Parc Collserola – Abandoned Rabassada Hotel & Casino Ruins
Explore the abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino in Parc de Collserola. A scenic hike to one of Barcelona’s most intriguing ruins, active from 1899–1930
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About Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino
The Hotel de la Rabassada was inaugurated in 1899 as an exclusive retreat for Barcelona’s bourgeoisie. At the time, the city was expanding rapidly with the construction of the Eixample district, and the hotel offered a peaceful escape with panoramic views, fresh air and luxurious rooms. Its popularity grew quickly, and in 1908 a group of French investors visited the site and decided to purchase it.
The new owners invested the enormous sum of 2.5 million pesetas to redevelop the complex. They expanded the hotel, created ornate landscaped gardens and built a grand casino with a dining hall, orchestra, Parisian chefs and an amusement park featuring a 2 km roller coaster. The Casino de la Rabassada became famous as the place to play roulette in Barcelona.
The golden age was short-lived. In 1923, Miguel Primo de Rivera banned gambling shortly after becoming Prime Minister of Spain, abruptly ending the casino’s success. The hotel enjoyed a brief resurgence during the 1929 International Exposition, but the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936 brought everything to a halt.
By 1940 the hotel, restaurant, casino and amusement park were abandoned. The casino and amusement park were almost completely demolished, while the hotel building survived as a ruin — the atmospheric shell that still stands today.
A darker history also surrounds La Rabassada
According to legend, the casino maintained a soundproof room equipped with a pistol for gamblers who had lost everything and could not face returning home. These tragic stories form the basis of the site’s earliest ghost tales.
The infamous Enriqueta Martí, the so‑called “Vampire of Barcelona,” is also said to have frequented La Rabassada at night, providing child prostitution services to wealthy clients. Martí was accused of kidnapping children aged 5 to 15, selling them into exploitation and using their blood, bones and fat to create supposed medicinal remedies. Although suspected of being one of Spain’s most prolific serial killers, she was never prosecuted due to her wealthy connections and the low social status of her victims.
Local legend further claims that the site was used as an execution ground during the Civil War, adding to its reputation as one of the most haunted places in Collserola.
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Visiting Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino
The Hotel de la Rabassada is a RUIN and is STRUCTURALLY UNSTABLE. Exercise extreme caution if you choose to enter. Floors, walls and ceilings may collapse, especially after rainfall. Enter at your own risk.
The Casino de la Rabassada is almost entirely demolished. What remains is generally more stable, but there are trip hazards, broken glass and loose masonry. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Both sites present a risk of falling from height. Stay alert when exploring.
A head torch is strongly recommended if you plan to enter the ruins.
The ruins are not maintained or preserved, and nature is slowly reclaiming both sites. Inside you will find atmospheric stonework, collapsed structures and a variety of urban art and graffiti.
Calçotada Hike – Eating at Can Cortes Rural Restaurant
This route makes an excellent spring hike: start around 09:00 and arrive at Can Cortes Rural Restaurant between 14:00 and 15:00 for a traditional Calçotada set menu.
Calçots are mild, elongated onions grown in trenches and repeatedly covered with soil to produce long white stems. They sprout into 4–10 shoots, resembling small leeks or scallions.
The tradition originates in the town of Valls, where an annual festival celebrates the harvest. Today, thousands of Calçotades take place across Catalonia each spring.
Calçots are grilled over an open flame, wrapped in newspaper and served on terracotta tiles. Diners peel them by hand and dip them into salvitxada — a sauce of almonds, garlic, tomatoes and olive oil. Expect bibs, gloves and plenty of mess; it’s part of the fun.
Want to learn more about calçots? Discover the origins, traditions and the famous annual festival in Valls in this detailed Calçots Festival guide.
Hiking the Rabassada Ruins with a Dog
The route passes through oak, beech and some pine forest within Parc Natural de Collserola. In spring and summer, be aware of pine processionary caterpillars, which can be dangerous to dogs. As a late‑winter Calçotada hike, the risk is low but still worth monitoring.
The trail itself is dog‑friendly, but the ruins are not recommended for dogs due to hidden hazards such as broken glass, sharp metal and unstable floors. If you plan to eat at the restaurant, request an outdoor table and confirm they accept dogs.
What to take with you for Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino
This is a short walking route close to roads and public transport, so a small daypack is sufficient.
- 1–2 litres of water (fountains available on the longer route)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Light waterproof depending on the forecast
- Head torch if entering the ruins
Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino Summary of Prices
Train/Bus Fare
Entry Ticket
Additional Information
Train/Bus Fare
Entry Ticket
Additional Information
Adult
Zone 1 T-casual
FREE
Child
€ 1.25
FREE
Notes
Historic Ruins.
Getting to Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino
Address: Carretera de l’Arrabassada S/N, Barcelona, 08017
Long Route: Start at Sant Cugat FGC station and finish at Vallvidrera Funicular – Superior Station. The full route is approximately 16 km and requires a medium level of fitness.
Short Route: Take the A6 bus (Moventis) from Plaça Lesseps to Carretera de la Rabassada, km 5, which is a short walk from the ruins.
Sant Cugat is served by the FGC Vallès Lines.
All stations on this route are in Zone 1, so you can use a T‑Casual or Hola‑Barcelona travel card for metro, bus and FGC services.
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