A busy Spanish city that’s just 30 minutes from Barcelona has established itself as a financial hub over the years. Known as “Manchester of Catalonia” due to its industrial past, Sabadell is a city in the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain.
The city began as an Iberian and Roman settlement called Arragona, but it later became a medieval fief under the control of the Castle of Arahona. Sabadell’s buildings are mostly modern, as many older churches and structures were destroyed in riots in 1835 and 1909. The name Sabadell appears in historical records from this time.
It was incorporated as a royal village, meaning it gained municipal rights within the Kingdom of Aragon. By the 19th century, it became a city, largely due to its role as a major textile centre. The introduction of motor-driven mills further boosted its industrial growth.
Although its textile industry played a key role in its past, today, Sabadell has diversified industries, including metallurgy, chemical production, electrical goods and leather products.
Apart from its modern and industrial heritage, the populous city has several tourist attractions to visit. Sant Fèlix Church is a historic church with a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles and houses important religious artwork.
One of the tourists wrote on TripAdvisor forum: “In the center of Sabadell, this small cathedral is worth a visit. Outside, it’s very beautiful, and inside, well, the vaulted ceilings and overall beauty give a feeling of awe, which doesn’t always accompany a visit like this.”
The largest park in Sabadell is Parc de Catalunya and is ideal for walking, biking, and picnics. The park features a large lake, gardens, and a model train circuit.
Tourists can explore Mercat Central de Sabadell for fresh local products. The market is extremely popular among the visitors who have shared their experiences on TripAdvisor forum.
One user wrote: “I travelled from Sants train to Sabadell and the journey took around 35 minutes, the cost of the return trip was 7.70 euros. The market is less than a 15-minute walk from the train station, Sabadell Central. After a little wander around, (not all the stalls were open on the Monday I went) I had breakfast at the popular tapas bar. Large chocolate croissant and a coffee for 2.60 euros. The toilets are located outside of the building.”
A second user said: “A very nice building in the pedestrian center of Sabadell. The market has many high-quality local shops at reasonable prices. A flea market is set up on Mondays and nearby fruit and vegetable stops almost every morning.”