Stands before us Barcelona’s oldest park the Parc del Laberint d’Horta. It is more than just a green space. It is a journey through time and a testament to the beauty of landscape gardening. This historical garden whispers tales of love death and aristocratic whims.
The Parc del Laberint d’Horta began in 1791. Marquis Joan Antoni Desvalls i d’Ardena owned this land. He envisioned a neoclassical garden. Italian architect Domenico Bagutti helped him design it. Master builders Jaume and Andreu Valls plus French gardener Joseph Delvalet brought it to life.
Later in the mid-19th century the Marquis’s descendants expanded the park. They hired architect Elies Rogent. He added a romantic garden with flowers and a waterfall. A water canal was created connecting the upper and intermediate terraces.
The Desvalls family hosted many social and cultural events here. Open-air theatre performances were common. In 1967 the family gave the Parc del Laberint d’Horta to Barcelona. It opened to the public in 1971.
The Parc del Laberint d’Horta is now a garden-museum. It limits visitors to 750 at a time. This protects its delicate environment. The old Desvalls Palace houses a gardening education center and a specialized library.
Notice the former palace of the Desvalls family. It features neoarabic and neogothic elements. Also spot the Torre Sobirana an ancient medieval watchtower. The Parc del Laberint d’Horta spans 9.1 hectares. It divides into the neoclassical garden and the romantic garden. Sculptures of Greek mythology and folk motives dot the landscape. Fountains springs and pools add to the charm.
The neoclassical garden has three terraces. The lower terrace holds the hedge maze. It is made of 750 meters of trimmed cypress trees. A marble bas-relief shows Ariadne and Theseus at the entrance. In the center stands a statue of Eros.
Above the maze the intermediate terrace features two Italian-style pavilions. They have Tuscan columns and statues of Danae and Ariadne. A bust of Dionysus stands near the staircase to the third level.
The uppermost terrace holds a pavilion dedicated to the nine muses. A sculpture crowns it depicting art and nature. Latin inscriptions praise the harmony of art and nature. A large pond fed by a natural spring sits behind the pavilion.
The romantic garden displays flower beds under large trees. A waterfall flows on the northern border. The romantic garden evokes the theme of death. The neoclassical garden focuses on love. The gardens are surrounded by Mediterranean forest.
The Parc del Laberint d’Horta hosted Spanish royalty on three occasions. Poet Joan Maragall chose the pavilions for classic plays. The tragedy Iphigenia in Tauris was performed here in 1898. The Parc del Laberint d’Horta also appeared in the film Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.
Wander through the maze. Admire the sculptures. Listen to the water. Feel the history of this enchanting place. The Parc del Laberint d’Horta offers a unique blend of art nature and history. It is a treasure in Barcelona.