El Caracol
Lledó, Spain
6 guests
3 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
- Stylishly Comfortable
- A property designed with great style and with amenities that offer a relaxed stay.
- Dome
- A home with a hemispherical roof or ceiling
- Mountain
- Elevated living on hills and mountains
An Off-Grid Home in Catalonia Redefines Structural Boundaries
Inhabiting a stunning landscape at the confluence of two rivers, the scenery embraces the unusual structure that juts out from the wild Catalonia countryside like a futuristic shell. This home sleeps up to six guests in two ensuite bedrooms and one additional open-plan living area that's great for kids.
An Off-Grid Home in Catalonia Redefines Structural Boundaries
We're big fans of improvisation and individuality, and this vacation home for rent in Spain is a surprising structural creation that manages to be both modern and primitive. Inhabiting a stunning landscape at the confluence of two rivers, the scenery embraces the unusual structure that juts out from the wild Catalonia countryside like a futuristic shell.
Designed and built by the owners as a partially off-grid family homestead, this vacation home for rent in Spain sits in a magnificent and private landscape on eight acres of Mediterranean pine forest and orchards, with limestone terraces leading down to two intersecting rivers.
Constructed of steel, wood, and concrete, the structure is partially subterranean, with the central dome serving as the primary shelter space, and a massive cantilevered aperture at the center. The angular, outward-facing walls of glass focus the views on the stunning scenery and serve to ventilate the whole house.
The ground floor entrance hall is submerged and opens up to the floor above to the open plan living, kitchen, and dining areas with unique V-shaped steel supports that are both functional and structurally dramatic.
The upper level includes an ensuite master bedroom with a convex wall and forest views and an additional ensuite double bedroom. There is also a central, open-plan room that can be used as an additional bedroom (well designed for kids).
The dome extends out over the terraces providing shady indoor/outdoor spaces to grill, fire up the pizza oven, and dine on something special poolside while you admire the amazing views. There is also space for boules, with balls provided.
El Caracol is off-grid, powered by solar panels, and passively heated and cooled, using earth berming and planting methods. The land surrounding the house is maintained without herbicides.
Yoga lovers can book an instructor for classes on the terrace, and there are mats in the house for personal use.
AROUND
The relatively undiscovered area along the border of Catalonia, Aragon, and Valencia is a spectacularly beautiful and biodiverse region that allows for vast exploration without the crowds. Bordering the Els Ports Nature Park, the area is characterized by dramatic limestone massifs and was once home to prehistoric settlements, where you'll encounter fascinating remains of paved pathways, chalk ovens, ice wells, and charcoal stores. It's a great region for biking, horseback riding, fishing, climbing, swimming, canyoning, geocaching, and boating.
The nearby village of Horta de San Joan is a short bicycle ride away and although long a charming rural outpost, it was put on the map by Picasso's visits early in his life. The 16th-century central square is an atmospheric beauty where the town gathers in the evenings and life moves at a slow pace.
Just a short ride from the house, the Via Verde cycle route runs to Balneario de Font Calda, a gorgeous limestone gorge with deep natural swimming pools and there are several ancient hilltop villages dating back to the 12th century within a short drive that provide a glimpse into a bygone era of rural life. They come alive each summer with parties featuring traditional music, dance and dress, and colorful markets.
Once known primarily for olive oil, the region is now a big wine producer and the village of Lledò will welcome you with a tasting at Bodegas Crial and the dramatic "Cathedral of Wine" in Pinell de Brai.
LOCATION
Lledo, Catalonia, Spain. Nearest airport: Reus and Castellon (75 mins), Zaragoza (90 mins), Valencia and Barcelona Prat (2.5 hrs)
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
May to September to make the best use of the mild weather, the stunning scenery, and the river swimming opportunities
Photos
Amenities
Here’s what you can expect during your stay:
- Kitchen
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Internet
- Wifi throughout
- Pool
Additional Information
Discover more about this property.
- Bedrooms
- 3
- Full Bathrooms
- 3
How long would you like to stay?
Minimum 2 nights
Location
Discover more about where you’ll be staying.
Lledó, Spain
The Guestbook
See what our community is saying about El Caracol.
Mis amigas y yo fuimos a celebrar nuestro 40 cumpleaños a esta maravillosa casa. La casa nos encantó, es preciosa y no le falta de nada. La zona de la piscina es genial y incluso nos atrevimos a bañarnos en pleno noviembre :) Disfrutamos de dos días magníficos. Volveremos seguro!
Everything was amazing! The house is one in a million and the environment is the ideal for resting and chilling with friends. The only perk I would highlight is that if it's raining the path to the house could be quite difficult for some cars. Just taking note of this, you will enjoy the experience at El Caracol 100%! It's super cool!
What a piece of art! .. It was an honour to experience this beautifull creation in such wonderfull nature setting. I could live there for ever :-)
We had a wonderful stay at El Caracol. Everything was fantastic, from the owners to the nature ( and of course the house). The place is amazing, I had high expectations based on the reviews I had read and I can tell that it was still a beautiful surprise when we arrived. We couldn’t wish for better. The architecture of the house is incredible, lots of light and the beautiful view from basically every room of the house. Waking up with a view to the landscape, it was amazing. Perfect place to fully connect with the nature. I’m looking forward to come back to this magic place.
This house is stunning. We had an incredible stay! The house is truly one one of a kind, and we already thinking about our next visit there! Eve was professional and her hospitality, support and recommendations made our stay unforgetabke. Everything was above all expectations!
Wonderful property in a superb location. Highly recommended!