Discover Gaià: Romanesque architecture, nature and traditional festivals

Culture

Gaià has numerous religious buildings, most of which were built in the Romanesque style between the 10th and 12th centuries.

Sant Andreu del Genescar was first mentioned in the 10th century. It is a single-nave chapel with a semicircular barrel-vaulted roof. The chapel was restored in 2010.

Sant Esteve de Vilaramó was formerly a parish church and has gradually become a rural chapel. It still preserves parts of its 12th-century Romanesque structure.

Santa Àgata stands on the site of a defensive embankment that formed part of the walls of the former castle of Gaià. The small chapel is made of regularly cut ashlar stones and has a small bell gable for a single bell.

Sant Jordi de Lloberes was rebuilt at the beginning of the 13th century according to Romanesque principles.

Gaià Castle is considered a particularly important element of Gaià’s medieval history. The remains of fortified structures and other possible scattered medieval structures have survived.

The Comunidor de Gaià is located between the parish church of Gaià and the rectory on the edge of the plateau, overlooking a gorge. It is one of the few surviving examples of this type of building in Catalonia. The Comunidor de Gaià was used to drive away evil spirits and ward off storms.

The elevated location of Gaià Castle offers views in every direction.

Landscape

Gaià is a mountainous municipality. In the northeast, elevations range from 500 to 700 m, while in the southwest they range from 300 to 500 m.

The Riera de Gaià stream crosses the municipality from Pinós to Colònia Soldevila in Balsareny.

Gaià has transitional vegetation between mid-mountain and Mediterranean conditions. Aleppo pines and black pines are particularly common.

The wildlife in inland Gaià includes wild boar, rabbits, hares, hedgehogs, moles, squirrels and owls.

Find more destinations here: Granollers, Puig-Reig, Sant Fost de Campsentelles, Tavèrnoles, Begues, Sant Sadurní D'anoia, Santa Perpetua De Moguda and Orpí.

Festivals and routes

The Aplec de Santa Àgata is a traditional gathering on the hill with the Santa Àgata chapel and the remains of Gaià Castle. The Aplec includes walking up the hill, a sung Mass and breakfast with coca and chocolate.

The Festa Major de Gaià takes place on the first weekend in September. It begins on Saturday evening with dancing for everyone and continues throughout Sunday.

The Festa Major also includes a Sunday midday Mass and games for children on Sunday afternoon.

The Romanesque Route XIV.2 – Between Balsareny and Gaià passes through the municipality of Gaià in a very rural area characterised by extensive forests.

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