Spanish television broadcasts the restoration of a Cap de Creus masia converted into a rural, boutique hotel
Post published in Press
Canal Decasa dedicates an episode of its series “Ruina a Palacio” to the transformation of Mas dels Arbres, an 18th-century masia located in the Cap de Creus Natural Park.
In May 2025, the national television channel Canal Decasa is broadcasting a documentary that tells the story of the restoration of a long-abandoned masia set within the Cap de Creus Natural Park, in the municipality of Cadaqués, Alt Empordà (Girona).
The programme, titled Ruina a Palacio, is produced by the award-winning documentary company Story Producciones.
The episode features Àngels Sabater, director of the luxury estate agency and rehabilitation firm Cottage Properties (based in Navata), and Donald Reid, a Scottish writer and current owner of Mas dels Arbres.
Episode 3 of the series, titled “A farmhouse and a ruined masia”, will be aired multiple times throughout May on Canal Decasa.
The channel is available through all major providers and local cable across Spain.
Restoration of Mas dels Arbres
Mas dels Arbres, measuring 685 m² and dating back to 1750, was last home to eight registered residents in 1945 – but by the time Reid acquired it in 2019, it was completely derelict.
The masia had no roof and had been used as a cattle shelter.
The restoration, which took two years, involved installing new floors and ceilings and clearing out rubble – but the work was carried out with the utmost respect for the building’s original features.
Among the preserved elements are:
Dry stone walls and pillars
Original window dimensions
Original arches
Historic floor tiles
Wood-fired oven (still functional)
Private chapel
Traditional stone sinks
Stone lintels
Oak beams
Foundations carved directly into the rock
Festejadors (built-in stone benches either side of a window)
On the second floor, a festejador has also been preserved where, according to oral tradition, the family’s pubilla (eldest daughter) would sit alongside her mother or grandmother to speak with suitors – Romeo and Juliet style.
The old stables have been transformed into a private suite, while the hay barn has been converted into a separate guest cottage.
Today, Mas dels Arbres operates as a rural boutique hotel.
It offers bed & breakfast stays, locally sourced products, and a private chef service on request.
The house can accommodate up to 14 guests, with seven beds distributed across four independent sections – making it a unique destination for high-quality rural tourism.
Commentary
Ponç Feliu, director of the Cap de Creus Natural Park
In 2021, the director of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, Ponç Feliu, expressed his support for the recovery of masias like this one, provided such projects comply with park regulations and are aligned with sustainable development goals.
Feliu noted that, given the lack of public funding to manage large protected areas like Cap de Creus or the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, initiatives such as rural tourism can help stimulate the local economy while preserving the traditional agroforestry landscape.
“It creates a small hub of rural tourism, and we support it because it helps boost the local economy,” Ponç told the Diari de Girona.
This week, Feliu told Cottage Properties that restorations of masias and rural properties in the Cap de Creus Natural Park has had a positive effect on the environment.
"Just over a century ago, there were more than 400 farmhouses in the Cap de Creus massif. Social, demographic, but above all agricultural changes (the loss of vineyards due to phylloxera, the death of olive trees during the cold snap of February 1956, the abandonment of pastures...) led to an exodus toward towns and cities and a loss of this rural heritage. Fortunately, in recent decades, some farmhouses have been acquired by individuals who have promoted their restoration – always respecting historical criteria, following the original designs, and complying with the regulations of the Special Plan of the Cap de Creus Natural Park. The restoration of these farmhouses has led to new residents settling in the massif and has contributed to the socio-economic revitalisation of a territory that has gained new value – an important factor in promoting sustainable tourism. Moreover, these estates have once again recovered open spaces and habitats of high ecological interest, such as pastures and agricultural areas tied to our Mediterranean environments."
Ángels Sabater, executive director at Cottage Properties
According to Àngels Sabater, finding a ruined masia in a sought-after area like Cadaqués is like “finding a hidden gem.”
“Unfortunately, many masias across Catalonia remain abandoned. For us, being part of this project, both as estate agents and restoration experts, means we are also helping recover our Catalan history and cultural heritage.”
Useful links
Canal Decasa and "De Ruina a Palacio"
Journalism covering the rehabilitation of masias in the Cap de Creus national park
Mas dels Arbres
Cap de Creus
Press contact
Angels Sabater, executive director
Cottage Properties
Avinguda Josep Maria de Ventos, 16, 17744 Navata, Girona
[email protected]
+34 972 55 00 90
www.cottageproperties.es
Images
The images of the property must be credited to Cottage Properties with a link to the official press release:
https://www.cottageproperties.es/en/blog/canal-decasa-restoration-mas-dels-arbres
These images are covered by the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which allows the use of the material as long as the author is credited with a link to the original source.
Post published 08/05/2025 in Press
