Can Santamaria de Raset

Can Santamaria de Raset is a historic manor house standing north of the town of Cervià de Ter, in the province of Girona, in Catalonia's Gironès region. The house occupies the site of an older medieval stronghold that once belonged to the Raset lineage, the feudal lords who gave the surrounding area its name.

What will you see?

The building as it stands today dates mainly from the 17th century and for a long period belonged to the Falgons family. A carved lintel bears the date 1643, marking a phase of rebuilding or expansion. Despite later renovations, the manor still keeps traces that are older than that inscription — Gothic-style window openings and arches decorated with carved figurative motifs, both hinting at the site's deeper medieval roots.

The layout follows a classic pattern for Catalan manor houses: a rectangular floor plan spread over a ground floor, an upper floor, and an attic level once used for storage. The most distinctive architectural feature is a tower rising above the rest of the building at its southwest corner — originally built with a likely defensive purpose, it now works mainly as a lookout point over the surrounding farmland.

On the façade, look for a sundial carrying a short poetic inscription in Catalan: "Del sol l'escalf i la llum, de la rosa el perfum" (From the sun its warmth and light, from the rose its perfume). It's an unusual detail that captures how old Catalan country houses often paired practical architecture with small, almost literary flourishes.

Can Santamaria de Raset is listed as a cultural property of local interest, reflecting its importance to the history of the Gironès area and the Ter river valley around it.

How to get there?

The manor sits within the municipality of Cervià de Ter, a short drive from Girona along the roads that link the Ter valley with nearby villages. Travelling by car is the easiest option — the trip from Girona takes roughly 20–25 minutes on local roads. The house stands outside the village centre, surrounded by farmland, so it helps to set your GPS to the coordinates 42.071938 N, 2.924237 E. The property is privately owned, so visits are usually limited to viewing the façade and tower from outside.

When to visit?

Spring and early autumn bring the most comfortable weather in the Gironès area and the best views of the surrounding fields and orchards. Summer days can get hot around midday, so a morning or late-afternoon visit works better. Winter tends to be quiet and often misty, giving the site a calmer, more atmospheric feel.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is Can Santamaria de Raset? A historic manor house in the municipality of Cervià de Ter, rebuilt into its present form in the 17th century on the site of an earlier medieval stronghold of the Raset lineage.

What's the most interesting feature to look for? The southwest tower, the Gothic-style windows, the carved arches, and a sundial with a poetic Catalan inscription on the façade.

Can you visit the inside? The building is privately owned, so visits usually mean viewing it from outside — the façade, tower, and architectural details.

Where does the name come from? It combines the medieval Raset lineage, the feudal lords of the area, with the Santamaria family linked to a later chapter of the house's history.