Sau Reservoir Reservoir

Address: Pantà de Sau / Sau Reservoir, Vilanova de Sau vicinity, Catalonia, Spain

Sau Reservoir (Pantà de Sau) is an artificial lake in Catalonia on the Ter River, created by damming the valley in 1962. It is notable for the remains of a village that were flooded when the valley was inundated.

The most striking sight is the partially submerged church tower of the former village of Sant Romà de Sau, which protrudes above the water when levels fall. The shoreline and surrounding hills provide viewpoints for photography and short walks, and the reservoir is used for non-motorised boating and diving in permitted areas.

The valley was flooded when the Sau Dam was completed in 1962 to create a storage reservoir on the Ter River, and the old village of Sant Romà de Sau was largely submerged. Since then the site has been managed for water supply and local recreation rather than as an inhabited settlement.

The reservoir sits in the Osona region of Catalonia amid wooded hills above the Ter valley, close to the village of Vilanova de Sau. It is within driving distance of towns in inland Barcelona province and serves as a local outdoor destination.

• Submerged church tower: The exposed church tower of the former village becomes visible at low water levels, making late summer and dry years the best time for photography.
• Creation and use: The reservoir was formed on the Ter River in 1962 and is used for local water supply and recreational activities such as kayaking and diving.

What to See#

• Sant Romà de Sau (submerged village): The partially submerged medieval village whose church tower is the reservoir’s most visible remnant; the bell tower protrudes above the waterline when levels are low and is the site’s principal visual landmark.
• Sau Dam: Concrete gravity dam that created the reservoir on the Ter River; completed in 1962 and forming the impounded lake used for water supply and recreation.

From Barcelona, drive (approximately 1-1.5 hours) north on the C-25 towards Vic and follow local roads to Vilanova de Sau. The reservoir is best reached by car; public buses serve nearby towns with limited schedules.

• Drive the loop roads to find multiple viewpoints; some vantage points require only a short walk from parking areas.
• If paddling, launch from authorized access points and avoid restricted zones for fishing or reservoirs operations.
• Late summer visits sometimes expose old village ruins; photograph the bell tower from the main viewpoint.