Looking to escape Barcelona’s summertime flood of tourists? Or maybe you feel like you’ve experienced all there is to see? If you enjoy nature, history, and artistic heritage – Sabadell may be the perfect day trip for you. Located north of Barcelona, Sabadell is home to 200,000 inhabitants. Sabadell is unique in that it’s the co-capital of its comarca, or county, called Vallès Occidental. Artistry is a fundamental part of the city’s past, because the textile industry caused the population to triple in the 1800s. Some historic textile mills are still in tact and can be seen throughout your visit.

Now that we’ve covered some historical context, let’s talk about where exactly you should visit during your time in Sabadell:

Torre de L’Aigua

Locals and visitors alike consider this historic point to be the symbol of Sabadell. It can be seen from nearly anywhere in the city, and offers magnificent panoramic views of Sabadell. This type of architecture was created in the early 20^th century and can be considered as part of the modernisme movement; a literary and artistic movement to reaffirm Catalan identity and culture.

Parc Central De Valles

No matter what city you live in or visit, some green space is always nice – right? In Sabadell, look no further than Par Central De Valles. Open from 12am-12am every day, utilize the 20 acres of land to bike, jog, walk, cycle, picnic…whatever you want! Reviewers note that while it’s not the most well kept park they’ve ever been to, it’s still a beautiful place to take a stroll.

 Mercat Central

Though the market has been renovated, most recently in 2004, researchers found that this very spot has been used as a market since 1064. Tradesmen and farmers from nearby villages continue to travel to Sabadell to sell their goods. Consider taking part in this age-old tradition, and soaking in the history around you. Support the local vendors, while keeping an eye out for something special to bring back and share with Barcelona.

Museu d’Art de Sabadell

As previously mentioned, Sabadell has a rich history of valuing the arts. This art museum is a bit unconventional, because the house itself is something to marvel at. The house was owned by Pedro Turull during the 19^th century. Visitors can see private and public rooms in the house which still holds furniture and decorations from Sabadell’s industrialization period. Apart from this walk-though, visitors can view the museum’s permanent collection of art done by 19^th and 20^th century painters including Antoni Estruch, Joan Vila I Cinca, Ramon Quer, and Joan Vilatobá.

Montserrat

In case you’ve decided to extend your day trip, consider venturing a bit outside of Sabadell to visit Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. This Benedictine abbey is considered by many to be one of Catalonia’s most important spiritual sites. Already nestled into the side of Montserrat Mountain, the structure itself is a piece of gothic art. Make the trek up there (or take a cable car) for tremendous views and access to paintings from Picasso, El Greco, and Dalí.

For more information about Montserrat, you can visit their website

Sabadell can be reached by driving 35 minutes North of Barcelona. The train is probably your best bet if your looking for an easy trip. Just take the S2 train from Plaza Catalunya to Sabadell Plaza Major, and relax for the 45-minute journey.

Try taking this getaway and comparing it to the big, bustling city that we all love- Barcelona! Whether it’s at the museum, the market, or the park- we’re sure you’ll find Sabadell to be just as interesting as we do.