Villa Paulita History

The stillness of the lake, the mystery of the forests, the challenge of the mountains. The clean air, calm snowfalls, and nearby stars. Perched at the highest point of Puigcerdà, overlooking the swans on the pond and with the Pyrenean peaks as silent guardians, the surroundings invite serenity. But they also beckon outdoor activity, hiking, and adventures in nature. This is how our guests experience it today—and how Ramón Volart and his wife must have felt when they purchased this beautiful home in 1920. Having spent several summers in Puigcerdà before, they became forever connected to the area when they acquired the villa most special of all: the tower closest to the pond. Four generations of the same family spent happy summers in this home before it was transformed into a hotel, opening its doors to all who wish to experience the same sense of peace and freedom—a villa beside the Puigcerdà pond.

Ramón Volart, the summer visitor arriving in the joyful 1920s, was a Barcelona industrialist specializing in lace. Although his father had also worked in this delicate craft, it was Ramón’s entrepreneurial spirit that led him to central Europe in search of state-of-the-art machinery and skilled workers to install Spain’s first looms capable of producing tulle, blondes, and the finest machine-made lace. Meticulous in the factory and highly creative in designing new patterns, Volart achieved numerous accolades, with his textiles awarded at exhibitions in Barcelona (1888), Zaragoza (1908), Brussels (1910), Barcelona again (1929), and Seville (1930). Among his greatest honors, however, was serving as supplier to the Spanish Royal Family, dressing the upper class on the most solemn occasions with veils, shawls, and mantillas. The business required great attention, but every summer, without fail, Ramón and his wife, together with their daughter Elvira, returned to Puigcerdà.

By then, the capital of La Cerdanya was becoming fashionable. In the last third of the 19th century, Puigcerdà had become a retreat for a select group of privileged Barcelonans, who began constructing elegant summer residences, or “quintas,” on the outskirts of the town’s medieval walls. These early vacationers drew attention to the area and inspired Barcelona’s wealthy to turn their gaze toward this remote Pyrenean region. Access was difficult, but the location was so desirable that summer homes began to multiply—especially after the end of the last Carlist War in 1876, when the town council demolished the walls, easing access to the new residences and the surrounding orchards.

One of these plots, located next to the pond, was acquired in 1887 “to create a settlement that would combine the greatest attractions,” according to local press that August. Following this vision, the area—partly planted with trees the previous year—was prepared for the construction of half a dozen chalets, which the journalist noted would have key advantages: irrigation and potable water, and most importantly, a location at the highest point of the town, providing “healthier air” and “admirable views.”

It took several more years to complete all the villas, locally known as “torres,” intended as leisure homes for visitors. Built in an eclectic style with a cross-shaped floor plan, each villa features a tower that, far from the defensive architecture that inspired it, becomes the most beautiful vantage point to admire La Cerdanya. Distinguished by a red-and-ivory bicolor reminiscent of Brunelleschi, these villas—set beside the pond and the park established in 1925—have become an iconic part of Puigcerdà, alongside its medieval spaces. This urban ensemble, over a century old, retains its 19th-century charm, with a delicate and slightly decadent elegance.

Leisure Time, Business Time

Ramón Volart had been renting a summer home in Puigcerdà since the 1910s. Alongside other families of “the colony” (so called in contrast to “the villa,” which referred to the town’s permanent residents), he spent the summer months enjoying the best of La Cerdanya: forest excursions, mountain hikes, and social events of the era such as dances and charity performances.

Already a well-known figure in the region, both for his position and his character, Volart was one year invited to a significant celebration: the final stages of the railway line connecting Ribes de Freser and Puigcerdà. Once completed, it would link Barcelona and Puigcerdà by train, overcoming the region’s challenging terrain—a project spanning generations and multiple companies. It was the perfect occasion to highlight the railway’s benefits: time savings and convenience for summer visitors. During the celebration, someone suggested that Volart make an offer on the most beautiful villa by the lake. He did, and in July 1920, the local newspaper Ceretania announced that the newly acquired tower had been named Villa Paulita, in honor of his wife, Paulita Pich, and new owner. The reporter wished the couple “many years of happiness” in their new home—which they certainly enjoyed.

The 1920s and early 1930s were joyful years for Villa Paulita. The estate provided Ramón Volart with space for horse training, a passion passed down to his grandchildren. While he trained young horses destined for carriage teams, his grandson Ramón Estany would later pursue competitive dressage. Five years after purchasing the villa, in 1925, Volart undertook a major renovation to modernize the summer home, adding personal touches such as leaded glass doors inspired by the geometric designs of his lace, and colorful stained-glass windows that brought vibrancy to the house. The renovation prepared the villa to accommodate the growing family: that same year, his only daughter, Elvira, married José María Estany, giving them three grandchildren.

Those years were also happy for Puigcerdà. From 1922, when the railway opened, until the outbreak of the Civil War, the town became a charming, elegant, and cosmopolitan retreat for three months each year, attracting politicians, industrialists, and notable intellectuals. Visitors included writers Narcís Oller and Jacinto Verdaguer, painter Santiago Rusiñol, architect Antoni Gaudí, historian Emmanuel Brousse, and musicians Isaac Albéniz and Enrique Granados. Strolling through Schierbeck Park, enjoying elegant hotels, the Grand Casino, and the lively lakeside kiosk-restaurant, life in Puigcerdà was vibrant—until 1936.

In the 1940s, Puigcerdà regained a slower, different rhythm. “The colony” returned, not just for summer: the town had become more accessible, and winter sports like skiing and golf attracted new generations. Horseback riding, forest excursions, and mountain hikes helped Volart’s grandchildren fall in love with La Cerdanya, guided by their grandfather’s watchful eye. Even as he remained active in his business, Ramón oversaw family matters at Villa Paulita. Upon his death, while his son-in-law took over the lace business, Elvira managed Villa Paulita, hosting the entire family each summer throughout the 1960s.

The villa’s layout from the 1925 renovation remained in use: the semi-basement held service areas—coal room, laundry, and kitchen connected by dumbwaiter to the main floor; the ground floor included reception, office, two dining rooms (one for children), two lounges (one with a piano), and a bathroom. The main floor had four master bedrooms with private baths, plus a smaller room. The second floor, the children’s domain, featured a large playroom with ping-pong and billiards, surrounded by the children’s rooms and those of the household staff. From this floor, a spiral staircase led up to the tower. The gardens hosted children’s games, with Elvira assigning trees to each grandchild to create lasting memories. Up until the late 20th century, Villa Paulita—also known locally as the Torre de Volart—remained the family’s summer gathering place. Only at the dawn of the 21st century did the heirs, with their new lifestyles, stop visiting regularly.

Transforming the family home into a hotel allowed the Volart family to share the villa’s beauty and the happiness it had brought since 1920. Converting rooms for guests, transforming stables into a restaurant, and restoring the gardens ensured that Ramón Volart’s creative, entrepreneurial, and vibrant spirit lives on—and that the name of Paulita, the woman he loved, continues to preside over the most beautiful villa by the pond.