1. The Moletons mill (Vilanova del Camí):

The Moletons mill is one of the most representative in the area, strategically located by the Anoia River. Initially used for grinding cereals, it was later adapted to other purposes, as happened with many mills in the basin. Its location clearly shows how water was a key resource to transform the landscape and drive local economic activity.

 

2. The Sala mill (Jorba):

The Sala mill is another witness to the county’s agricultural and industrial past. Like many mills, it combines history and nature, as it stands where the river provides a constant flow. Walking along the Via Blava, its presence reminds us how each village made the most of natural resources. Today, only remains are left, covered entirely by ivy.

 

3. The Blanc mill (Igualada): 

In Igualada we find the Blanc mill, one of the most unique complexes. Over time it went from a flour mill to a paper factory, a clear example of the local industry’s ability to reinvent itself. Today it is a memorial space, closely linked to the city’s papermaking past, and has become a heritage landmark. It is now the Molí Blanc Hotel.

 

4. The Cal Guarro mill (La Pobla de Claramunt):

The Cal Guarro mill, located in La Pobla de Claramunt, was one of Anoia’s most emblematic paper mills. Built in the 18th century by the Guarro family, it harnessed the river’s water power to produce paper and became a local industrial benchmark. Although it was recently demolished, its chimney still remains, reminding us of the importance of this heritage tied to the county’s papermaking tradition.

 

5. The Rigat mill (Vilanova del Camí): 

Finally, the Rigat mill is another notable stop on the Via Blava Anoia. Its structure (still visible today) and location recall the network of mills that, like a true backbone, gave life to the villages of Anoia. Each stone in its wall tells a story of ingenuity, effort, and adaptation to the environment.

 

6. Living heritage on the road

These five mills —Moletons, Blanc, Sala, Cal Guarro, and Rigat— are just a sample of the rich heritage that accompanies the Vies Blaves Anoia. More than old buildings, ruins, or hotels, they are witnesses of a way of life tied to the river and people’s work. Rediscovering them means understanding that water not only shapes the landscape but also the history and culture of the county.

Walking the Via Blava Anoia is therefore also a way to reconnect with this legacy: five jewels of stone and water that still whisper stories of the past.

Moreover, if you want to learn about the traditional craft of papermaking, you can visit the Paper Mill Museum of Capellades, where the art of making paper is still taught.