The novecentist summer houses of Valldoreix

Explore classicist and eclectic architecture with unique novecentist houses, charming plazas, and scenic rambles, perfect for a leisurely stroll.

We'll start at the Valldoreix station of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) railway and head up a flight of stairs that brings us to the church of Sant Cebrià. Once past the church, we'll reach Plaça Can Cadena and continue along Rambla de Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer. Soon, we'll find the first point of interest on this route: the Antoni Caballé house. It's particularly noteworthy because of its noble, classicist forms. We'll continue along the Rambla, if we pay close attention we'll notice several houses in the novecentist style, each with its peculiarities. We'll pass Plaça Pompeu Fabra and continue on to Plaça Mas Roig. Once there, we'll head down Avinguda de Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer and turn right on Passeig de l'Oreneta, which will take us to Plaça dels Ocells. Here we'll see several examples of period houses. Next, we'll follow Avinguda Ramon Escayola, turn left onto Passeig del Rossinyol and right onto Passeig Crisantem. Here we'll find another notable building, Villa Montserrat. It's a good example of eclecticism, with several other unclassifiable elements. When we reach Passeig del Nard, we'll turn left. Here, it's important to stay alert; we're reaching the area with the greatest concentration of novecentist houses. Casa Buenos Aires is particularly noteworthy. We'll turn right onto the Rambla del Jardi. This Rambla is a great place for a stroll, and contains some excellent examples of novecentist houses. We'll then turn right onto Avinguda Joan Borràs, named in honour of one of the promoters of the first urban developments in Valldoreix. We'll turn left and continue on until we reach an interesting group of three unmistakable houses. We'll continue our route down the short and narrow Carrer Assutzena, where we'll find one of the creations of architect Enric Catà. We'll turn left onto Passeig del Rosari and continue on to Rambla del Jardí, where we'll turn right. We'll then continue on until we find Passeig Llesamí, where we'll turn right again. Our third point of interest is located on this street: the Casa de Xocolata or 'Chocolate House', which gets its name from the reddish sandstone used in it. Next, we'll head down Avinguda Joan Borràs and turn left onto Avinguda Ramon Escayola. These were the first two streets built in this urban development. Here, we'll find a group of three spectacular houses, the first of which is our final point of interest. The Bartomeu Pujol house is extremely well-preserved. The roof is especially noteworthy; the interplay of roof forms, all supported by wooden corbels, highlights the volumetric composition of the building. We'll continue along Avinguda Alcalde Ramon Escayola until we reach Passeig de Rubí, where we'll turn right. Here, we'll find some additional novecentist style houses. This street will take us back to our starting point, the FGC station of Valldoreix.