Restoration work has officially begun on the Capella dels Segadors (Chapel of the Reapers), a 17th-century building in Barcelona’s Sant Andreu district that holds a profound place in Catalan history. The project, a joint effort between the Barcelona City Council, the Archbishopric of Barcelona, and the Generalitat de Catalunya, aims to stabilise and preserve the remains of the chapel, which was declared a National Cultural Asset of Interest (BCIN) in 2022.
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The chapel, annexed to the current parish church of Sant Andreu de Palomar, is more than just a ruin; it is the recognised starting point of the 1640 Reapers’ War (Guerra dels Segadors). This conflict was a major Catalan revolt against the Spanish crown and is immortalised in Catalonia’s national anthem, “Els Segadors”.
A Cradle of Catalan History
The chapel’s historical significance stems from the events of 7 June 1640. On that morning, a large group of Catalan peasants, or ‘segadors’, gathered at the chapel after spending the night there. They took the chapel’s crucifix, the Sant Cristo, as their standard and marched from what was then the independent town of Sant Andreu de Palomar into Barcelona.
Their mission was to liberate members of the Consell de Cent (the city’s governing institution) and a deputy of the Generalitat who had been imprisoned on the orders of the Viceroy of Catalonia. The ensuing clashes, known as the ‘Corpus de Sang’ (Bloody Corpus Christi), saw the assassination of the viceroy, Dalmau de Queralt, and sparked the 12-year Reapers’ War.
Halting the Decay
Despite its protected status, the chapel has fallen into a state of severe degradation, with little more than the exterior walls and the old rectory remaining. To prevent the collapse of this symbolically important site, authorities have allocated a budget of €300,000 for the first phase of restoration.
According to reports from Metrópoli Abierta, the City Council will contribute €130,000 of this total, sourced from the city’s tourist tax revenue. The remainder will be covered by the Generalitat and the Archbishopric.
The initial work, which follows shoring efforts earlier this year, will focus on rehabilitating the roof structure and consolidating the facade walls. A key part of the project involves restoring the chapel’s brick vaults, following the geometry and structure of the originals to preserve its architectural integrity.
“This work responds to a historic neighbourhood demand that allows us to recover a part of the cultural heritage of Sant Andreu de Palomar and contributes to keeping the collective memory of the neighbourhood alive,” stated Marta Villanueva, the councillor for the Sant Andreu district.
Future Plans for the Chapel
This restoration is only the first step. A dedicated commission, comprising representatives from the City Council, the Archbishopric, the Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC), and local community groups, is already working on a second phase. This future stage will focus on the building’s interior, with the long-term goal of transforming the chapel into a new museum space for the city.
The project reflects a wider commitment to preserving and repurposing Barcelona’s architectural and cultural heritage. It follows similar initiatives, such as the ambitious plan to convert the abandoned Ideal Flor factory in Nou Barris into a major cultural hub. By safeguarding sites like the Capella dels Segadors, the city aims to protect not just bricks and mortar, but the foundational stories of Catalan identity.
