Casa Quintana

Casa Quintana, one of the oldest houses in Collioure

In the upper part of the village, Casa Quintana often goes unnoticed, and yet it is among the oldest houses still standing in Collioure. Its plain stone façade deserves a pause. The Collioure audio-guided tour is fond of these discreet witnesses that tell the story of the town before the painters, that of the Catalan merchants and families of the Middle Ages.

A witness of the Aragonese era

The house dates from the fifteenth century, when Collioure was part of the kingdom of Aragon. It bears witness to late-medieval Catalan civil architecture, with its Gothic frames around the windows. Much later, Casa Quintana remained in memory as the guesthouse that took in the Spanish poet Antonio Machado on his arrival in Collioure, in 1939, after the exile of the Retirada.

What to see

The interest of Casa Quintana lies above all in its façade: the weathered stone, the fine Gothic openings and the outline of a dwelling that has crossed the centuries. It is seen from the street, while strolling through the upper part of Collioure. Its literary history, linked to Machado, makes it a moving stop for those following the poet's trail through the town.

Practical information

Casa Quintana stands in the upper part of the old centre of Collioure and is seen from the street during a walk. It is a private dwelling: it is admired from the outside, with no organised visit or ticket office. As the lanes of the old village are steep and cobbled, sturdy shoes are recommended to reach it.

Can you visit Casa Quintana?

It is a private dwelling: it is seen from the outside, during a walk through the upper part of Collioure, with no organised visit.

What is the link between Casa Quintana and Antonio Machado?

It was in this house, turned guesthouse, that the Spanish poet Antonio Machado was taken in on his arrival in Collioure in 1939, shortly before his death, after fleeing Spain during the Retirada.