Parc del Laberint d'Horta
Encyclopedia
The Parc del Laberint d'Horta (ˈparg dəɫ ɫəβəˈɾin ˈdɔrtə, "Labyrinth Park of Horta", sometimes named Jardins (Gardens) del Laberint d'Horta) is an historical garden in the Horta-Guinardó
district in Barcelona
, and the oldest of its kind in the city. Located in the former estate of the Desvalls family, next to the Collserola
ridge, the park comprises an 18th century neoclassical
garden and a 19th century romantic
garden.
In mid-19th century, the descendants of the marquis hired architect Elies Rogent
to expand the park. Rogent created then a romantic garden with flower beds, gazebos, huge trees and a waterfall. A water canal was also added to the garden, connecting the upper terrace and the intermediate one.
In 1880 a domestic garden was created beside the Desvalls palace.
At the end of the 19th century, the Desvalls estate became the venue of social and cultural events including open-air theatre performances.
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
.
The park is currently a garden-museum with a number of visitors limited to no more than 750 people at the same time, in order to preserve the delicate environment and structures of the area. The old Desvalls' Palace hosts, since 1993, Centre de Formació del Laberint (a city-owned institute of Gardening education) as well as a specialized library.
.
The parc, which extends over a surface of 9,1 hectares, is divided in two parts: the neoclassical garden and the romantic garden. All around the park there are numerous sculptures, some depicting motives of greek mythology
and others with folk motives, as well as a number of fountains, springs and pools.
The neoclassical garden comprises three terraces:
The romantic garden is distributed in a series of flower beds and small squares under the shade of huge trees. On the northernmost border of this side of the parc there's a waterfall. There aren't many traces left of the original design, but it seems that the romantic garden was built alluding the theme of death -there even used to be a replica of a small graveyard, long gone-, while the neoclassical garden revolves around the theme of love.
The park gardens are surrounded by a large area of Mediterranean forest.
Horta-Guinardó
Horta-Guinardó is the name of one of the districts of Barcelona, located in its North-Eastern corner. It is named after two very heterogeneous areas of the city, Horta and el Guinardó, which together cover a large area of 11.92 km², which sums up for the 11,9% of the total extension of the...
district in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, and the oldest of its kind in the city. Located in the former estate of the Desvalls family, next to the Collserola
Serra de Collserola
The Serra de Collserola , or simply Collserola, is a mountain range between the rivers Besòs and Llobregat. It is part of the Catalan Coastal Range....
ridge, the park comprises an 18th century neoclassical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
garden and a 19th century romantic
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
garden.
History
Works began in 1791 when marquis Joan Antoni Desvalls i d'Ardena, owner of the lot, created the design of a neoclassical garden in collaboration with Italian architect Domenico Bagutti. Execution was made under direction of master builders Jaume and Andreu Valls as well as French gardener Joseph Delvalet.In mid-19th century, the descendants of the marquis hired architect Elies Rogent
Elies Rogent
Elies Rogent i Amat , was a Catalan architect of Spanish nationality. He studied at the school of Architecture in Madrid, from which he graduated on 20 February 1851...
to expand the park. Rogent created then a romantic garden with flower beds, gazebos, huge trees and a waterfall. A water canal was also added to the garden, connecting the upper terrace and the intermediate one.
In 1880 a domestic garden was created beside the Desvalls palace.
At the end of the 19th century, the Desvalls estate became the venue of social and cultural events including open-air theatre performances.
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
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
The park is currently a garden-museum with a number of visitors limited to no more than 750 people at the same time, in order to preserve the delicate environment and structures of the area. The old Desvalls' Palace hosts, since 1993, Centre de Formació del Laberint (a city-owned institute of Gardening education) as well as a specialized library.
Elements of the park
Right next to the entrance of the park stands the former palace of the Desvalls family, a building with neoarabic and neogothic elements. To this complex belongs also the Torre Sobirana, an ancient medieval watchtowerWatchtower
A watchtower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. It differs from a regular tower in that its primary use is military, and from a turret in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to provide a high, safe place from which a sentinel or guard may...
.
