Masia de Can Sant Hilari

Masia de Can Sant Hilari is a historic farmhouse in Montgat, a small coastal town on the Maresme coast right next to Barcelona. The building is listed in the town's heritage register as a site of local cultural interest, making it one of the few surviving traces of the rural, agricultural past of an area that today is almost entirely built up.

What will you see there?

The masia is a two-storey building — ground floor and upper floor — topped with a two-pitched roof whose ridge runs perpendicular to the façade. Its most distinctive feature is the asymmetry of that roof: the left slope is noticeably longer than the right one, a detail that immediately stands out and sets this farmhouse apart from the typically symmetrical rural buildings of Catalonia. The ground-floor façade has a main entrance topped with a lintel and two large rectangular windows, while the upper floor is lit by three windows with moulded sills. Another eye-catching detail is the tall white chimney at the left corner of the roof — one of the building's most recognisable features.

The interior is not open to visitors — Masia de Can Sant Hilari is a private or functional property, so a visit is limited to viewing the façade from the outside. Even so, the unusual roofline and the window detailing make it worth a short stop while walking through Montgat.

How to get there?

Montgat sits directly on the Rodalies R1 commuter rail line connecting Barcelona with the Maresme coast, so a train ride from central Barcelona takes only a quarter of an hour or so. The town has two stations — Montgat and Montgat Nord — both within walking distance of the older, inland part of town where the building stands. Drivers can use the C-32 motorway, which runs along the coast. Keep in mind that the masia lies away from the main beach area and seafront promenade, in a quieter residential part of town.

When to visit?

Since a visit is limited to viewing the exterior, the best time to come is on a day with good light — morning or late afternoon, when the sun highlights the façade details and the white chimney well. Like the rest of the Barcelona area, Montgat gets busiest in summer, when most visitors head straight for the beaches. Spring and autumn are quieter months, better suited to a relaxed walk through the older part of town and a look at nearby heritage sites without the crowds.

What else is worth combining with a visit?

Despite its small size, Montgat has a few other points of interest, including its seafront promenade, a historic defence tower, and the parish church. Masia de Can Sant Hilari fits naturally into a walking route through the older part of town, away from the typical tourist seafront, appealing to visitors looking for less obvious, local traces of the Maresme region's history.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the inside of Masia de Can Sant Hilari? No — the building is not a publicly accessible attraction, so a visit is limited to viewing the façade from the outside.

Why is the roof of the building asymmetrical? The left slope of the roof is noticeably longer than the right one, a distinctive and unusual feature of this particular farmhouse that sets it apart from the typically symmetrical rural buildings of the region.

How do you get to Montgat from Barcelona? The easiest way is by train on the Rodalies R1 line — the journey from central Barcelona takes about fifteen minutes, and both the Montgat and Montgat Nord stations are within walking distance of the older part of town.

Is the building officially protected? Yes, Masia de Can Sant Hilari is listed in the municipal heritage catalogue as a site of local cultural interest.