La Batllia is a charming historic Catalan country house (Grade II listed) located in Font-Rubi, near Camprodon, with plenty of history and character. This property has been renovated in a very authentic way over the years by its current owners who come from a background in antiques and interior design. Without doubt, their careful attention to preserving the original personality of this house has converted it into a very unique property, out of the ordinary.
The 5-bedroom house sits on a plot of 64,000 m2 of natural woodlands, pasture and even a spring, and has stunning views of the mountains and valley below. It enjoys the best of both worlds, the peace and quiet of rural life in the mountains, but is just a 10 minute drive from Camprodon, a beautiful medieval town in the Pyrenees with all the services.
Parts of the property date back to the 17th century with later additions, such as the 4-level tower which was built in the 19th century with its spectacular views. The main house has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a spacious lounge, dining room, kitchen and other rooms, and close by is a separate building which has been turned into a guest house with a lovely secluded garden area, spectacular views from the windows and an original bread oven set inside the stone wall.
As with most traditional Catalan masias, the cows, sheep and pigs lived on the ground floor and the family upstairs. On the ground level at La Batllia you can still see the feeding troughs although perhaps the most surprising feature is a very unusual Gothic archway. This part of the house still has plenty of potential for conversion.
Going upstairs, all the rooms and bedrooms have retained their original structure and elements to reflect their long history, like the exposed wooden beams, the flooring and the windows. The current owners have combined these with carefully selected decoration and furniture to mach the rustic style of the house along with their collection of works of art, antiques and handcrafted objects. The original hearth in the kitchen has been preserved harking back to past times although a more modern stove and oven have been added. Small original details have been converted into interesting quirky alcoves. Even the original commode has been maintained (though fortunately it's not in use!).
La Batllia stands in a wonderful mountainous setting and the land around it has been kept as natural as possible. The pasture is grazed in the springtime by local mountain horses and the grounds are fed by a spring located nearby.
All in all, the current owners have embraced the charming imperfections in a centuries-old building and converted the old Catalan ancestral “Batllia” into a wonderful welcoming home, with any new additions blending into the old in such a way to respect the property’s origins and personality.
We are now looking for new owners to take it on and fully enjoy its rustic charm and the rural lifestyle it offers.