★★★★★ 5.0
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Parc del Laberint d'Horta
This garden is actually upside down... at least according to its original design philosophy. While most mazes trap you in confusion, the Parc del Laberint d'Horta was built in 1791 to reward you with LOVE itself when you reach its heart. Standing at the entrance on Passeig dels Castanyers, you're looking at Barcelona's oldest surviving garden, where Marquis Joan Antoni Desvalls created something extraordinary with Italian architect Domenico Bagutti. That marble relief beside you depicts Ariadne giving Theseus the thread to escape the Minotaur... but here, the thread leads TO love, not away from danger. Behind those 750 meters of perfectly trimmed cypress walls lies a statue of Eros waiting for those clever enough to solve the puzzle. This isn't just any maze... it's where Spanish royalty have walked THREE separate times, and where poet Joan Maragall staged Goethe's plays in 1898, translating the German masterpiece himself. The Desvalls family spent 176 years perfecting this 55-hectare paradise before gifting it to Barcelona in 1967. Only 750 visitors can enter simultaneously... making you part of a very exclusive club of modern-day Theseus seekers.
Did You Know?
- Built in 1791 by the Marquis Joan Antoni Desvalls in collaboration with Italian architect Domenico Bagutti, Parc del Laberint d'Horta is Barcelona's oldest preserved garden and a rare example of a neoclassical garden in the city, blending science, art, and nature in its design. The park later expanded in the 19th century with a romantic garden featuring waterfalls, canals, and lush greenery, reflecting the evolving tastes of the Catalan nobility.
- The park’s famous labyrinth, made from 750 meters of carefully trimmed cypress trees, is inspired by the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur—legend has it that those who reach the center will find love as their reward, a playful nod to classical mythology that makes the maze especially engaging for families and children. Sculptures and reliefs throughout the gardens depict characters from Greco-Roman mythology, symbolizing different levels of love and adding an artistic layer to the visitor experience.
- Hidden within the park is the Palau dels Desvalls, a neoclassical palace that now houses a gardening school and a specialized library, but originally hosted lavish social and cultural events in the late 19th century, including open-air theatre performances for Barcelona’s elite. Today, visitor numbers are limited to 750 at a time to protect the delicate environment, and the park offers free entry on Wednesdays and Sundays, making it a peaceful, lesser-known escape from the city’s bustle.