Cal Jaumà

Cal Jaumà is a small traditional Catalan farmhouse (masia) in the municipality of Castellar de la Ribera, in the Solsonès region of central Catalonia, Spain.

What will you see?

Cal Jaumà, also recorded under the name Cal Jalmar, stands right next to the parish church of Sant Pere de Castellar, on a low hillock above the Salada stream, close to the road linking Solsona and Basella. It is one of the many farmhouses scattered across Castellar de la Ribera, a municipality that has never had a proper village centre — its population has always lived spread out across the countryside. What sets Cal Jaumà apart locally is its long-standing link with the church next door: the family living there has traditionally held the keys, opening the building for residents and visitors alike.

The church itself, just a few steps from the farmhouse, has Romanesque origins, although the building seen today largely dates from a 1806 rebuild that reused carved stones from the earlier structure. The first written record of the church goes back to 1037, in a will left by a man named Ramon, who bequeathed the church a mule. On the north wall, near the façade, a damaged rectangular stone block carries two circular carvings — a six-pointed floral star and a so-called "potency cross" — a small but tangible trace of the earlier stonework worth a close look while walking around the building.

The landscape around Cal Jaumà is classic Solsonès countryside: rolling hills, fields, and isolated farmhouses rather than dense settlements. Castellar de la Ribera covers just under 61 square kilometres and counts roughly 141 residents, split among three active parishes — Castellar, Clarà, and Ceuró — plus a fourth that was abandoned in the 1970s.

How to get there?

A car is the most practical way to reach Cal Jaumà. Castellar de la Ribera lies in the western part of Solsonès, along the road connecting Solsona and Basella. The farmhouse's coordinates, 42.0229 N, 1.4157 E, are worth entering into a GPS, since it sits well away from any built-up area. Solsona is the nearest larger town and the natural starting point for the drive in.

When to visit?

The area is open year-round, with no ticketing or restricted access involved. Spring and autumn bring the mildest weather, ideal for walking the surrounding hills and viewing the church from outside. Summers can get hot, and there's little shade nearby, so bring water and sun protection. After winter rain, the approach roads can turn muddy, though the rural character of the place stays much the same throughout the year.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is Cal Jaumà? A traditional masia (farmhouse) in the municipality of Castellar de la Ribera, Solsonès, standing next to the church of Sant Pere de Castellar.

Can you visit the inside of the house? No — Cal Jaumà is a private farmhouse. Its notable local role is that the family living there has traditionally kept the keys to the neighbouring church.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The church of Sant Pere de Castellar, with Romanesque roots and a 19th-century rebuild, plus the wider Solsonès landscape of scattered farmhouses.

Is the site easy to reach? It's manageable by car, though a GPS is recommended since the farmhouse lies outside any village centre.