Can Creus

Can Creus is a former masia — a traditional Catalan country farmhouse — standing in Premià de Dalt, in the Maresme comarca on the hills above Barcelona. The building sits in landscape typical of the area: rolling terrain where stone farm buildings once mixed with vineyards and market gardens for generations.

What exactly is a masia?

A masia is the classic Catalan rural estate: a sturdy stone farmhouse, usually with thick walls, small windows and a gabled roof, built to cope with both the summer heat and the damp coastal winters. Around the main house, farm buildings would typically cluster — barns, tool sheds, sometimes a small family chapel. Can Creus fits this pattern as one of the estates scattered across the hills of Premià de Dalt, a reminder of the region's farming past, before the Maresme became known for its greenhouse agriculture and coastal tourism.

Where exactly is Can Creus?

The property lies within the municipality of Premià de Dalt, on higher ground set back from the coastal strip of Premià de Mar. That inland, elevated position is typical of many masies in the Maresme, and it wasn't accidental: farming families historically built away from the shoreline to avoid pirate raids and salt-laden humidity, while gaining more fertile, better-sunned land on the hillside slopes.

How do you get to Premià de Dalt?

The easiest way from Barcelona is the Rodalies train (line R1) to Premià de Mar station, then a short trip inland to Premià de Dalt — the distance between the two towns takes just a few minutes by local bus, taxi, or on foot uphill. Drivers can take the C-32 motorway and exit toward Premià de Dalt or Vilassar de Dalt; the whole area sits roughly 25–30 kilometers northeast of central Barcelona, making it an easy day-trip destination.

What will you see around it?

Seen from outside, Can Creus shows the architecture typical of Catalan masies — stone walls, plain volumes and restrained detail, a contrast to the more ornate mansions built during the region's seafaring trade heyday. Around it stretches the characteristic Maresme landscape of rolling hills, where old vine terraces have often given way to housing and greenhouses. From the higher parts of Premià de Dalt, views open toward the Mediterranean on one side and inland toward the first slopes of the Corredor massif on the other.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the Maresme hills, with milder temperatures than midsummer and generally clearer views toward the coast. In summer, plan an early morning or late afternoon visit to avoid the hottest part of the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside Can Creus? It's a former private estate, so visits are generally limited to viewing the building's exterior and the surrounding countryside rather than entering the house itself.

What's the difference between Premià de Dalt and Premià de Mar? Premià de Mar is the coastal town with a beach and seafront promenade, while Premià de Dalt sits inland on the hills — a quieter, more residential area with a historically agricultural character.

What's the fastest way to get there from Barcelona? Take the Rodalies R1 train to Premià de Mar, then a short local connection or a car ride inland to Premià de Dalt.

What else is worth seeing in the Maresme comarca? The area is known for its historic masies scattered across the hills, coastal towns like Mataró and Vilassar de Mar, and a landscape that bridges the shoreline with the first slopes of the Corredor and Montnegre mountains.