The building was constructed between 1886 and 1890 and was the first major project that Antoni Gaudí received. Being built in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods of the time and near the most famous brothel of Barcelona, Count Eusebi Güell and Antoni Gaudí intended with this palace to change the bad reputation of the neighborhood.

Although located in a very narrow street, Antoni Gaudí designed this palace as a great palace: Only for the facade, Gaudí proposed more than 25 different designs! The majestic entrance gave the carriages and horses access to the interior of the palace and the stables are located in the basement. These stables are beautiful and we strongly suggest you to visit them and experience the very special spirit that they still retain. You can access them via a spiral ramp that was also designed by Gaudí.

If you visit the roof -please do that as well- you will discover the first steps in the way Gaudi saw chimneys as decorative elements of the whole. Probably the success of the palace inspired him to continue and expand the chimney-concept in later works as for instance La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

A surprising fact of the palace is that during the Spanish Civil War it served as police station. Another "Trivial Persuit" fact: Years later an American millionaire proposed to buy the palace from the Güell family with the purpose to dismantle it stone-by-stone and rebuild it across the ocean. Fortunately it was not sold.