Those who wish to delve deeper into the work of Antoni Gaudí can also embark on a journey of discovery outside Barcelona. In Catalonia, there are several more works by the talented architect. Near Barcelona, you can find the Cripta Güell in Colònia Güell, the cooperative building in Mataró, and the Güell winery in Sitges. Discover now which works of Gaudí you can visit further.
Gaudí’s Constructions Near Barcelona
If you’ve already seen all of Gaudí’s buildings in Barcelona but can’t get enough, I have good news: in the immediate vicinity of Barcelona, there is still more to discover that was created by the famous architect! Therefore, note the following places on your to-do list!
1. Cripta Güell (Colònia Güell)
The Cripta Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí, was intended to be a church but was never completed. Only the crypt can be visited. However, it is a masterpiece of modernist architecture and is known for its innovative structural elements and artistic designs.
The crypt is located in Colònia Güell, an industrial village developed by Eusebi Güell, about 20 kilometers outside Barcelona.
2. Cooperativa Obrera Mataronense (Mataró)
The Cooperativa Obrera Mataronense is a former textile factory in the old factory town of Mataró, designed by Gaudí between 1877 and 1882. It is considered Gaudí’s first real building and is known for its characteristic brick facade and parabolic arches.
Of the old textile factory, only the bleaching warehouse, with some wooden pieces forming parabolic arches, and a small octagonal pavilion with toilets, remain standing.
The building, known as Nau Gaudí, has been functioning as an art exhibition space for the Col·lecció Bassat d’Art Contemporani de Catalunya since 2010 and has been declared a cultural asset of national importance.
3. Bodegues Güell (Sitges)
Bodegues Güell is a winery in Sitges that belonged to the Güell family. In 1895, Gaudí designed a building that perfectly integrates with the rocky landscape of the area, located between the sea and the Garraf massif.
The vineyard is constructed with stone and wrought iron and bears an enchanting resemblance to a medieval castle. It clearly illustrates the principles of modernist architecture, with its parabolic contours, asymmetrical solutions, and whimsical shapes.
The building now houses a restaurant where various events are held.
4. Jardí d’Artigas (La Pobla de Lillet)
In 1902, Gaudí was commissioned by industrialist Joan Artigas i Alart to design a garden in his estate in La Pobla de Lillet.
Gaudí designed an ornate garden where the water of the Llobregat river is the main player, with various fountains and bridges, a waterfall, a gazebo, and balustrades from which you can enjoy the spectacle of the water powerfully sliding down the stream.
The garden is now open to the public and can be visited.
5. Xalet del Catllaràs (La Pobla de Lillet)
In the middle of the forests of the Catllaràs mountains, we find the Xalet de Catllaràs, a house designed by Gaudí in 1902.
The house served as accommodation for the technicians and engineers of the Catllaràs coal mines, which belonged to Eusebi Güell.
Currently, it can only be visited from the outside, as the interior is being restored.
Did you know all these places in the vicinity of Barcelona and which one would you like to visit? Leave your comment in the comments!
