La Novella Alta

La Novella Alta is a historic masia — a traditional Catalan rural estate — standing along the Camí de Linyola in the municipality of Vila-sana, in the Pla d'Urgell region of Catalonia. The property is listed in the Catalan Architectural Heritage Inventory as a representative example of the region's farmhouse architecture.

What will you see there?

At the heart of the complex stands the original masia with its distinctive tower, surrounded by a cluster of agricultural outbuildings. The main house is notable for its imposing ashlar stone portal, a hallmark of Catalan rural construction, along with windows and balconies framed in carved stone — a detail typical of the more prosperous farming estates of the Pla d'Urgell plain.

The surrounding farm buildings were added from 1940 onward, designed by architect Emili Bofill Benessat. It was at this point that the old masia was transformed into a large agricultural and livestock operation. For many years afterward, the estate functioned as an agricultural colony known as Serra Balet — a settlement model that combined farm work with on-site housing for laborers, common across rural Catalonia in the first half of the 20th century.

Standing isolated amid cultivated fields, the whole complex forms a harmonious, quiet scene that blends naturally into the surrounding farmland — one of the classic views that define this part of Catalonia: wide open fields, scattered clusters of buildings, and the towers of old masies visible from a distance.

How do you get there?

La Novella Alta sits along the Camí de Linyola, the road connecting Vila-sana with neighboring Linyola, right in the heart of the Pla d'Urgell region in Lleida province. Its coordinates are 41.6575, 0.90775. The easiest way to reach it is by car, as the surroundings are typical farmland crisscrossed by local roads; the nearest larger city, Lleida, is less than 30 kilometers away. The flat terrain and short distances between the area's masies and villages also make it well suited to exploring by bicycle.

When should you visit?

Spring and early autumn are the best times to visit, when temperatures on the Pla d'Urgell plain are milder than in peak summer and the surrounding fields look their most striking — green in spring, and colored by the harvest in autumn. Summers here can be very hot and dry, which is worth keeping in mind if you're planning longer walks or bike rides through the area.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside La Novella Alta? The property is a working private farm, so visits are essentially limited to viewing the buildings and their setting from the outside — it is not a museum or a tourist site with regular public access.

What exactly is a masia? A masia is the classic Catalan form of rural residence, combining living and farming functions, often with defensive features such as a tower — traits clearly present in the architecture of La Novella Alta.

What was the Serra Balet agricultural colony? It's the name under which the estate operated for many years after its 1940s transformation into a larger farming and livestock complex, designed by architect Emili Bofill Benessat.

Is it worth combining with other sights in Pla d'Urgell? Yes — the region is dotted with similar historic masies and small farming villages, making it a good base for a longer countryside route rather than a single standalone stop.