Cassà de la Selva (Girona): music, cork and nature between Les Gavarres and La Selva

Cassà de la Selva, officially known in Catalan as Cassà de la Selva, is one of those municipalities that surprises travellers who decide to venture a few kilometres away from the city of Girona or the beaches of the Costa Brava. Located in a strategic spot, just 14 kilometres from the provincial capital and about 20 kilometres from coastal towns such as Platja d’Aro and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Cassà is a place that combines history, musical tradition, an architectural legacy marked by modernism and, above all, a deep connection with the world of cork.

With the Les Gavarres massif on one side and the La Selva plain on the other, this town has developed over the centuries as a place of passage, exchange and production. Today, Cassà retains that spirit, proudly displaying its historical roots, cultural identity and privileged natural environment.

cassa de la selva catalonia

A town with ancient roots

From the vestiges of the Palaeolithic era to the effervescence of modernity, Cassà has been a coveted location, an enclave that has managed to reinvent itself without losing its soul. Its foundations date back to the Middle Ages, when a small settlement was built around the primitive Romanesque church of Sant Martí, a masterfully chosen location on a hill overlooking the fertile plain, well connected and sheltered by the Les Gavarres massif. The town, which was once declared a ‘street of Gerona’ in order to enjoy the same privileges as the capital, has witnessed feudal violence, bloody assaults on the castle and the struggle for jurisdiction, but also moments of prosperity that marked its destiny.

crops in cassa de la selva

The rise of the cork industry

The history of Cassà de la Selva cannot be understood without the profound mark left by the cork industry. It was from the 17th century onwards, with the introduction of the trade of ‘cork maker’, that the municipality underwent a radical transformation. What began as a modest job became, in the 19th century, the driving force behind unprecedented economic and demographic expansion. The arrival of the railway, at the height of its popularity, not only boosted the town’s connectivity with Girona and the port of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, but also opened the doors to the internationalisation of its main product.

cassa de la selva among bushes

This period of economic prosperity led to a cultural and architectural boom. Wealthy families, enriched by the cork business, built mansions and unique buildings with clear influences from Modernism, leaving a legacy that we can admire today in façades such as those of Can Nadal, Can Trinxeria and La Sala Galà. This legacy is a silent testimony to how a natural material, the bark of a tree, forged the identity of a town and shaped its urban landscape. The journey of a cork stopper, from the forest to a bottle of wine, is the thread that tells the story of Cassà. The Cork Stopper and Cork Fair, held every year, is the perfect showcase to pay tribute to this vital engine, which is still alive and well in the local economy today.

figueras house

A town with its own soundtrack: musical tradition

If cork is the economic heart of Cassà, music is undoubtedly its heartbeat. The town has a rich musical tradition dating back to the 19th century, with a special role played by the coblas de sardanas (traditional Catalan dance bands). Renowned coblas such as La Principal de Cassà and La Selvatana have brought musical prestige to the town both within and outside Catalonia.

Today, Cassà maintains a busy cultural agenda centred on music. Some of the most notable events are:

  • La Nit dels Músics Cassanencs: an unmissable event that opens the town’s annual festival with performances by local musicians.
  • Solfejant: a series of concerts during the summer that fill the nights of July and August with melodies in the town square.
  • Cassà es vesteix de música: a day when the town is filled with concerts of different genres.
  • La Nit del Cremat: a unique evening that combines music and tradition.
  • Festival Càntut: one of the most recent projects, focused on recovering and reinterpreting traditional oral singing.

Thanks to these celebrations, Cassà has earned a place on the cultural map of Girona as a ‘town of musicians’, and its artistic vitality is one of its hallmarks.

music in cassa de la selva

Architectural heritage: from Gothic to Modernism

Strolling through the historic centre of Cassà is to discover how different eras have left their mark. The town hides little gems that are worth exploring:

  • Parish Church of Sant Martí: Built in the 16th century in the Gothic style, it preserves the remains of Roman constructions inside. It is the heart of the old town and the starting point of the town’s history.
Parish Church of Sant Martí
  • Modernist buildings: In addition to those already mentioned, a stroll through the town allows you to discover the elegance of Modernism, reflecting the splendour of the cork industry.
girones house
  • Old railway station: Renovated, it is now a cultural space where exhibitions and events are held. A symbol of Cassà’s transformation from its railway past to its cultural present.
estacion de tren cassa de la selva

In addition, the municipality is home to traditional farmhouses that recall the rural life of yesteryear, such as Can Vilallonga, now converted into a centre for interpreting the natural and ethnological heritage of Les Gavarres.