The parc, which extends over a surface of 9,1 hectares, is divided in two parts: the neoclassical garden and the romantic garden. All around the park there are numerous sculptures, some depicting motives of greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
and others with folk motives, as well as a number of fountains, springs and pools.
The neoclassical garden comprises three terraces:
- On the lower terrace is the hedge mazeMazeA maze is a tour puzzle in the form of a complex branching passage through which the solver must find a route. In everyday speech, both maze and labyrinth denote a complex and confusing series of pathways, but technically the maze is distinguished from the labyrinth, as the labyrinth has a single...
that gives the park its name, made up of 750 metres of trimmed cypressCypressCypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...
trees. At the entrance of the labyrinth there is a marble bas-reliefReliefRelief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
depicting AriadneAriadneAriadne , in Greek mythology, was the daughter of King Minos of Crete, and his queen Pasiphaë, daughter of Helios, the Sun-titan. She aided Theseus in overcoming the Minotaur and was the bride of the god Dionysus.-Minos and Theseus:...
and TheseusTheseusFor other uses, see Theseus Theseus was the mythical founder-king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aethra had slept with in one night. Theseus was a founder-hero, like Perseus, Cadmus, or Heracles, all of whom battled and overcame foes that were...
and, in the centre, a statue of god ErosErosEros , in Greek mythology, was the Greek god of love. His Roman counterpart was Cupid . Some myths make him a primordial god, while in other myths, he is the son of Aphrodite....
. - On the intermediate terrace, right over the maze, there are two Italian-style pavilions with tuscan columns and statues of DanaeDanaëIn Greek mythology, Danaë was a daughter of King Acrisius of Argos and Eurydice of Argos. She was the mother of Perseus by Zeus. She was sometimes credited with founding the city of Ardea in Latium....
and Ariadne, replicas of round roman templeRoman templeAncient Roman temples are among the most visible archaeological remains of Roman culture, and are a significant source for Roman architecture. Their construction and maintenance was a major part of ancient Roman religion. The main room housed the cult image of the deity to whom the temple was...
s without cellaCellaA cella or naos , is the inner chamber of a temple in classical architecture, or a shop facing the street in domestic Roman architecture...
. Next to the great staircase that leads to the third level there is a bust of Dyonysus, god of wine and exhuberance. - On the third and uppermost terrace there is a pavilion dediacted to the nine museMuseThe Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
s, crowned by a sculpture depicting art and nature, on the foot of which can be read: Artis Naturaque Parit Concordia Pulchrum (Latin for «The harmony of art and nature generates beauty») and on the other side: Ars Concors Foetum Naturae Matris Alumbrat («Harmonic art gives light onto the fruit of Mother Nature»). Behind the pavilion there is a big pond with water coming from a natural source.
The romantic garden is distributed in a series of flower beds and small squares under the shade of huge trees. On the northernmost border of this side of the parc there's a waterfall. There aren't many traces left of the original design, but it seems that the romantic garden was built alluding the theme of death -there even used to be a replica of a small graveyard, long gone-, while the neoclassical garden revolves around the theme of love.
The park gardens are surrounded by a large area of Mediterranean forest.
Miscellaneous
- The gardens hosted receptions to the sovereigns of Spain on three occasions.
- The pavilions of the intermediate terrace were chosen by poet Joan MaragallJoan MaragallJoan Maragall i Gorina was a Catalan poet, journalist and translator, the foremost member of the modernisme movement in literature.-Life:...
to represent classic plays. On 10 October 1898 was played the tragedy Iphigenia in Tauris by GoetheJohann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
, translated by Maragall and directed by Adrià GualAdriá GualAdrià Gual i Queralt was a Catalan playwright and theatre businessman, founder of the Escola Catalana d'Art Dramàtic and a pioneer of cinema in Barcelona.-Theater:*Misteri de dolor*Donzell qui cerca muller*L'emigrant...
. - The parc was used to shot a scene of the motion picture Perfume by German director Tom TykwerTom TykwerTom Tykwer is a German film director, screenwriter, and composer. He is best known internationally for directing Run Lola Run , Heaven , Perfume: The Story of a Murderer , and The International ....
.
External links
- Parcs i jardins de Barcelona - Parc del Laberint (Official site)