Encamp Agency Buys Controversial Juberri Gardens Land for Investment

A real estate agency from Encamp has purchased the land occupied by the Juberri Gardens in Sant Julià de Lòria, marketing it as a prime investment opportunity amid scarce available plots in the area.

In a social media video, the agency promotes the site as "one of the best opportunities to grow your assets," highlighting three parcels totaling around 1,800 square metres. The land sits in a natural setting surrounded by forest, offering high privacy in a location where such prospects are increasingly rare. The announcement emphasises long-term value appreciation, describing the purchase as more than just acquiring land—it's about securing future gains. Buyers could develop at their own pace with full design freedom, in a zone where soil is the scarcest asset, positioned as an investment designed to appreciate over time. Interested parties are invited to visit by contacting the agency via social media.

The sale follows months of controversy over the gardens, which drew growing crowds and sparked neighbour complaints. Early December saw an agreement between Juberri residents and Sant Julià de Lòria's communal authorities to close the site as it operated and remove its sculptures. Major consul Cerni Cairat argued the gardens were never intended for tourism and had become unsustainable. He noted that social media had driven massification, overwhelming an area unprepared for high visitor volumes. Locals had long reported issues including traffic chaos, illegal parking blocking private accesses and garages, and a lack of basic services.

Residents described weekends as chaotic, with constant vehicle movement and even a bus once attempting to turn in the narrow street. One neighbour said small groups were manageable, but recent crowds had overwhelmed the private road, straining coexistence.

Sculpture owner Nicole Grignon, 88, opposed the planned summer closure and removal, claiming she was uninformed and could not comply in time. She alleged economic pressures underpinned the push, recounting a suggestion that the works should remain for locals after her death, which she firmly rejected.