Barcelona is one of the world's most vibrant, diverse, and interesting cities. If you browse our villas in Barcelona and plan a trip to this part of Catalonia, you will quickly discover an endless list of things to see, do, taste, and experience. From days at the beach, to watching nail-biting matches at the city's football stadium, to shopping her markets and dining in incredible restaurants, to wandering museums full of some of the greatest works of art from both ancient and modern masters alike, to taking in impossible architectural gems, and much more besides, you'll never be short of things to occupy your days. However, for those who love the outdoors, this is a particularly charming city as it combines both cosmopolitan delights with some of the loveliest parks in the world. One of the most gorgeous among them is the Parc del Laberint.
A visit to a park in a city is a great way to get a sense of the atmosphere of the place and to learn about the history and heritage of the destination in a cost-effective manner. Usually free to enter, city parks are packed with stunning sights, pretty plants, wonderful walks, perfect picnic spots, and more – a whole day out for a steal! The Parc del Laberint is no exception. In fact, it is the quintessentially delightful city park. Just pack a picnic and come and explore all of the park's fascinating nooks and crannies before reclining in the shade with your snacks.
Located in the Horta-Guinardó district, the Parc del Laberint d'Horta (Park of the Labyrinth of Horta) is the oldest park of its kind in the city and is composed of an 18th-century neoclassical garden, a 19th-century romantic garden, and a hedge maze on the lower terrace for which the park is named. Part of the former estate of the Desvalls family, next to the Collserola ridge, this scenic gem has lots of areas of interest and wonderful details to be discovered.
Originally, the park and gardens were part of an estate owned by the Marquis of Llupià, Poal and Alfarràs, Joan Antoni Desvalls i d'Ardena, and it was he who commissioned the Italian architect Domenico Bagutti to work with him to create the design for a stunning neoclassical gem. Bagutti worked on the grounds until 1808 with the help of the French gardener Joseph Delvalet and the master Catalan builders Jaume and Andreu Valls. In the mid-19th century, descendants of the Marquis hired the architect Elies Rogent to expand the park and he created a Romantic garden that featured flower beds, gazebos, huge trees, and a waterfall. In addition, a water canal connecting the upper and intermediate terrace was added at this time. A couple of decades later, in 1880, a domestic garden was created beside the palace. All of these beautiful spaces made the Desvalls estate a fashionable spot where events such as concerts and theatrical performances, as well as other social gatherings, were common. The house and estate remained in the Desvalls family until 1967 when they handed it over to the city. It was officially opened to the public in 1971 and large-scale restoration to further preserve the precious heritage site was undertaken in 1994.
Today, the park remains open to the public as a garden-museum, though a maximum of 750 people are allowed to enter at any one time in order to help protect the grounds. Extending over 9.1 hectares, highlights of the estate include the lovely cypress hedge maze for which it is named, the two Roman temples, the pavilion dedicated to the nine muses, the flower beds of the Romantic garden, the waterfall, the pond, the Chinese gate, the secret garden, the Mediterranean forest that surrounds the grounds, the Centre de Formació del Laberint (a city-owned institute of Gardening education) in the old palace, and the library. There are ample routes to wander through the park, statuary dotted throughout to discover, wonderful views to take in, and pretty spots to enjoy a picnic. If you are a garden lover or you merely want a peaceful and pretty place to stroll while on vacation in Barcelona then be sure to come and explore this magical garden in Spain.
Parc del Laberint
Passeig dels Castanyers, 1, 08035
Barcelona
Opening hours:
From 1st April to 31st October, from 10am to 8pm.
From 1st November to 31st March, from 10am to 6pm.
Located in the Horta-Guinardó district, the Parc del Laberint d'Horta (Park of the Labyrinth of Horta) is the oldest park of its kind in the city and is composed of an 18th-century neoclassical garden, a 19th-century romantic garden, and a hedge maze on the lower terrace for which the park is named. Part of the former estate of the Desvalls family, next to the Collserola ridge, this scenic gem has lots of areas of interest and wonderful details to be discovered.
Originally, the park and gardens were part of an estate owned by the Marquis of Llupià, Poal and Alfarràs, Joan Antoni Desvalls i d'Ardena, and it was he who commissioned the Italian architect Domenico Bagutti to work with him to create the design for a stunning neoclassical gem. Bagutti worked on the grounds until 1808 with the help of the French gardener Joseph Delvalet and the master Catalan builders Jaume and Andreu Valls. In the mid-19th century, descendants of the Marquis hired the architect Elies Rogent to expand the park and he created a Romantic garden that featured flower beds, gazebos, huge trees, and a waterfall. In addition, a water canal connecting the upper and intermediate terrace was added at this time. A couple of decades later, in 1880, a domestic garden was created beside the palace. All of these beautiful spaces made the Desvalls estate a fashionable spot where events such as concerts and theatrical performances, as well as other social gatherings, were common. The house and estate remained in the Desvalls family until 1967 when they handed it over to the city. It was officially opened to the public in 1971 and large-scale restoration to further preserve the precious heritage site was undertaken in 1994.
Today, the park remains open to the public as a garden-museum, though a maximum of 750 people are allowed to enter at any one time in order to help protect the grounds. Extending over 9.1 hectares, highlights of the estate include the lovely cypress hedge maze for which it is named, the two Roman temples, the pavilion dedicated to the nine muses, the flower beds of the Romantic garden, the waterfall, the pond, the Chinese gate, the secret garden, the Mediterranean forest that surrounds the grounds, the Centre de Formació del Laberint (a city-owned institute of Gardening education) in the old palace, and the library. There are ample routes to wander through the park, statuary dotted throughout to discover, wonderful views to take in, and pretty spots to enjoy a picnic. If you are a garden lover or you merely want a peaceful and pretty place to stroll while on vacation in Barcelona then be sure to come and explore this magical garden in Spain.
Parc del Laberint
Passeig dels Castanyers, 1, 08035
Barcelona
Opening hours:
From 1st April to 31st October, from 10am to 8pm.
From 1st November to 31st March, from 10am to 6pm.