Canovelles brings together three distinctive themes in its local history: the Romanesque church in the historic town centre, archaeological traces from several periods and routes that also take in rural areas of the municipality.

Romanesque Architecture and Local History

Canovelles’ old town has medieval origins. It is home to the Església de Sant Fèlix, one of the few buildings in Catalonia in the First Romanesque style. The church is on Carrer de l’Església, a very narrow pedestrian street. This places a prominent architectural landmark and the history of the town centre as a whole side by side as different points of interest.

An elevated, quiet spot in the old town offers views of the Canovelles landscape and the nearby towns of Les Franqueses del Vallès and Granollers. This view complements the perspective on architectural history with the surrounding area: the town centre can also be seen in relation to the landscape.

Archaeological Traces and a Fortified House

The Ca l'Estrada 2 archaeological site shows that this area was inhabited in several periods, from the Neolithic to the present day. The finds include hearths, four round huts with stone floors and the Menhir Statue. A burial area, slightly separated by a palaeochannel, contains four individual pit graves; they included grave goods.

The Domus d'Olivet offers a different historical perspective. It probably dates from the late 10th or early 11th century and was initially intended for the defence and control of the area at a crossroads. It was later converted into a fortified house. The historical themes therefore range from settlement over several periods to a single building with a probable date and a change in function.

Routes Between the Town Centre and the Landscape

The three “Passejades per descobrir Canovelles” routes pass through the municipality, linking farmhouses, fields and forests with notable areas of the town centre. One route, called “Nucli antic de Canovelles, Can Cuana i veïnat de Sanaüja”, starts at Ronda Nord. It passes through the old town, by the Font de Can Duran, as far as the hamlet of Can Cuana, and continues through the rural part of the municipality.

Along this route, you can enjoy panoramic views of the cliffs of Sant Miquel del Fai, the Montseny and the Congost plain; it also offers insights into the rural landscape of Canovelles. The route thus connects local history and landscape, while the three routes together also take in farmhouses, fields and forests.

Market, Festival and Getting There

The Sunday market is held every Sunday throughout the year on Passeig de la Ribera, along the stretch between the Guardia Civil barracks and the municipal boundary with Les Franqueses del Vallès. The Festa Major de Canovelles takes place in the last week of July. It is symbolically divided into two groups, Cans and Ovelles, and includes numerous activities open to everyone. If you are planning a trip for this time of year, it is worth checking the specific event dates and programme for that year’s edition.

For rail travel, Granollers-Canovelles station is served by the R3 Rodalies line between l’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Puigcerdà. If you are planning to travel by train, check the current timetable for your intended travel date.

Discover more destinations: Sant Cebrià De Vallalta, Tona, La Pobla De Lillet, Les Masies De Voltregà, El Corral D'en Cona, Canet De Mar, L'Estany, Prats de Lluçanès.

For the broader travel overview: Barcelona.