Parc de la Mariona. To get there I walked past Molins de Rei's railway station.

Train station.

The park was a large open green area with a sculpture and some sports facilities. There were a few nice flowers here. Overall it wasn't very exciting.

The Park.

Sculpture in the park.

Flowers.

Selfie in the park.

There were lots of other beautiful old buildings. I'm not sure if any are well known or not.

Old buildings.

Old building.

"Habitatges del carrer Carril, 38-42".

Casa Mas Barberà.

Casa de la Bàscula, a historic building located in Molins de Rei.

I liked this street.

There were several tiled signs on buildings that I liked and took photos of.

Bakery.

Bakery.

Tiled sign.

Tiled sign.

Pub sign.

I found lots of colourful Street art.

Street art.

Street art.

Street art.

That evening I took Peter out and we had a lovely sausage meal in Bar Patapat.

Peter in the restaurant.

Bratwurst.

Frankfurter and chips.

Selfie.