Eighteenth century watering system uncovered at the Laberint d’Horta
The original watering system at the Laberint d’Horta, from 1791, can be better understood thanks to an archaeological exercise forming part of the project to recover the history and landscape of the park. The find confirms that the initial watering system used an inundation method, taking advantage of the difference in the level of the land.
Photogram of the Laberint d’Horta. Authors O. Varas – Solumetrics
The dig located the entrance point for the water to the eastern corner of the maze, arriving from a distributor that carried it to several parterres. From this point the water flowed through the parterres of the cypress bushes to reach the exit at the southern angle, making the most of a difference in ground level of 2.37 metres. Channels built here connected the 57 sections, all with an entrance in the upper section and an exit at the lower part.
The Parc del Laberint d’Horta consists of a set of gardens covering 54 hectares, located on a property belonging to the Marquis of Llupià, Poal and Alfarràs. The first garden date back to 1791 and were the work of the French gardener Devalet, the Catalan master builder Jaume Valls and the Italian engineer Domenico Bagutti, who were commissioned by the Marquis, Joan Desvalls.
The property remained in the hands of the Desvalls family until the 1970s, when it came under the ownership of the City Council. It was inaugurated as a public park in 1971 and underwent a comprehensive revamp in 1994, turning it into a garden museum.
View of the archaeological exercise. Authors: J. Llaberia – O. Varas
View of the archaeological exercise. Authors: J. Llaberia – O. Varas
