La Garriga: Modernism, Roman Times and Thermal History

La Garriga brings together Roman traces, medieval buildings, Modernism and a long thermal history. If you’re looking for a hotel in La Garriga, these themes offer a practical guide to choosing your destination: you can get to know the town through its architecture, historic sites or traditions.

Modernist architecture and its stories

The Illa Raspall comprises four houses—Casa Barbey, Torre Iris, Bombonera and Casa Barraquer—built by Manuel J. Raspall between 1910 and 1913. The ensemble is protected as a Cultural Asset of National Interest. Can Raspall is considered the architect’s first work and is the starting point for La Garriga’s Modernist routes. Inside the building, you can visit the ground floor with its grand hall and the permanent exhibition “Manuel J. Raspall y el Modernismo: dibujando la Garriga”; check visitor information in advance. There is also an interpretation point about the Illa Raspall in Plaça del Silenci.

The Teatro de la Garriga–El Patronat is another of the town’s notable cultural venues. It was built between 1924 and 1926 to plans by architect Xavier Turull and is currently a performing arts venue in La Garriga. As the programme may change, check current event listings if you’re planning a visit around a performance.

Roman sites and medieval traces

The Roman villa of Can Terrers is a Cultural Asset of National Interest and one of Catalonia’s most significant rural Roman settlements. It illustrates the power of Rome in La Garriga 2,000 years ago. At the site, you can visit the warm baths and rooms once used by the Roman owners.

The La Doma complex comprises the former parish church, the Domeria buildings and the old cemetery. In the current church, the Romanesque central nave from the 12th century is the oldest part. Later works of art include a Gothic altarpiece from the late 15th century dedicated to Saint Stephen. Another medieval trace is preserved in the chapel of Santa Maria del Camí: it contains a tombstone for Quíxol or Quixilona, the daughter of Guifré el Pilós. The chapel was probably built in the late 12th or early 13th century beside the King’s Road between Barcelona and Vic. It is privately owned and can only be visited occasionally.

At the station, there is an air-raid shelter that became Catalonia’s first musealised air-raid shelter in 2006. It can only be entered as part of one of the two tours on offer. Check the latest booking information before your visit. The visitor centre also offers insight into the town’s history: walking tours and visits start there, giving you a chance to discover La Garriga and its stories.

Thermal history and landscape

The town centre of La Garriga grew up around thermal water that emerged at a temperature of over 60°C. The present-day Pou Calent was built in 1872 and still bears the year 1863, when its public use was confirmed. At Pou Calent, hot water is drawn from a depth of 65 metres at a temperature of 59°C; it is not suitable for human consumption. The “Villa termal y de veraneo” tour, also known as the Ruta Raspall, starts at Can Raspall at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Check the specific date before your visit.

Since 2014, the entire area of La Garriga has been part of the Montseny Biosphere Reserve. Local trails are mostly of medium or low difficulty, suitable for cycling and generally circular; trail conditions may change. From La Garriga, you can also take challenging excursions into Montseny on foot or by bike. Check the current conditions for your chosen route before setting off.

The Centro de Visitantes is the tourist information centre for La Garriga and Montseny Natural Park. The station is on the R3 suburban rail line in the Barcelona railway network and is a ten-minute walk from the visitor centre. As train services may change, check the current timetable before travelling. You should also check the visitor centre’s opening information in advance.

Festivals and local food culture

The first written reference to the Festa de Corpus in La Garriga dates from 1816. Every year, several generations work together to create new flower carpets in public spaces. In 2015, the festival was recognised as an Elemento Festivo Tradicional de Interés Nacional. Around Carnival, La Garriga also hosts the Feria de la Botifarra. It aims to promote local trade and the botifarra tradition; dates vary from year to year.

The most typical botifarra from La Garriga is cooked and made exclusively from meat, bacon, salt and pepper. Local butchers continue this tradition, making the sausage without preservatives or colourings using a method dating from the mid-20th century. Alongside its historic buildings, this local speciality and the way it is made are an important part of the destination’s character.

Discover more destinations: Castellar del Vallès, Rupit, Vilada, Castellgalí, Sant Vicenç Dels Horts, Calaf, Jorba, Castellbisbal.

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.