The Crypt Of Colonia Güell, Gaudí’s Greatest Secret

Gaudí was undoubtedly a master of architecture, “an art scientist”, as he defined himself. His works have left their mark on those who see them and today, architects or architecture students from all over the world travel to Spain to see his works. One of the most unknown is the crypt of Colonia Güell.

Science, art, architecture and a touch of madness is what distinguishes the works of the Catalan architect. Works that no one has even been able to copy successfully. Park Güell, the Sagrada Familia or Casa Batlló are some of his best-known works.

None of them are wasted, but  we want to tell you about Gaudí’s secret , one of his best works of art, locked up in Colonia Güell. A work that few know, but that is worthy of admiration, without a doubt.

Gaudí’s best kept secret

Colonia Güell is one of the jewels of modernism. There, just 17 kilometers from Barcelona, ​​is one of Gaudí’s most interesting works. It is the crypt (actually the ground floor) of a temple that, like the Sagrada Familia, was left unfinished. A fascinating place.

However, while Sagrada Familia receives millions of visitors every year, this crypt barely reaches 40,000. Something curious, since it is considered the laboratory where Gaudí experimented with forms, engineering and architecture. In addition, it is part of the World Heritage Site.

The Crypt of Colonia Güell

Despite being one of the least known of the revolutionary architect’s works, there are no words to define this crypt and everything that makes it up. Not only when it comes to architecture.

Gaudí worked in all aspects, for example, on the original benches, made with packing boxes that protected machinery. Some of them are found today in museums such as the Hermitage or the Louvre.

A little history

The crypt is only part of what would have been a magnificent church. Gaudí himself said that “if it had been completed it would have been a monumental model of the Sagrada Familia”. Its arches, its curves and its colored crystals make it a work of art without equal.

Count Güell, a great friend of Gaudí, was the one who entrusted him with the colossal task of creating a church in his neighborhood and he did it without setting limits. He just said: “Do what you want.” It was clear that he was well acquainted with the talent and skills of the architect, as well as his creativity and imagination.

There were no limits on budgets, forms, or time to complete the temple. Construction began in 1908 and it was a very ambitious project that included two naves (same as the Sagrada Familia) and different side towers up to 40 meters high.

However, when Count Güell died, his children decided not to continue financing the work, so it stopped just 6 years after it began.

How is the Crypt of Colonia Güell

For Gaudí this was a place of experimentation. Here he devised and merged all his architectural innovations. And a good part of them would later be transferred to the Sagrada Familia.

Gaudí created a unique, fantastic space. A space where inclined pillars and catenary arches stand out. But, although it may seem somewhat anarchic, it is not, the inclination of each column is rigorously studied. And no two pillars are the same.

Also outstanding are the stained glass windows, which marvelously filter the light that enters the crypt, creating that mystical atmosphere that surrounds it. And throughout the complex, both inside and outside, you can see the admiration that Gaudí always showed for nature and its forms.

If anyone wants to know how far Gaudí went in his practices and forms, they should see the crypt of Colonia Güell. That is why we invite you to come and meet her on your next visit to Barcelona. It will be worth it!