Casa del Racó

Casa del Racó is the ruin of an abandoned masia (traditional Catalan farmhouse) in the municipality of Rellinars, in the Vallès Occidental comarca, Barcelona province, Catalonia. The remains sit at roughly 384 metres above sea level, on the right bank of the Torrent del Racó stream, which took its name from the house — the stream itself is a tributary of the larger Torrent de l'Esbarzer.

What survives of Casa del Racó today?

Of the main building, essentially only the stone façade remains, with window openings framed by stone lintels and arches built from cut stone voussoirs. Around the main structure stand several smaller, separate outbuildings, in a similarly advanced state of ruin — only façades and wall fragments survive, with no roofs left anywhere on the site. Together they form a small cluster of rural buildings, typical of the scattered farmstead settlement pattern found at the foot of the Sant Llorenç del Munt range.

What else is on the site?

Right next to the main ruin stands a separate tina — a circular wine vat built from stone bonded with lime mortar, its interior lined with glazed ceramic tiles. The tina survives in very good condition, though an oak tree growing nearby threatens its walls with its roots and branches. The property also holds two circular stone wells and a spring, structures once used to collect and store water, now standing as evidence of how earlier generations managed water in this dry, hilly terrain. A short distance uphill, the remains of a small fortified structure known as el Casot also survive; it was surveyed archaeologically in 1976.

Where does the name come from, and what's the history?

The name Racó (Catalan for "corner" or "nook") refers to the farmstead's position tucked into a side branch of the valley. The building complex is typical of the region's 18th- to 20th-century masies, with winemaking forming part of the household economy — evidenced by the surviving tina, characteristic of the vineyard expansion that swept Catalonia in the second half of the 19th century after phylloxera devastated French vineyards in 1863. The farmstead was eventually abandoned, and its buildings gradually collapsed into ruin; today they form part of the cultural landscape of the Rellinars valley, recorded in the local heritage inventory.

How do you get to Casa del Racó?

One approach starts from the hamlet of Les Ferreres, following the Torrent de l'Esbarzer stream, through a metal gate and several bends in the path, up to the point at the top of the climb where the ruins stand. An alternative route runs from the Camí de les Codines path via Cal Manel; either way, the trail crosses dense forest and can be hard to follow without a good map. Casa del Racó lies within the protected area of the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park, near other points along the local hiking network, such as the Font del Càntir spring and the Casajoana farmhouse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go inside the ruins? Only façades and wall fragments remain, with no roofs, so visits are limited to viewing the buildings from the outside — entering the unstable structures isn't safe.

What is there to see besides the main building? The standout feature next to the ruin is the well-preserved wine vat (tina), along with two stone wells and a nearby spring, all evidence of past water management on the site.

Are there other historic sites nearby? Yes — a short walk away lie the remains of the el Casot fortified structure, and the surrounding trails also lead to other abandoned farmhouses and water points within the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park.

How difficult is the walk in? The approach runs through forested terrain and requires some route-finding, since the paths aren't heavily signposted — it's worth bringing a map or GPS app before setting out.