Rocaguinarda

Rocaguinarda is an abandoned masia — a traditional Catalan farmhouse — in the municipality of Oristà, in the Osona region, at the heart of the Lluçanès area. The building itself is now a ruin, but its name is well known locally as the birthplace of one of early 17th-century Catalonia's most famous bandits.

Where is Rocaguinarda located?

The ruins sit a few kilometers from the center of Oristà, on the rural Lluçanès plateau, close to the Cal Miquelet farmstead. The site is best reached on foot via a path from Sant Feliu Sasserra, a popular walking route among visitors exploring this part of the countryside and its historical connections.

What is the history of the farmhouse?

Records show the farmhouse existed as early as 1439, and it also appears in a 1553 tax census (fogatge) — meaning the property predates the events that later made it famous. The surviving walls date to a 17th-century rebuild. Today only the side walls and parts of the interior walls remain standing, with no roof left, though the original layout — ground floor, first floor, and attic — is still recognizable. The main facade, facing northeast, retains an imposing doorway with a semicircular arch, and the walls were built from irregular stone bound with mortar; a paved threshold at the old entrance is also still visible. Because of its historical value, Rocaguinarda is listed in Catalonia's inventory of architectural heritage.

Who was Perot Rocaguinarda?

It was at this farmhouse, on December 18, 1582, that Perot Rocaguinarda was born, son of Joan Rocaguinarda and Caterina, the farm's owners at the time. At nineteen he joined the nyerro faction led by Carles de Vilademany in Vic, and took part in an attack on the bishop's palace there in 1602. Between 1603 and 1604 he formed his own band, and by 1607 he had become one of the most notorious bandits in the Principality of Catalonia, known by the nickname "Perot lo Lladre" (Perot the Thief). His reputation reached literature — he appears as a character in the second part of Cervantes' Don Quixote. In 1611 he was pardoned and joined the Spanish army, taking command of a tercio company in Naples, where he later died.

What else is there to see nearby?

A path leads from the farmhouse ruins to the nearby Cingle dels Tres Còdols cliff, where local tradition says Perot Rocaguinarda used to hide. Carvings attributed to him are still visible on the rock, including his name along with simple drawings and maps. The route today forms part of a network of marked walking trails dedicated to the bandit's story, and the Lluçanès area also has a small interpretation center devoted to his life. It makes a fitting addition to a visit for anyone interested in local history as well as walking through Catalonia's rural backcountry.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rocaguinarda? It is a ruined masia (traditional Catalan farmhouse) in the municipality of Oristà, known chiefly as the birthplace of the bandit Perot Rocaguinarda.

How old is the farmhouse? Documents confirm its existence from 1439, while the surviving walls date from a 17th-century rebuild.

Who was Perot Rocaguinarda? A bandit born at the farmhouse in 1582 who led his own gang in the early 17th century, was pardoned in 1611, and later served as an officer in the Spanish army in Naples.

Can the surrounding area be explored on foot? Yes — a trail runs from the ruins to the Cingle dels Tres Còdols cliff, where carvings attributed to the bandit remain, and the route forms part of the popular walking paths of the Lluçanès region.