Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol

Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol is an old Catalan mas, a traditional rural farmhouse, standing northwest of the town centre of Lloret de Mar, in the Selva county of Girona province. The site draws attention less for its architecture and more for the story behind its name — a modest rural building that recalls the era when the inland areas around Lloret were farmland supporting the coastal settlement.

What kind of building is this?

Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol belongs to the category of "mas" — self-sufficient farmhouses that formed the backbone of rural settlement across Catalonia for centuries. While the seafront of Lloret de Mar became famous for its beaches and tourism, this part of the municipality kept its agricultural character long after the town began welcoming holidaymakers. Today the building sits within a modern residential area, in what is now known as the Condado de Jaruco neighbourhood.

Where does the name Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol come from?

The name traces back to a local story recorded by Montse Xirgu in "Quaderns de la Selva." According to the account, the farmhouse's daughter was seeing a boy, and when her mother noticed she was sad and asked why, the girl explained it was because her mother did not approve of the relationship — in Catalan, "mare no ho vol," meaning "mother doesn't want it." Over time this phrase stuck to the farmhouse itself and became its name, and it is still used locally today.

Farmhouse names born from family anecdotes or memorable events are common across the Catalan countryside — a mas would often pick up a nickname that eventually replaced its formal name, and this is exactly what happened here.

Where exactly is Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol located?

The building stands within Lloret de Mar at approximate coordinates 41.70974°N, 2.82979°E, in the inland part of the municipality away from the beaches. This area is now known as the Condado de Jaruco neighbourhood and has taken on a residential character quite different from the farmland that once surrounded the mas.

What else is worth seeing nearby in Lloret de Mar?

Lloret de Mar is best known for its beaches and nightlife along the Costa Brava, but it also has a quieter, more historic side — an old town centre, a parish church, and walking and cycling paths connecting the various neighbourhoods with the seafront. When exploring the area around Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol, it is worth remembering that this is primarily a residential district today, and the building itself is a good example of how the names of old farmhouses have survived in the urban landscape even as the surroundings changed completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol be visited? The building lies within the residential Condado de Jaruco neighbourhood, so it is not set up as a tourist attraction with regular access — visitors should treat it with the same discretion as any private property.

What does the name Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol mean? In Catalan, "mare no ho vol" means "mother doesn't want it," and according to local tradition it refers to a mother's disapproval of her daughter's relationship with a boy.

Where is Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol relative to central Lloret de Mar? It lies northwest of the town centre, in the area now called Condado de Jaruco, away from the main beaches.

Is this the only farmhouse in the Selva region with a story like this? No — naming farmhouses after family anecdotes is common throughout Selva and Catalonia in general, and the story of Ca la Mare-no-ho-vol has been documented as one such example in local regional literature.