Jardí del Clos del Pastor

Jardí del Clos del Pastor is an Art Nouveau garden and former estate in l'Escala, on Catalonia's Costa Brava, now home to an archive-museum dedicated to writer Caterina Albert, better known by her pen name Víctor Català.

Where does the name come from and what is its history?

The estate was built in 1915 on the initiative of Antònia Bartomeu i Baró, an admirer of Víctor Català's work from Reus. Bartomeu had the house and garden constructed to host literary gatherings, and eventually handed the whole property over to the writer herself in recognition of her literary achievements. The garden's name echoes the title of one of Caterina Albert's most celebrated novels, "Solitud" (Solitude), giving the place an extra symbolic layer tied to her work. After the writer's death, the property passed to her nephew and godson, Lluís Albert, who in 1975 opened the Víctor Català Museum-Archive here, expanding the estate's old gardener's cottage to house it.

What can visitors find on the grounds?

The complex is made up of three parts: the Art Nouveau garden itself, the former gardener's cottage, and a tower. The whole ensemble is built in the Catalan modernist style and is listed as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local). It sits at Passeig Lluís Albert 11, within l'Escala's old town, close to the seafront promenade.

How has the site evolved recently?

On 16 November 2024, a new space dedicated to Caterina Albert / Víctor Català opened at Clos del Pastor, focused on lesser-known sides of the writer's creative output, including her painting, drawing and sculpture work. This made Clos del Pastor the third local institution in l'Escala devoted to keeping her memory alive, alongside the town's other existing spaces linked to the author.

How can the garden be visited?

Visits take the form of guided tours organized from the Anchovy and Salt Museum (Museu de l'Anxova i la Sal) in l'Escala. Groups set out from there and are then taken through the garden and the rooms of the former house. Because tours run on set dates rather than as free walk-in visits, it is worth checking the current schedule shortly before planning a visit.

Who is this place for?

Clos del Pastor is aimed primarily at visitors interested in Catalan literature, local history and Art Nouveau architecture. A walk through this small, intimate garden combines natural surroundings with a biographical dimension: among the greenery and period buildings, it is possible to get a sense of the setting in which one of Catalonia's most important turn-of-the-20th-century writers worked. Its location close to l'Escala's old town and the seaside promenade makes it easy to combine with a visit to other parts of the town.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Jardí del Clos del Pastor? It is a historic Art Nouveau garden in l'Escala, part of a former estate built in 1915, now serving as an archive-museum dedicated to writer Caterina Albert (Víctor Català).

Where exactly is it located? At Passeig Lluís Albert 11, in the old town of l'Escala, near the seafront promenade.

Can the garden be visited independently? Visits are organized as guided tours departing from the Anchovy and Salt Museum, so it is best to check tour dates before arriving.

Why does the garden's name reference "Solitud"? The name recalls the title of one of Caterina Albert's most famous novels, underlining the garden's literary character.