Parc Laberint d'Horta maze Garden Oldest Barcelona Park

About Parc Laberint Horta

The Horta labrynth park, Parc del laberint d'Horta is a historical garden dating from the 18th century, and is the oldest garden in Barcelona. Along with Tamarit Gardens I consider this to be one of the most beautiful parks or gardens in Barcelona city.

The park is constructed in a neoclassical style and contains a hedge maze in the centre of the park. The park has a romantic charm and is also a great for visiting with children.

The park is located on the foothills of the Collserola range on the edge of Barcelona city in the Horta Guinardo neighbourhood. Next to the park is the Velodrome that was constructed for cycling events in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic games.

Parc Laberint d'Horta History

A the time, the Desvalls Estate with its palace was located in the municipality of Sant Joan d'Horta outside of medieval Barcelona. Sant Joan de Horta was absorbed by the city in 1904.

Parc del Labrinto de Horta is located on the former estate of the Desvalls family. It comprises an 18th-century neoclassical garden and a 19th-century romantic garden plus a hedge maze on the intermediate level.

Work on the gardens started in 1791 when Marquis Joan Antoni Desvalls i d'Ardena, sixth Marquis of Llupià, created the design of a neoclassical garden.

Italian architect Domenico Bagutti was tasked with building a cypress maze with a statue of Eros in the centre. The builder was Jaume y Andreu Valls and the French gardener Joseph Delvalet.

Surrounding the maze are two pergolas with statues of Danae and Artemis and beautiful Tuscan columns. In the middle of the maze harden balcony is a mossy fountain.

In the mid-19th century, the descendants of the marquis hired architect Elies Rogent to expand the park. Rogent created the upper romantic garden with flower beds, gazebos, huge trees, a pond and a waterfall. A water canal was also added to the garden, connecting the upper terrace and neoclassical pavilion to the intermediate garden where the maze is located.

In 1967 the Desvalls family handed over the park to the city of Barcelona, who opened to the public in 1971. Ample restoration works were carried out in 1994 with the financial support of the European Union.

Today, the Palace houses the municipal library and learning centre dedicated to gardening and landscaping. Its collection also includes topics related to botany, garden design, flora and floriculture, arboriculture, parks and gardens in Barcelona and around the world, and other related subjects such as ecology, environment, biodiversity or horticulture.

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