El Bovalar

El Bovalar is an archaeological site containing a basilica divided into three sections, a baptistery for religious rituals, a burial ground, and residential buildings arranged around shared spaces. Excavations from 1943 to 1987 uncovered many objects including religious vessels and a bronze container, now kept at the Lleida Museum.

The settlement and its basilica were founded in the 5th century during the Visigothic era as a functioning community center. It was destroyed by fire in 713 AD when Muslim forces invaded the region.

The site shows how people earned their living through farming and crafts. Tools, grain, a mill for pressing oil, and woolworking equipment reveal the daily activities and trades that sustained the community.

The site sits on flat ground with ruins that are easy to walk around and observe from different angles. Bring sturdy shoes and be prepared for limited shade, especially during warmer months.

The baptistery features a reinforced barrel vault held up by six columns with horseshoe-shaped arches. This construction method shows remarkably advanced building skills for an early medieval structure and looks surprisingly sophisticated.