In the suburbs of Barcelona, where the noise of the metropolis gives way to the quiet of the outskirts, a strange fortress rises, unlike any other building in Catalonia. It is neither a museum nor a historical monument, but a personal obsession rendered in stone. The Les Fonts Castle, also known as Castell dels Records, has become a pilgrimage site for enthusiasts of the unusual and collectors, and its history is full of unexpected twists.
At first glance, it appears to be a medieval fortress, but as soon as you step inside, reality begins to mix with fantasy. Towers, Gothic arches, whimsical staircases leading nowhere, and halls lined with antiques collected over decades. Not a single window is repeated, and the walls seem to guard secrets of the past. All this is the result of years of passion from one man who knew no bounds in his quest for uniqueness.
Building Without Rules
The story of the castle began in the late 1960s. At that time, a wine merchant named Jacinto García Mas, nicknamed ‘Sinto,’ decided to turn an ordinary house into something grand. With no education in architecture and no clear plan, he started to build walls, towers, and passages, guided solely by his imagination. Local stonemasons helped him, working evenings and weekends, and the process looked more like creative chaos than construction.
The result is a labyrinth of rooms, corridors, and staircases, where only one bedroom is habitable and the rest serve as exhibition halls for antiques. Inside, you’ll find Baroque sculptures, showcases once belonging to the Counts of Urgell, and even items attributed to Gaudí himself. Some claim that statues once adorning the famous La Pedrera are stored here.
Now open to the public
After Jacinto’s death, his widow, Natividad, decided not to keep the castle in isolation. Recently, the fortress has opened its doors to visitors on weekends from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon. Guests can stroll through the surreal halls and even purchase items from the collection. Many pieces are for sale—ranging from antique clocks to unique sculptures, each with its own story.
Interest in the castle has soared: previously, it could only be viewed from the outside, but now anyone can immerse themselves in its atmosphere of eccentric romanticism and architectural chaos. Inside, a special energy reigns—a blend of former luxury, abandonment, and creative madness. This is a place where past and present collide in every corner.
Scandals and suspicions
However, not everything in the castle’s history is painted in rosy colors. In 1983, Jacinto García found himself at the center of a high-profile scandal when he was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen works of art. Valuable items were discovered in one of the abandoned estates nearby, which, as it turned out, were part of his collection. The owner himself insisted he had acquired them legally, unaware of their origins, and had paid a considerable sum for them.
After six days in custody and posting bail, he was released. Some of the antiques were returned to their original owners, but several pieces remained with García as compensation. This episode only fueled interest in the castle’s creator and his unusual collection. Rumors and speculation about the origins of certain exhibits still circulate among locals and collectors.
Immersing into the atmosphere
Today, a trip to Les Fonts Castle is more than just a tour—it’s a real adventure. You can reach it in half an hour by car via the C-58 highway or in forty minutes by train from central Barcelona. From the road, you can already spot the towers that were never completed, and at the entrance, guests are greeted by the lady of the house herself, ready to share stories about each item and its history.
Inside, the atmosphere feels straight out of the theater of the absurd: staircases end in empty air, halls are filled with objects from various eras, and the walls are adorned with Gothic features side by side with modernist details. It’s easy to lose your sense of time and space here, and every step reveals a new mystery. For many visitors, this place becomes a true discovery—somewhere you can not only see, but also touch history.
Personality and legacy
Jacinto García Mas, the man behind the creation of Les Fonts Castle, was a striking and controversial figure. His passion for antiques and his desire to leave behind something unique made his name known far beyond Catalonia. Despite scandals and suspicions, he managed to craft a space that continues to surprise and inspire new visitors. Today, his castle stands not only as a monument to eccentricity, but also as living history—somewhere everyone can find something personal.
