Cubelles

The municipality of Cubelles is located at one end of the Garraf region, as it is the first municipality in this region after leaving the Baix Penedès region behind.

As for its surroundings, it's a town open to the Mediterranean Sea ( Playa Larga, Playa de la Mota de San Pedro, Playa de Las Salinas, and Playa de las Gaviotas ), but at the same time, inland, you can breathe in the aromas of the mountains. It's also worth mentioning that one of the most attractive areas of this town, par excellence, is the mouth of the Foix River with its wetlands where native birds can be observed.

The Foix River, making its way through the river, passes through Cubelles. Although most of the time it is dry due to the reservoir.

Near the Santa Maria stream is a boundary marker that delineates the territory of this municipality and that of Vilanova i la Geltrú. This was a common practice in the 18th century to define territorial boundaries.

The Castle of the Marquises of Alfarràs is one of Cubelles' most emblematic buildings. Dating back to 1675, it was built on the remains of the old castle. Currently, this building, owned by the Town Hall, houses the Tourist Office. In another room, there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the clown Charlie Rivel, where visitors can see his costumes, awards, and other memorabilia. In fact, Josep Andreu Lasserre (Charlie Rivel) was a native of Cubelles, hence his significance. Furthermore, a sculpture of him was unveiled in the Plaça del Mar (Sea Square) in 1980.

Casa de Travé is also of particular interest. This is a neoclassical residential building rich in Greco-Roman decorative elements. The house's garden, featuring a variety of exotic plant species, is especially noteworthy.

In this municipality, there were also citizens who emigrated to the Americas and are known today as "Indianos." Notable figures include Pere Escardó, who designed the Alliance building in 1914, and Joan Pere i Roig, who brought drinking water to the town and built the public fountains that are still preserved today: La Font de la Calle Mayor and La Font de la Calle de Sant Antoni.

Urban routes

While exploring Cubelles, we suggest 4 urban routes to discover Cubelles and its heritage:

Old Town Route

A circular route starting at the main gate of Cubelles Castle. The castle, documented since 1041, was built on the site of an ancient Roman villa. Currently, the ground floor and the second floor, known as the main floor, are open to visitors. The building houses the Permanent Exhibition dedicated to the clown Charlie Rivel and the Municipal Tourist Office.

Nature Trail

Once the route through the historic center is finished, from Cubelles Castle we will head towards the beach area following the Narcís Bardají promenade, the old rambla of the municipality that connected the urban center with the railway line towards Barcelona.

Water Route

The Cubelles Water Route begins in the Castle Square and passes through various historical sites in the town, such as the Lion Fountain and the Saint Anthony Fountain, built thanks to Joan Pedro i Roig, who brought drinking water to the town. Along the route, you can also visit the Aliança, the birthplace of Charlie Rivel, and the municipal washhouses, which were donated in 1882. The route ends at the mouth of the Foix River, a protected natural area that is part of the Natura 2000 network.

Charlie Rivel Route

The Charlie Rivel route allows us to discover several places in the municipality linked to the figure of the Cubelles-born clown. Josep Andreu, known artistically as Charlie Rivel, was born in Cubelles on April 23, 1896, during a tour by his parents: the Occitan tightrope walker Marie Louise Lasserre and the trapeze artist Pere Andreu, originally from the Hostafrancs neighborhood of Barcelona.

Gastronomy

Cubelles offers a variety of typical dishes from traditional Catalan cuisine. The sea and the vineyards are key elements of Cubelles' cooking, forming the basis for a wide range of flavorful dishes. Typical dishes include burnt garlic, cod, tuna stew, soupy rice, cod, pig's trotters, rabbit with garlic and pepper, broad beans, and seafood pan-fried dishes, among others.