Sant Andreu Salou can be explored through both its architectural history and its route: the church and historic farmhouses provide a cultural and historical focus, while the 35-kilometre Ruta del Pla Gironès Sud runs through the town and other municipalities. This brings individual buildings and a longer route together as distinct travel interests.
The church and its Baroque altarpiece
The church of Sant Andreu Salou was first mentioned in a document in 1222. The church contains a Baroque altarpiece. It was built in 1777 and gilded in 1789; it was restored in 2022. The altarpiece’s history also includes a local event from the 20th century: residents of the town helped preserve it during the iconoclasm of 1936. Its Baroque design, an episode in its preservation and its later restoration thus mark distinct historical stages.
Farmhouses with distinct features
Cal Patxac is next to the church and is an old, extensively altered farmhouse. It has a large portal with wedge-shaped stones. Mas Calçada, also known as Gilabert, is listed in the 1553 household register of Sant Andreu Salou. The farmhouse has a basilica-style layout and a gabled roof. Wedge-shaped stones form the portal; the windows have straight lintels and moulded sills. The two houses have different architectural emphases: Cal Patxac combines extensive alterations with a large portal, while Mas Calçada also features its layout, roof and window designs.
Mas Garriga: Rural tourism and architectural history
Mas Garriga offers a different focus: the large, very well-preserved farmhouse currently operates as a rural tourism accommodation. If you are considering staying there, check current availability in advance. The original timber structure in the barn is in very good condition. Its present-day appearance likely dates from 1728, the year inscribed on the door lintel. Mas Garriga thus brings together a current use and several specific architectural features.
Ruta del Pla Gironès Sud and landscape
The Ruta del Pla Gironès Sud runs through Fornells, Llambilles, Campllong, Riudellots de la Selva, Sant Andreu Salou and Cassà de la Selva, and is 35 kilometres long. Its infrastructure includes a greenway shared with pedestrians, a two-way cycle path, a protected cycle lane outside urban areas, and a road with a 30 km/h speed limit. The route therefore features several different types of infrastructure rather than just one type of path.
The route also passes through an area of classic Mediterranean forest, with pines and holm oaks. This adds a landscape perspective to the visit to the church and farmhouses. The travel options offer distinct focuses: the buildings represent individual historical and architectural themes, while the 35-kilometre route covers several towns, with different types of infrastructure and woodland scenery.
Discover more destinations: La Pera, Peralada, Sils, Celrà , Besalú, Anglès, Calonge, Camós
For the broader travel overview: Girona.
