The Hotel de l'Rabassada was inaugurated in 1899, and was used exclusively by the Barcelona bourgeoisie as a getaway from the city. At the time, Barcelona was undergoing major expansion (la Eixample districts) so the hotel was the perfect place to relax. The wealthiest enjoyed the beautiful views and luxurious rooms of the hotel and it became very popular. As a result, in 1908, a group of French investors came to see the hotel and decided to buy it.
The French Investors funded the redevelopment of the hotel with the then huge sum of 2.5 million pesetas additionally building a grand casino complete with ornate gardens and an amusement park featuring a 2km roller coaster. The L'Rabassada Restaurant had the best Parisian chefs and the dance hall was complete with an orchestra. The casino was known as the place to play roulette.
L'Rabassada Enjoyed success until in 1923 Miguel Primo de Riviera banned Gambling when He became prime minister of Spain. This ended the huge success of the Casino. During the 1929 world exhibition L'Rabassada was briefly popular again but this all came to an end at the start of the civil war in 1936.
The hotel, restaurant, casino and amusement park fell into ruins and were officially shut down at the end of the war in 1940. The casino and amusement park were almost completely demolished, the hotel still stands as a ruin.
There is a much darker history to L'Rabassada.
Many people came to the Casino to make small fortunes at the roulette tables. There were plenty of people that ended up losing everything and according to legend the casino created a sound proof room nearby, equipped with a pistol for gamblers who could not face telling their families. These are the first ghosts that are said to haunt the grounds.
The infamous Enriqueta Marti, Vampire of Barcelona, is reported to have frequented L'Rabassada at night to provide her services of child prostitution to the wealthy. Enriqueta Marti was reported to have kidnapped many young children, aged 5 to 15, from Barcelona, selling them in her brothel and using their blood, bones and fat as remedies. She was a practicing witch doctor, selling cures for tuberculosis and anti-aging creams. She is suspected of being Spain's most prolific serial killer, However, due to her wealthy connections and as the children were from poor neighbourhoods, she was never prosecuted.
Legend also says that the site of L'Rabassada was used as a headquarters for execution by firing squad during the civil war and before it's demolition.
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The Hotel L'Rabassada is now a RUIN and STRUCTURALLY UNSTABLE so EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION if you decide to enter. Be careful as the FLOORS, WALLS and CEILING are UNSTABLE, especially after rainfall. Enter at your own risk.
The casino L'Rabassada is almost entirely demolished so what is standing is reasonably structurally stable. However, there are trip hazards, broken glass and loose masonry. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Both sites present the risk of a fall from height if not careful when exploring.
I recommend taking a head torch if you are planning to explore the ruins.
Note that the Ruins are in no way maintained or preserved and both sites are being slowly reclaimed by nature. Inside you will find some interesting urban art (Graffiti).
This is a good spring Calçotada hike when started at 9 in the morning and arriving at Can Cortes Rural Restaurant at 14h to 15h for the Calçotada set menu.
Calçots are milder and less bulbous than onions and have a length of between 15 and 25 cm (white part) and a diameter of 1.7 to 2.5 cm at the root. Planted in trenches, like an onion, as a single bulb, and successively increasing the depth of the soil around the stems throughout autumn and winter. They sprout into 4-10 shoots, roughly the shape of small leeks or scallions.
The origin of the Calçot and its cooking method is in the town of Valls, Catalonia, Spain, where an annual event celebrates the harvest of calcots. Nowadays, thousands of eating gatherings centered around the Calçots, called Calçotada, are celebrated around Catalonia.
Calçots are harvested in early spring / late winter and served in Calçotadas in many of the rural and city restaurants in Catalunya. In these events, they are grilled over a hot fire, wrapped up in newspaper, served on terra cotta tiles and eaten, after peeling with bare hands, by dipping them one by one in salvitxada sauce (sauce made with almonds, garlic, tomatoes and olvie oil).
At a Calçotada you are served with a bib, gloves and wet wipes because eating them the traditional way is a messy but fun affair.
This is a short walking route not far from roads so I always do it with a small rucksack of the essentials. Emergency waterproof jacket is optional depending on the weather forecast.
1 - 2 litres of water because there are fountains along the route. Don't forget a head torch if you want to explore the ruins.
Address: Carretera de l' Arrabassada S/N, Barcelona. 08017
starting at Sant Cugat FGC station and ending at FCG Vallvidrera funicular superior Station. This route is 16km long and requires a medium level of fitness.
OR take the A6 bus service (provided by Moventis) from Plaça Lesseps to Carretera de l'Rabassada, km 5.
Sant Cugat is on the FGC Valles Lines.
Because all these stations are in Zone-1, use a T-Casual or Hola-Barcelona travel card for metro, bus and FGC Train services.
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Parc Collserola Walk from Sant Cugat via Sant Medir chappel, viaduct, Abandoned Casino and hotel Arrabassada, tibidabo and Vallvidrera.
Distance: 14.64 Km
Difficulty: Moderate
Return Travel Fare: T-Casual Zone 1
Transport Network: FGC
Mountain Forecast weather for Serra de Collserola
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