Sant Andreu Salou: Church, Farmhouses and Route
Accommodation in Sant Andreu Salou
Sant Andreu Salou can be considered as a place to stay from two different perspectives: the history of the church and farmhouses on the one hand, and the Ruta del Pla Gironès Sud on the other. Before choosing a hotel, you can therefore consider whether sacred art and architecture or a longer route will play a greater role in your trip.
The church and its Baroque altarpiece
The church of Sant Andreu Salou was first mentioned in a document in 1222. The church contains a Baroque altarpiece, built in 1777 and gilded in 1789. Local residents helped preserve it during the iconoclasm of 1936; the altarpiece was restored in 2022. The dates refer to different events: 1222 marks the church’s first written mention, while the later dates relate to work on the altarpiece and its preservation. This gives you two distinct historical perspectives: the church’s early documented mention and several specific milestones in the history of the altarpiece.
Farmhouses and architectural details
The 1553 household register of Sant Andreu Salou also lists Mas Calçada under the name Gilabert. The farmhouse has a basilica-style layout and a gabled roof. Other features include a portal with voussoir stones and windows with straight lintels and moulded sills. The layout describes the overall form, while the roof, portal and windows draw attention to individual components. Voussoir stones are wedge-shaped elements in the portal, while a lintel forms the upper edge of a window. These terms help you understand the architectural description both as a whole and through specific details.
Cal Patxac is an old, extensively altered farmhouse next to the church. Its large portal with voussoir stones provides a distinctive architectural feature. In comparison with Mas Calçada, this striking detail is the focus at Cal Patxac; Mas Calçada offers a more comprehensive picture through its layout, roof, portal and windows. The two houses thus provide different ways to explore rural architecture.
Mas Garriga is a large, very well-preserved farmhouse that is currently used for rural tourism; this use may change. The barn retains its original timber structure in very good condition. Its present appearance is thought to date from 1728; the year is inscribed on the door lintel. Here, both the building’s condition and the cautiously dated appearance are central.
The Ruta del Pla Gironès Sud
The Ruta del Pla Gironès Sud passes through Fornells, Llambilles, Campllong, Riudellots de la Selva, Sant Andreu Salou and Cassà de la Selva. It is 35 kilometres long. Its infrastructure includes a greenway shared with pedestrians, a two-way cycle path, a protected cycle lane outside built-up areas and a road with a 30 km/h speed limit. The route’s length gives an idea of its scale; the infrastructure features describe different types of paths and roads. These are two separate questions to consider when planning your trip: how long is the route, and what infrastructure does it include?
The landscape is another specific point of interest: along the way, the Ruta passes through an area of classic Mediterranean woodland with pines and holm oaks. This woodland adds another dimension to the information about the route’s length and infrastructure. You can therefore weigh up the historic buildings and their architecture on the one hand, and the longer route with its various features on the other, to decide which better suits your travel plans.
Discover more destinations: Vilafant, BesalĂş, Valveralla, Biure, CelrĂ , Palau Saverdera, Toses, La Vall D'en Bas
For the broader travel overview: Girona.
