One of Barcelona’s oldest heritage sites reopens to the public
The Palau del Marquès d’Alfarràs, a cultural asset of national interest located in the Parc del Laberint d’Horta, is now open for guided tours every Wednesday and Sunday. Managed by the Barcelona City Council, the site dates back to the 11th century when it began as a defensive watchtower and evolved into a noble estate. According to Barcelona Cultura, the palace complex was expanded over centuries, notably by the Desvalls family, whose descendant Joan Antoni Desvalls, Marquès d’Alfarràs, inherited and enlarged the property. The estate remained in private hands until 1967, when it passed into municipal ownership. Since 1993, part of the building has served as the Centre de Formació del Laberint, hosting gardening courses and biodiversity workshops.
Visits now open to the general public
After improvement works completed in summer 2025, the palace reopened to the public with free guided tours. The visits, lasting just over an hour, allow access to previously restricted areas including the 11th-century Torre Sobirana, the noble floor, the old wine cellar, and the ornamental domestic garden, which once demonstrated the family’s social prestige.
“If you ever looked at this grand building from outside the park and wondered what was inside, now is your chance to explore,”
says the official Barcelona Cultura website.
How to book a visit
Tours take place Wednesdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 12:00, in groups of up to 25 people. While entry is free, advance booking is mandatory. Reservations must be made one week in advance via the Municipal Institute of Parks and Gardens website. This resurgence in public access coincides with record tourism in Barcelona. According to the Barcelona City Council’s Department of Economic Promotion, the city welcomed over 3 million visitors in the first quarter of 2026, with 8.4 million overnight stays, a year-on-year increase of 7.3% and 4.9% respectively. International tourists made up 86.5% of the total, with most visiting for professional reasons. The Palau del Marquès d’Alfarràs has become one of the most in-demand heritage experiences in the city, selling out its weekly slots consistently. Its combination of medieval origins, noble history, and landscaped gardens offers a rare glimpse into Barcelona’s layered past.
Primary sources: barcelona.cat, Barcelona City Council, ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Ayuntamiento de Barcelona. Reported by elperiodico.cat, ine.es, El Periódico (CA).
