The good life

The Catalan modernist bourgeoisie may have been nouveau riche, but they certainly knew what they were doing: they made summer residences, spas, art collections and haute cuisine fashionable. Nowadays, we can enjoy their approach to life for ourselves, especially in Vallès Oriental, a region where there are plenty of ways to make the most of your leisure time.

La Garriga is one of the towns in Vallès Oriental that invites you to admire the splendid mansions built for the new bourgeoisie at the turn of the 20th century. We recommend going on one of the guided tours organised by the town’s visitor centre in order to discover their many special features and fascinating stories. If you choose a Catalan modernist tour, you’ll be able to explore these jewels and the Illa Raspall, a unique set of Catalan modernist palaces.


The history of the spas in Caldes de Montbui is also closely tied to the bourgeoisie. While it’s true that the town’s spa tradition dates back to Roman times, the Catalan modernist period was its golden age. This was when the comfortable spas that have never gone out of fashion were built; their healing waters are still a major attraction. Does the beauty of the soul interest you more? Pay a visit to the Thermalia Museum and find out about the life of Manolo Hugué, a sculptor who belonged to the noucentista Catalan cultural movement. He had an admirable passion for collecting!


Would you like to round off this route through Vallès Oriental by tucking into a soupy rice dish with wild mushrooms from Montseny, cannelloni stuffed with pumpkin from Sant Feliu de Codines or roast veal with pears? No problem! The region has many restaurants with dishes that combine the refined cuisine so loved by the bourgeoisie with hearty country cooking. Grouped together as the ‘Cuina VO' platform, they aim to showcase the culinary virtues of a land with a wealth of unique, top-quality products.

  • A shopper’s heaven in the heart of Vallès? La Roca Village would have fascinated the clients of the architect Manuel J. Raspall and the friends of Manolo Hugué.


More information:

Map of Top Tourist Attractions in Vallès Oriental
Tourist Board of Vallès Oriental
Tourist Board of La Garriga
Tourist Board of Caldes de Montbui
Thermalia Museum
'Cuina VO' Platform
La Roca Village