Can Casanovas

Can Casanovas is a traditional Catalan masia — a rural farmhouse estate — standing on the outskirts of Terrassa, in the Vallès Occidental county of Catalonia, Spain.

What kind of building is Can Casanovas?

Can Casanovas belongs to the broad family of Catalan masies: self-contained rural properties that combined a family residence with agricultural production. The building is listed as a Bé Cultural d'Interès Local (an asset of local cultural interest), a designation that protects it from demolition or unregulated alteration. Its origins go back to the 16th century, though like most masies in the region, the structure was extended and altered over the following centuries.

What does the farmhouse look like?

The main volume is covered by a gable roof with the ridge running parallel to the façade, a layout typical of Catalan rural architecture. In front of the house stands a walled courtyard, around which the working annexes of the farm are arranged. Outside the enclosed courtyard, a threshing floor (era) has survived — the flat, hardened surface once used for threshing grain, a common feature of traditional farms in this part of Catalonia.

How much land belongs to the estate?

The property comprises roughly 24 hectares of land. Ownership rests with the Terrassa town council, making Can Casanovas municipal, rather than private, property.

Is the land still farmed?

Not consistently. As of 2012, the surrounding fields were lying uncultivated, and the local council was considering bringing them back into agricultural use. A few years later, in 2018, a project was floated to turn Can Casanovas into an agro-tourism site, envisioned as an educational and cultural resource for Terrassa and the wider area.

Can visitors go inside Can Casanovas?

The masia does not currently operate as a staffed visitor attraction with regular opening hours. It stands, above all, as a piece of rural heritage architecture and a focal point for local plans to revive the farmland on Terrassa's edge. Visitors interested in Catalan rural architecture can view the building from the surrounding roads and paths in Vallès Occidental.

Frequently asked questions

What is Can Casanovas? A Catalan masia — a traditional rural farmhouse estate — in Terrassa, protected as an asset of local cultural interest.

How old is the building? Its history dates back to the 16th century.

How large is the estate? Around 24 hectares, owned by the Terrassa town council.

Is the land cultivated? Fields were left uncultivated as of 2012; later plans considered agricultural and agro-tourism use.

Where exactly is Can Casanovas located? In Terrassa, Vallès Occidental, Catalonia, at approximately 41.541, 2.025.