Can Famades

Can Famades is a historic masia — a traditional Catalan country house — in Teià, a town in the Maresme region a short distance northeast of Barcelona. Also known locally as Can Xen, the building stands on Passatge de Can Feu and forms part of the rural architectural heritage that gives Teià much of its character.

What is the history behind Can Famades?

Records place this estate at least as far back as the mid-14th century, when the property was liable for a feudal tax owed to Burriac castle. The Famades family name stayed attached to the house from that period until the late 18th century, an unusually long continuity for a single rural property in the area.

One notable episode involves Bernat Famades, a resident who in 1505 traveled with fellow townspeople to the royal court in Salamanca to petition King Ferdinand II for privileges on behalf of Teià. It's a reminder that the people living at Can Famades were engaged in the town's civic affairs, not only its farmland.

What does the architecture look like?

The original building was built in the Gothic style, with a ground floor and upper story under a two-sloped roof. A Gothic window survives from that phase, though little else remains from the earliest construction. The right-hand wing was reworked in the 17th century, giving that section a different character from the left.

By the mid-19th century the estate had been split into two separate dwellings, a division that still shapes the building today — it continues to exist as two adjoining residences under different ownership.

Can visitors go inside Can Famades?

Can Famades is a private residence, not a museum or a site with public visiting hours. One half of the building has been renovated, while the other still needs repair work. Even so, it's worth seeing from the outside while walking around Teià — the massing of the house and its surviving Gothic window offer a glimpse of what rural Maresme architecture looked like centuries ago.

The building carries formal heritage protection as a Level C cultural asset under Teià's 2015 urban planning regulations, meaning any work on its interior or surroundings requires archaeological supervision.

How do you get to Can Famades?

Teià sits in the Maresme, the coastal strip northeast of Barcelona, well connected to the city by road and rail. The house itself is on Passatge de Can Feu, in a quiet residential part of town, making it an easy stop on a short walk through Teià.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the main appeal is the exterior view, aim for a time of day with good light — morning or late afternoon bring out the facade and the Gothic window best. As with the rest of the Maresme, spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons to explore Teià, avoiding the peak summer heat.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Can Famades? No — it's a privately owned residence, and its interior is not open to visitors.

How old is the building? Documented references go back to the mid-14th century, though only a Gothic window survives from the earliest construction phase.

Why is it also called Can Xen? The estate is known locally under two names, Can Xen and Can Famades, which is common for Catalan masies that changed hands and nicknames over the centuries.

Is Can Famades protected by heritage law? Yes, it is listed as a Level C local cultural asset under Teià's 2015 urban planning regulations, which safeguards its historic fabric.