La Puda de Montserrat Abandoned Thermal Baths ruins
Former luxury spa and bathhouse with sulphated water from nearby natural spring for its health properties. Known for its urban graffiti art. Private ruin.
About La Puda Abandoned Thermal Baths
At the foothills of Montserrat mountain is an abandoned Thermal bath house, clinic and Spa complex called La Puda that was considerably popular decades ago. It was claimed in the 19th century that the sulphated water could cure diseases.
In the 19th Century, administrations began to regulate everything related to hot springs and a doctor came to La Puda, discovering the medicinal properties of the water. At the time there was no building and the necessary permits were sought to construct the first modest building. In the middle of the 19th Century when a much larger project was built, fame began to skyrocket through the region. The building that is now the town hall of Olesa de Montserrat was previously a hotel that was built exclusively as a hotel for visitors to La Puda.
The Iron foot bridge was built in 1858 to a design by architect Elias Rogent to link the spa to the Esparreguera Road over the river Llobregat. However, the Bridge was never the main access to the Spa as the dedicated railway station (1922) and road access was via the other side of the river.
The peak of fame for La Puda was between the end of the 19th century and the civil war. At the time it was common for the bourgeoisie of Barcelona to visit the spa. The Water in La puda was also sold in Barcelona. There was even a railway built to expressly access La Puda.
After years of losing importance to the beaches, La Puda was abandoned during the 1970s. Before the Olympic games in Barcelona a new owner cleaned it up after the building roofs and walls were damage by a significant flood and landslide after heavy rains. The intention was to rehabilitate the complex but the project never came to fruition.
The abandoned building has great architectural value. It was designed by renowned Sabadell based architect Josep Oriol Bernadet in a neoclassical style. During the civil war the enclosure welcomed more that 500 refugees; well above it's designed capacity.
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