What is Casa Adret? Barcelona's Medieval Jewish House

Q: How old is it?

It is often claimed as the oldest inhabited house in Barcelona, though the house opposite is of a similar age, the exact date of construction is unknown. Its origins probably lie in the 12th century. Sources differ because the house has been rebuilt, extended and partly absorbed by neighbouring buildings over the centuries. Some date it to the 14th century from its Gothic features, while a Romanesque-style window on the second floor may be original, reused from an earlier building, or a later revival. The house is a testament to this change, and its layers of history are visible on every level. In the patio you can see the original foundations and the marked outline of a medieval well. From the second floor you can see the neighbouring buildings leaning towards each other, traditionally blamed on the earthquake of 1428. And from the two rooftop terraces, a 360-degree view opens over Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, with the Cathedral and Montjuïc in sight.

Toldot Team

Sep 22

3 min read

Updated: Oct 27

Casa Adret front door. Casa Adret is one of Barcelona’s oldest surviving houses, with probable 12th-century origins, now a living centre for Jewish culture in El Call. — Front door of Casa Adret, on Carrer Salomò, Ben Adret.

Hidden within the winding streets of El Call, Barcelona's medieval Jewish Quarter, Casa Adret is one of the oldest surviving houses in the city. Believed to date back to the 12th century, it originally formed part of a larger medieval palace and offers one of the most authentic windows into the history of Jewish Barcelona.

Why is it called Casa Adret?

Casa Adret takes its name from its last documented Jewish owner, Astruc Isaac Adret, a wealthy member of the Jewish community of Cervera. Following the anti-Jewish attacks of 1391, Astruc and his wife Bonafilla were forced to convert to Christianity, taking the names Lluís de Junyent and Sibil·la. Two years later, in 1393, they sold the house, marking the end of its Jewish ownership. Despite the name, Casa Adret was not the home of the famous Rabbi Solomon ben Adret (the Rashba).

Centuries of architectural evolution later, the building still preserves extraordinary traces of its past. Original medieval stonework, Romanesque architectural elements, and the rare mezuzah niches carved into the stone doorposts remain visible, offering a tangible connection to the Jewish families who once lived here. In the central courtyard, the outline of the original well can still be seen, recalling everyday life in medieval Barcelona.

How old is it?

It is often claimed as the oldest inhabited house in Barcelona, though the house opposite is of a similar age, the exact date of construction is unknown. Its origins probably lie in the 12th century. Sources differ because the house has been rebuilt, extended and partly absorbed by neighbouring buildings over the centuries. Some date it to the 14th century from its Gothic features, while a Romanesque-style window on the second floor may be original, reused from an earlier building, or a later revival.

The house is a testament to this change, and its layers of history are visible on every level. In the patio you can see the original foundations and the marked outline of a medieval well. From the second floor you can see the neighbouring buildings leaning towards each other, traditionally blamed on the earthquake of 1428. And from the two rooftop terraces, a 360-degree view opens over Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, with the Cathedral and Montjuïc in sight.

A house with many lives

The building has undergone many transformations throughout its history. Its façades were carefully restored in 1956 by the architect Adolf Florensa, while the award-winning rehabilitation by Martínez Lapeña–Torres Arquitectos in 2000 recovered much of the original courtyard by removing later additions and introducing a contemporary steel staircase that evokes the medieval staircase that once stood at its heart. Rather than recreating the past, the project allows the building's different historical layers to remain visible, telling the story of more than 800 years of architectural evolution. The result is truly magnificent.

Casa Adret today

Founded in 2017 by cultural platform Mozaika, Casa Adret has entered a new chapter as a vibrant centre for Jewish culture and heritage. Today it hosts lectures, exhibitions, concerts, educational programmes, podcasts, artist residencies and community events. It is also home to organisations including the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ), Toldot Barcelona, Alhayam Podcast, LABA Barcelona, the Institute of Jewish Studies, and Yiddish Barcelona, making it once again a place of Jewish life, learning, and dialogue.

Visit Casa Adret

Casa Adret is at Carrer de Salomó ben Adret 6. You can see inside on our Jewish Quarter & Casa Adret Highlights Tour, by arranging a private visit, or at events run by Mozaika. There is a ramp and a lift to the first four levels; the rooftop terrace is not accessible. Every tour helps sustain the house and its educational projects. Exploring the rest of the quarter on your own? See what you can see in El Call today, with a suggested route.