Parc Collserola – Abandoned Rabassada Hotel & Casino Ruins

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.

Casino de la Rabassada Parc Page Restaurant Can Borel Homepage Rstauant Can Cortes Homepage

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.

Public Transport Guide

Documents for Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino

Wikiloc Trail for Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino

a0144 - Abandoned hotel - Rabassada Casino

Parc Collserola Walk from Sant Cugat via Sant Medir chapel, viaduct, Abandoned Casino and hotel Arrabassada, tibidabo and Vallvidrera.

Transport Network: FGC Return Travel Fare: T-Casual Zone 1 Distance: 14.64 Difficulty: MEDIUM

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Weather for Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino

Mountain Forecast weather for Serra de Collserola

Where to stay overnight near Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino

Nearby Attractions to Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino

FGC Vallvidrera Funicular & 111 Bus to Tibidabo

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FGC Vallvidrera Funicular & 111 Bus to Tibidabo

Historic 1906 mountain railway from Peu del Funicular to Vallvidrera village. Reach Tibidabo via scenic walk or short bus ride

Tibidabo Church | Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus & Viewpoint

Barcelona’s hilltop basilica with panoramic views, a Romanesque crypt (1911), and neo-Gothic church (1951) crowned by a statue of Jesus

Visit Sant Cugat’s medieval monastery and Modernist wine cooperative, then enjoy an easy, family‑friendly walk through Parc de Collserola back to Barcelona

Torre Collserola | Barcelona’s Hilltop Viewpoint Tower

Discover Torre Collserola, Barcelona’s tallest structure. Designed by Norman Foster for the 1992 Olympics, it offers a panoramic viewpoint and scenic forest access

Tags for Abandoned Rabassada Hotel and Casino

Parc Natural Collserola Barcelona & Catalonia Hiking Ruins and Abandoned 0 to 1 hour by train or bus FREE Barcelona Metropolitan

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