Nature and waterways: The secret of Les Gavarres

Cassà de la Selva is proud of its natural environment, a diverse and contrasting landscape. On the one hand, there are the vast forests of cork and holm oak trees in the Les Gavarres massif, a refuge for local fauna and flora, including ungulates and carnivores. On the other hand, there are the floodable hay meadows of Esclet, a protected area that is home to numerous species of amphibians.

sunset in cassa de la selva

This environment is the perfect setting for immersion in nature, through a network of paths and routes that allow you to discover the heritage in a sustainable way. Among these, the following stand out:

  • The water itinerary on the Can Vilallonga estate. This route takes us to a medieval hydraulic complex, with an old mill, several locks and, most surprisingly, a series of aqueducts that carried water from the streams. It is a path that reveals the importance of water management in the area, a ‘secret’ of the town that connects us with the ingenuity and industriousness of its inhabitants over the centuries.
  • The aqueducts of Can Vilallonga are a marvel of popular engineering. Three structures, built with masonry, lime and brick, demonstrate how water was harnessed to irrigate the orchards, operate the mill and supply the farmhouse. The largest, 18 metres long, stands majestically over a stream, spanning a height difference of 5 metres.

Cassà is also part of the Carrilet Greenway, which connects Girona with Sant Feliu de Guíxols, following the route of the old railway line. It is one of the most popular cycle routes in the province and offers a sustainable way to explore the region.

For nature lovers, Cassà is the ideal starting point for exploring Les Gavarres and enjoying the fauna, flora and rural heritage in a unique setting.

Carrilet greenway cassa de la selva

Events and fairs

In addition to its musical calendar, Cassà has a rich programme of fairs and festivals that reflect its dynamic character:

  • MACCA (Cassà Animation and Short Film Festival), in February.
  • Fira del Tap i del Suro, in June, a tribute to the cork-making tradition.
  • Fira de Santa Tecla, in September, with cultural and popular activities.
  • Festival Càntut, in November, dedicated to traditional oral music.

These celebrations make Cassà a lively municipality throughout the year, where tradition, culture and leisure go hand in hand.

concerts in cassa de la selva

What to see and do in Cassà de la Selva

In addition to the monuments and routes already mentioned, there are other points of interest in Cassà de la Selva:

  • Puig del Castell: remains of an Iberian settlement that show the remote origins of settlement in the area.
  • Camino Real a Sant Feliu de Guíxols: a restored section of the old road that linked Girona with the coast.
  • Esclusa de la Capçana: an old hydraulic system that creates an environment of great scenic value.
  • Parc Art: An open-air museum of contemporary sculptures, an art space that contrasts with the rural and natural landscape.

Cassà combines history and modernity, nature and culture, in a balance that attracts both travellers seeking peaceful routes and those who prefer to immerse themselves in local tradition.

How to get to Cassà de la Selva

Its proximity to Girona and the Costa Brava means that Cassà is very well connected:

  • By bus: there are regular services from Girona, with a journey time of approximately 20 minutes.
  • By car: it is easily reached via the C-65 road, in about 15-20 minutes from Girona.
  • By taxi: a quick but more expensive option, with journeys costing around €30-40.

Girona-Costa Brava Airport is only 10 minutes away, making Cassà an accessible option for both domestic and international travellers.

What to see around

Here is a list of places we have marked on the map that you can include in your itinerary to make your visit to the Costa Brava even more complete:

  • Sa Tuna: a cove surrounded by nature on the Costa Brava. 48 minutes away on the C-31 motorway.
  • Santa Cristina de Aro: a corner nestled among the mountains of the Costa Brava. 17 minutes via the C-65.

Cassà de la Selva today

Today, Cassà is a town of around 10,000 inhabitants that combines its historical legacy with a modern and dynamic lifestyle. In short, it is more than just a town. It is an experience that is lived through the senses: the aroma of cork in its streets, the melodies that resonate in its squares, the murmur of water in its streams and the echo of a thousand-year-old history. A destination for those seeking authenticity, a connection with the land and the legacy of those who have inhabited it. It is a town that knows how to combine its past with its present, offering a window into a way of life rooted in nature, industry and culture.

If you are going to visit the place, we recommend that you go as well equipped as possible. Here is a list of items that can complete your adventure:

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