Mas Trabal

Mas Trabal is an abandoned farmhouse in the municipality of Begues, in the Baix Llobregat comarca of Barcelona province, Catalonia. The ruins stand at roughly 425 metres above sea level, east of the Cal Vallès farmstead, and have been uninhabited for decades — yet they remain a familiar landmark for hikers crossing the hills around Begues.

What kind of building is this?

Also recorded under the name variants Mas Treval and Mas Traval, Mas Trabal is a classic Catalan masia — a rural farmstead that grew over time into a cluster of interconnected wings and outbuildings. The resulting floor plan is unusually complex, with sections added onto one another across different periods, which makes the original layout hard to trace today. Several rooms were tied to farm work, including a livestock pen on the south side of the property.

How was it built?

The walls combine stone bonded with lime mortar and, in places, clay, finished with a lime render. Door and window openings, along with the corners of the building, are framed in blocks of red sandstone, giving the façades a distinctive two-tone look. Brick barrel vaults cover many of the interior rooms. One wing has kept its full original height and a polygonal floor plan, though it no longer has a roof. The main façade features a voussoired stone portal reached by a brick ramp, topped by the faded remains of a sundial.

What does the history of Mas Trabal tell us?

The earliest possible reference to the site goes back to a feudal land registry from 1390–96, where a certain Simó Treval declared holding a farmstead called Mas Conquista — though whether this refers to today's Mas Trabal remains uncertain. Firmer evidence starts in 1512, when ownership passed to Joan Petit. The Petit family worked the land for generations: parish baptism records place them there between 1568 and 1802, and Josep Petit is documented as the owner in 1756. The last residents moved out in the mid-20th century, after which the buildings began falling into disrepair.

What condition is the site in today?

The farmhouse is officially rated in poor condition. Roof tiles and stone blocks were reportedly sold off to another local farmstead, Cal Gepet, leaving the exposed walls open to the weather. Vegetation has taken over several rooms, and parts of the structure have collapsed. The land is privately owned and carries no formal heritage protection. Despite the decay, the ruins still serve a practical purpose, sheltering sheep that graze in the surrounding countryside.

Why do hikers stop here?

Mas Trabal sits along several well-known walking routes through the countryside around Begues, including paths toward Puigmoltó and routes coming from Castelldefels. For hikers, it functions as a distinctive waypoint — a picturesque ruin set against the limestone plateau typical of the area, combining traces of Catalonia's farming past with its rural building traditions.

Frequently asked questions

What is Mas Trabal? It is an abandoned Catalan masia (farmstead) in the municipality of Begues, also known as Mas Treval or Mas Traval, built up from several wings added over time.

Who owned Mas Trabal? From 1512 the property belonged to the Petit family, who worked it for generations — parish records show their presence there until at least 1802.

Can visitors go inside Mas Trabal? The site is private property, but the ruins are visible from the public hiking trails that pass through the countryside around Begues.

What state are the buildings in now? They are in poor structural condition: roofless in places, partly collapsed, and overgrown with vegetation, with no formal heritage protection status.