Casa Pere Llibre

Casa Pere Llibre is a historic villa in Cardedeu, a town in the Vallès Oriental region a short distance from Barcelona. Sitting at coordinates 41.63712, 2.35475, the house is listed as a local asset of cultural interest, a status that protects it from alterations that would erase its historic character.

Where is Casa Pere Llibre and what does it look like from the street?

The villa stands along the old road to Caldes de Montbui, one of the main routes leading out of central Cardedeu. It is a freestanding building set in its own garden — a classic example of the "garden-city" residential model that wealthy Catalan families favored around the turn of the 20th century, when Cardedeu was becoming a popular summer retreat for Barcelona residents escaping the city heat.

Why does this particular house matter to Cardedeu's history?

Research by the local historian Artigues dates the building to 1889. That date matters for the town: Casa Pere Llibre was the very first house built along the Caldes road, and it is considered the first "torre" — the local term for a summer villa — ever raised in Cardedeu. In practical terms, it kicked off a wave of similar summer residences that wealthy Barcelona families went on to build nearby, drawn by the town's proximity to the railway and its reputation as a healthy country escape.

Over the decades the house underwent several alterations that changed some of its original details, particularly on the facade, though its overall massing and character are still recognizable today.

What architectural details can visitors spot?

The main facade follows a symmetrical layout: a central volume flanked by lower side additions. A four-slope roof caps the principal elevation, and a quarter-turn staircase leads up to the entrance. The window and door openings change character between floors — semi-circular arches mark the ground floor, while the upper floor uses plain flat lintels instead. The whole facade is finished in red stucco, giving the house a warm, distinctive tone that stands out along the street.

While Casa Pere Llibre isn't a grand mansion, its combination of arched openings, symmetry, the staircase, and the roofline places it firmly within the modernist idiom that flourished in Cardedeu during its years as a fashionable summer colony.

Can you visit Casa Pere Llibre?

The house is one of four modernist facades in Cardedeu's town centre that feature on guided walking routes dedicated to the town's turn-of-the-century architecture. Several other period villas stand nearby, so visitors can see multiple examples of this summer-house style within a short walk. Casa Pere Llibre remains privately owned, so access is limited to viewing the exterior from the street as part of a self-guided or organized tour of the historic centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Casa Pere Llibre built? The house dates to 1889, according to research by the historian Artigues, making it the first building erected along the road to Caldes de Montbui in Cardedeu.

Is Casa Pere Llibre a protected building? Yes. It is listed as a local asset of cultural interest, which protects it from alterations that would erase its historic character.

Can visitors go inside? No, the villa is privately owned. Visits are limited to viewing the facade from outside, typically as part of a route covering the four modernist houses in Cardedeu's centre.

What makes it different from Cardedeu's other modernist villas? It was the first summer villa built in the town, predating the other period residences that later shaped the modernist character of Cardedeu's centre.