La Puda de Montserrat – Abandoned Spa & Graffiti Ruins

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 de Montserrat that was considerably popular decades ago. It was claimed in the 19th century that the sulphated water from the font sulfurosa could cure diseases. Today the site is also known for its urban graffiti art and attracts urbex explorers and graffiti photographers.

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 Elías 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 burgesia de 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 damaged by a significant flood and landslide after heavy rains. The intention was to rehabilitate the complex but the project never came to fruition. The ruins later became a canvas for street art and graffiti murals, making it one of the most striking balnearios abandonados in Catalonia.

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 than 500 refugees; well above its designed capacity. Today, the graffiti-covered neoclassical ruins are a popular subject for urban exploration photography and graffiti art tours.

Hiking to La Puda from Vacarisses with a Dog

The hiking route to the abandoned thermal baths of La Puda de Montserrat passes through brushland, where there is a medium possibility of encountering poisonous Pine Processionary Caterpillars in spring and summer.

La Puda is a ruin and I do not recommend entering with a dog because of the risk of falls, unstable floors and broken glass on the ground. However, the rural track from La Puda to the FGC Aeri de Montserrat station runs parallel to the Llobregat river, offering scenic views and several safe places where a dog can swim.

This medium‑difficulty hike is popular with dog‑friendly hiking enthusiasts and urban explorers, combining nature with the striking sight of graffiti‑covered spa ruins near Montserrat.

Image Gallery For La Puda Abandoned Thermal Baths

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Visiting La Puda Abandoned Thermal Baths

The current owner intends to recover the historic spa and rehabilitate the clinic, highlighting that the location is magnificent and offers many possibilities. The vision is to create a more popular establishment than in the past, generating something positive for people's quality of life. There is abundant literature describing the benefits of sulphated healing water in treating dermatological problems such as psoriasis and osteoarthritis.

At present, due to a lack of funds, investors are being sought for the rehabilitation of La Puda de Montserrat. Meanwhile, the site has suffered repeated robberies: doors, metal fixtures, fittings, and even an entire elevator car have been stolen. The council of Esparreguera has expressed willingness to invest, provided that the historical aspects of the abandoned balneario are conserved.

NOTE: The building is privately owned and not open to the public. Should you enter the ruins, be aware that the complex is extremely unstable and very dangerous, especially after heavy rainfall. Entry is entirely at your own risk, with the knowledge that you are trespassing on private property.

Urban Graffiti Highlights from La Puda

Surreal Blue-Eyed Humanoid

This surreal figure with a bulging blue eye, striped torso, and exaggerated limbs is a standout example of Barcelona’s outsider graffiti art. Painted on a decaying wall, its cartoonish distortion evokes themes of alienation and urban mutation. The expressive anatomy and playful grotesquery suggest a dreamlike rebellion against architectural decay — a visual metaphor for the ruin’s transformation into a graffiti-covered art space.

Shadowy Figures in a Collapsed Room

Inside a broken chamber, two looming figures with white masks and red mouths dominate the scene. Their exaggerated arms and haunting presence evoke street horror aesthetics, possibly symbolizing surveillance, spiritual unrest, or post-war trauma. Layered graffiti text adds cryptic depth, turning this mural into a powerful statement within the abandoned balneario environment.

Jumping Masked Creature with Red Eyes

This dynamic figure, mid-leap with antennae and red eyes, channels comic-book energy with tribal undertones. Its kinetic pose and mask-like face suggest themes of escape and transformation. Found in a deteriorated doorway, it feels like the character is leaping out of the ruin itself — a perfect symbol of urban art reclaiming forgotten space.

Mythical Bird Creature by JJS

Signed JJS 19, this mural of a reclining bird-like beast is a masterclass in anatomical fantasy. Painted in layered blues and reds, the creature’s claws and serpentine neck evoke both elegance and menace. Its placement on a corner wall creates a three-dimensional illusion, making it feel like the beast is guarding the ruin — a striking example of fantasy graffiti in abandoned architecture.

“SEE YOU IN HELL” Coffin Piece

This bold, punk-inspired mural features a floating coffin with a falling silhouette and stark white text. The red circle beneath adds theatrical drama, while the painted continuation onto a physical panel blurs the line between art and structure. It’s a provocative piece that confronts mortality and rebellion — a visual manifesto for the ruin’s defiant spirit and Barcelona’s underground graffiti culture.

Child Holding the Earth

In a quiet corner of the ruin, a child cradles a globe with both hands, casting a painted shadow that grounds the scene in realism. This emotionally resonant mural speaks to environmental awareness and generational responsibility. Surrounded by broken tiles and debris, it offers a poignant contrast — a reminder that even in decay, hope and care persist through thought-provoking street art.

Graffiti as Psychological Expression

Some of the darker murals inside La Puda’s abandoned chambers evoke intense emotional states — paranoia, withdrawal, and existential dread. The black ant-like insects crawling across the walls may symbolize the formigueo, or crawling sensation associated with drug withdrawal. Looming shadow figures with distorted limbs and dripping eyes suggest post-hit paranoia, while a coffin mural with the stark message “SEE YOU IN HELL” confronts mortality head-on, echoing themes of addiction and fatalism.

These pieces feel less like street art and more like psychological graffiti — raw expressions of trauma, addiction, and survival. They transform the ruin into an emotional archive, where the walls speak of lived experience and inner demons. Whether created by local artists or anonymous wanderers, this art adds a layer of human vulnerability to the site’s architectural decay.

What to Bring for Hiking to La Puda de Montserrat

This is a medium‑difficulty walking route, so I always carry a small rucksack with the essentials, including a first aid kit. An emergency waterproof jacket is optional, depending on the weather forecast, but highly recommended during the wetter months in Catalonia.

Take at least 1 to 2 litres of water, as there are no fountains or places to refill bottles along the trail. A head torch is useful if you plan to explore the graffiti‑covered ruins of La Puda, where broken walls and dark interiors can make visibility difficult.

Other useful items include sturdy hiking shoes for uneven terrain, snacks for energy, and gloves if you want to carefully navigate areas with debris or broken glass. For dog owners, don’t forget a collapsible water bowl and leash, as parts of the route near the Llobregat river are ideal for swimming stops.

La Puda Abandoned Thermal Baths Summary of Prices

Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Adult € 10.25 FREE Child € 10.25 FREE Not Suitable for children Group/Family Ticket? N/A Notes Walk is free, Return train tickets cost 10.25 Euros.

Getting to La Puda de Montserrat

Address: Cami de la Puda S/N, Olesa De Montserrat, 08640

The quickest way is to take the FGC train to Aeri de Montserrat and walk south, parallel to the Llobregat river, for about 2 km. This short approach is ideal for visitors who want a direct route to the abandoned thermal baths.

For those seeking a more scenic adventure, there is my 11 km hiking route starting at Renfe Vacarisses-Torreblanca on the RODALIES line R4. The trail passes via the Sant Salvador hermitage before reaching La Puda, and finishes at the FGC Aeri de Montserrat station. This longer walk combines cultural landmarks, rural landscapes, and the striking sight of the graffiti-covered ruins. (See the Wikiloc tab for GPS details.)

Vacarisses-Torreblanca belongs to the RODALIES network, while Aeri de Montserrat is part of the FGC network — making it easy to plan a linear route using public transport.