Torre de Can Pujades

Torre de Can Pujades is a medieval defensive tower standing at the southeastern edge of Teià, a small town in the Maresme comarca, about fifteen kilometers northeast of Barcelona. The tower is part of a former mas (traditional Catalan farmhouse estate) and is listed in Catalonia's Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

How do you get there?

Teià sits slightly inland from the Maresme coastline, between Premià de Mar and El Masnou. Driving is the most convenient option, since the town connects directly to the C-32 motorway and the N-II national road. Travelers without a car can take a train to Premià de Mar or El Masnou station and continue by local bus or taxi into Teià's center. The tower itself stands within the grounds of a sports club on the eastern side of town, so it's worth checking access hours before visiting.

What's the history behind the tower?

The earliest documented references to the estate date back to the start of the 16th century: in 1505 the property belonged to Pere Noguera, then the town's bailiff, and a 1553 record cites it as mas Noguera de la Torre. The estate's fortunes were shaped by the War of the Spanish Succession — in 1714, Bourbon troops burned the farmhouse buildings standing at the time. After it was rebuilt, the property took on the name Can Pujades, then owned by Manuel de Sentmenat. The tower itself survived these events at its original height, though it underwent repairs and alterations over the following centuries.

What will you see on site?

The centerpiece of the complex is a circular tower in the northern part of the grounds, which together with an adjoining building forms the oldest construction phase of the whole estate. The tower rises three stories and retains Gothic-style windows typical of the region's medieval defensive architecture. A loophole (arrow slit) is still visible on the ground floor, a reminder of the tower's original defensive purpose. A restoration campaign in the 1960s added the merlons — the crenellated, tooth-like parapet — that now crown the tower and give it its most recognizable silhouette from the outside.

Today the building serves as the headquarters of the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona-Teià, meaning the grounds around the tower are laid out as a sports club facility, with the tower itself remaining the historic centerpiece and landmark of the complex.

When is the best time to visit?

Maresme enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate, making a visit comfortable nearly year-round. Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) bring pleasant temperatures without the summer heat and beach crowds that fill the coastal towns nearby. Summer tends to be hot and humid, better suited to the beach than to exploring historic buildings on foot.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the tower? The building sits on the grounds of a private sports club (Real Club de Tennis Barcelona-Teià), so interior access may be limited to club members or occasional open events. It's worth checking locally in advance.

How old is the tower? The earliest documented references to the estate go back to the early 16th century, though the tower's construction — judging by its Gothic architectural features — may actually predate the earliest surviving records.

Where does the name Can Pujades come from? The name comes from the Pujades family, who took over the estate after it was rebuilt following the destruction of 1714, replacing the earlier name mas Noguera de la Torre.

What are the merlons on top of the tower? They were added during a 1960s restoration — a crenellated parapet echoing medieval defensive architecture stylistically, though it isn't an original feature from when the tower was first built.