Cugat

Cugat is a commonly used shorthand for Sant Cugat del Vallès, a municipality in Catalonia, Spain. The town is in the comarca of Vallès Occidental, in the Barcelona metropolitan area, and lies to the north of Barcelona at the foothills of the Collserola ridge along the River Sec. The name derives from Sant Cucufat (Saint Cucuphas), to whom the local monastery is dedicated.

Sant Cugat del Vallès is best known for the Monestir de Sant Cugat, a prominent 9th-to-11th century Benedictine monastery whose Romanesque cloister features carved arches and ornate capitals. The town combines a historic center with modern neighborhoods, including Valldoreix, and serves as both a residential community and a business hub, with cultural institutions, schools, and green spaces connected by a network of parks and trails.

As a surname, Cugat appears in Catalan and Spanish-speaking contexts. Notable bearer: Xavier Cugat (1900–1990), a Spanish-born American bandleader, violinist, and composer who helped popularize Latin music in the United States and led influential orchestras in the mid-20th century.