Parc del Laberint d’Horta

Parc del Laberint d’Horta
1793-1804
Presented by Micah Deitz

Joan Antoni Desvalls i d’Ardennes, sixth Marquess of Llupià, was a landowner and Catalan scientist. As a cultured man and having great artistic awareness, had the park built in 1791, on his farm in the leisure district of Horta, the garden known as Labyrinth de Horta. The concept of this garden, influenced by Greek mythology, is based on a design made by the Desvalls in collaboration with the Italian architect Domenico Bagutti. Near the entrance of the park the old palace of the family is found, building with elements of style neoárabe and neogótico. classical garden and a romantic garden. All over sculptural pieces are found, some with motives of the Greek mythology and as well as a great number of pools, spouts and rapids of water. The neoclassical garden extends for three terraces: In the lower terrace the vegetable labyrinth is found that gives name to the park, formed by 750 meters oftrimmed cypresses. The zone landscaped of the park is surrounded by an extensive Mediterranean forest.