Cassà De La Selva: Cork, Culture and Nature

Cassà de la Selva brings together a cycling route through the town, the cork industry, architectural history, and the natural landscape of Les Gavarres. These themes can help guide your search for a hotel: would you like to plan your stay around cycling, culture and events, or the landscape? In Cassà, you’ll find specific points of interest for each of these perspectives.

Cycling Route and Cork Traditions

The Carrilet Greenway runs through Cassà, connects Girona with the Costa Brava, and is part of EuroVelo 8. For a cycling-focused trip, this is a clear point of reference: the route passes through the town and also connects with these two destinations.

The cork industry also shapes the town’s events. Since 2017, the Fira del Tap i el Suro has been held in late May or early June. This weekend-long industry event highlights the cork industry and its local roots in most of the municipalities around Les Gavarres. A long-distance cycling route and a cultural and economic theme tied to a specific time of year thus appeal to different travel-planning interests.

Architectural History, Art and Culture

The parish church of Sant Martí brings together several architectural periods: it has Romanesque origins, with its Gothic features dating from the 16th century. Its façade includes Renaissance elements, while the transept arms contain Neoclassical chapels. The “Joies de Cassà” exhibition displays church treasures in the area of the dels Dolors chapel in this parish church.

Can Frigola and Torre Salvana form a 16th-century Gothic complex consisting of a house and a defensive tower. The tower was used as a prison. Another cultural hub is the Centre Cultural Sala Galà, which houses Cassà’s public library, the music school and the Josep Lloveras art school, as well as an auditorium for talks and cultural events.

ParcArt explores another art form: it is an open-air sculpture garden with an extensive collection of almost 350 sculptures. The Can Vilallonga estate, meanwhile, is home to a historic waterworks complex. It includes an old mill, several weirs and basins, and three aqueducts. Together, its individual structures give a vivid picture of the varied components of this waterworks complex.

Events and Landscape

The Càntut festival takes place in autumn at several venues in Cassà, both outdoors and indoors. It draws on traditional songbooks. At the annual Nit dels Músics, more than fifty people from Cassà perform in a large cobla. They play only sardanas by musicians associated with Cassà. If you’re planning your trip around the Fira, Càntut or Nit dels Músics, check the dates and programme details for the relevant edition.

Cassà de la Selva is a gateway to the natural landscape of Les Gavarres. This low mountain range is characterised by cork oak forests and provides habitats for Mediterranean woodland flora and fauna. The “De l’arbre al tap, del tap a taula” experience takes place in Cassà de la Selva and Palafrugell. In June and July, it offers a look at cork harvesting in Les Gavarres and includes breakfast with local products.

The cork-related experiences offer different perspectives: the Fira focuses on the cork industry and its local roots, while the seasonal experience offers a look at cork harvesting and includes breakfast with local products. Together with the architecture and music themes, they show that this destination has more to offer than a single attraction or activity.

Discover more destinations: Flaçà, La Vall D'en Bas, Palamós, Vilaür, Les Preses, Sant Jordi Desvalls, Sant Ferriol, La Cometa.

For the broader travel overview: Girona.