The first chapter of Vall Amagada del Molí

Hola! We’re Karel and Robin. Partners in life, love and now also in hospitality.

Last year, we made a bold move. We packed up our lives, left Amsterdam behind, and bought an old masia in the Catalan countryside. It’s currently a construction site, but soon it will be our boutique hotel.

How it started

One spring afternoon, half-joking, we asked ourselves: what if we just opened a hotel somewhere under the sun? It sounded unrealistic, and maybe it was, but the thought stuck. Within a few days, we were sending property links back and forth like it was our job. A week later, after a slightly impulsive night, we booked flights to Málaga.

The trip was great. Good weather, good food, and a handful of viewings. But nothing felt right. The places we visited were either too polished or too far removed from what we had in mind. We were looking for space, nature, cycling routes, something quieter and more grounded.

That’s when Girona came into view.

Why Girona made sense

We didn’t know much about the area, but what we did find out made sense. Forests, hills, small towns, and a strong cycling scene. We planned another trip, this time to Catalonia, and lined up twelve viewings.

A few were interesting, most weren’t. We saw ceilings we couldn’t stand up straight in and houses hidden at the end of 45-minute driveways. And then we found Mas el Molí.

Stone building, a big courtyard, sweeping views. Quiet and full of potential. Not perfect but it felt right. That was enough.

We made an offer in September. After weeks of legal paperwork and emails, we signed everything at the notary on December 18. Seven hours later, we had the keys.

What comes next

Since then, the renovation has begun. We’ve stripped everything back to its bones, quite literally. Demolition is done, and we’re slowly starting to build it all back up again. Not just on site, but also behind the scenes: floorplans, materials, interior design, layout decisions. All the things that will eventually make this place feel like home for our future guests.

It’s a lot. It’s messy. But it’s exciting.

This blog is where we’ll document the process: renovation updates, design choices, stories from the valley, and everything that happens in between.

Thanks for being here. The best is yet to come.

Adéu! Or as we’re learning to say, fins aviat!

Karel & Robin