Inside Villa Winter – A First-Hand Look at Fuerteventura’s Most Mysterious House

Villa Winter, located in the remote area of Cofete on the Jandia Peninsula in the south of Fuerteventura, is one of the island’s most mysterious and talked-about buildings.

Over the years, many theories have emerged about its purpose, ranging from wartime connections to more unusual claims.

This article is based on direct access to the property and first-hand observations, rather than second-hand accounts or speculation.

During our visit, we were given rare access to the property, allowing us to explore areas of the house that are not usually seen. In this article, we take a closer look inside Villa Winter and share our first impressions, observations and photographs from inside the building. What we found raises more questions than answers.

Villa Winter was built by German engineer Gustav Winter, whose life and activities on the island remain the subject of much discussion.

For those staying in nearby Morro Jable exploring further into the Jandía peninsula offers a very different and more remote experience.

Villa Winter remains one of the most unusual places you can explore on the island and is featured among the more unique locations in our guide to places to visit in Fuerteventura.

First impressions of Villa Winter

Reaching Villa Winter is not easy. The journey involves navigating rough tracks across the Jandía peninsula, and the final approach highlights just how isolated the building is. Surrounded by mountains and coastline, it sits in a location that feels both dramatic and remote.

From the outside, the villa appears solid and imposing, with thick walls and a design that stands out against the surrounding landscape. Its position alone has led to many questions about why it was built here and what purpose it may have served.

At the rear of Villa Winter the entrance area reveals some of the more unusual details of the property. The courtyard is enclosed by high walls and a heavy door, giving it a more defensive feel than might be expected from a typical residential building.

One of the most talked-about features here are the carvings and symbols found around the entrance. These details have led to a variety of interpretations over the years, with some suggesting they may have had a specific meaning or purpose, while others believe they are simply decorative.

As with many aspects of Villa Winter, their true significance remains unclear, but they continue to add to the mystery surrounding the building.

Photo By Luisa Follano - Villa Winter back entrance

The courtyard

Passing through the rear entrance of Villa Winter, you arrive in the central courtyard area. This space acts as a transition between the exterior and the interior of the building, enclosed by high walls and overlooked by the surrounding structure.

The courtyard has a contained and slightly imposing feel, reinforced by the height of the walls and the limited access points. From here, it becomes easier to understand the layout of the villa and how the different areas connect.

One of the more interesting features still visible here are the old mine carts and sections of track, which hint at the scale of construction work that once took place. Their presence adds another layer to the story of the villa and raises further questions about how the site was developed.

Like much of the building, the design raises questions about whether the layout was purely practical or intended for a more specific purpose.

Photo By Luisa Follano - Old mine carts and track still visible in the courtyard

Another striking detail in the courtyard is an old vehicle, likely dating back several decades, still sitting within the grounds. Its worn condition and style suggest it has been there for a long time, adding a strong sense of history to the site.

Like many features at Villa Winter, it raises further questions about daily life at the property and how it may have been used in the past.

Photo By Luisa Follano - Old truck still visible just inside the walls of Villa Winter

Inside the Villa Winter main house

Inside Villa Winter the layout appears simple at first, with large rooms and thick walls typical of the period. However, as you move further through the building, certain features begin to stand out, including unusual construction details and areas that do not immediately match a typical residential design.

Some rooms feel unfinished or adapted over time, while others contain remnants of past use that raise further questions. The overall impression is of a building that may have served more than one purpose.

There are also visible signs of heavy construction throughout, which suggest that significant work once took place here, adding to the ongoing questions about how the villa was used.

Villa Winter roof and tower

The tower and roof area offer wide views across the surrounding landscape and coastline. From this elevated position, the strategic location of the villa becomes more apparent, with clear sightlines towards the sea and surrounding terrain.

Some have suggested that the tower may have had a functional role beyond simply providing views, although there is no confirmed evidence to support this.

Inside Villa Winter Tower

View from Villa Winter Tower

Communications inside Villa Winter Tower, overlooking the Helipad

Batteries found in Villa Winter

The upper level and hidden rooms

On the upper level of Villa Winter, some of the smaller rooms stand out for their unusual access. Rather than traditional doors or stairways, certain spaces can only be reached by ladder, with no obvious internal connection to the rest of the building.

These rooms are relatively small and enclosed, and their purpose is not immediately clear. The lack of standard access points has led to a number of questions about how they were used and why they were designed in this way.

As with many features of the villa, there is no confirmed explanation, but details like these continue to add to the sense that the building may have been used for more than a simple residential function.

Room with no door or stairs 

Villa Winter cellar and lower levels

The cellar and lower levels of Villa Winterv are among the most talked-about areas of the building. Unlike the upper floors, these spaces feel more enclosed, with narrower passages and a noticeably different atmosphere.

Moving through these lower sections, the layout becomes less straightforward, with a series of rooms and corridors that give a sense of separation from the rest of the house. The lack of natural light and the heavier construction add to the overall feeling of isolation.

Over the years, these areas have been linked to a variety of theories, although there is no confirmed explanation for their exact purpose. What is clear is that they differ significantly from the more open spaces above, adding another layer to the mystery surrounding the villa.

These lower levels feel distinctly different from the rest of the house, reinforcing the idea that parts of the villa may have been designed for a specific and still unknown purpose.

The tunnels and underground areas

Some of the most discussed features of Villa Winter are the reports of tunnels and underground spaces. Over the years, these have been linked to a variety of theories, including hidden access routes, storage areas or more complex uses during the wartime period.

Photographs taken inside and around the villa show passages and lower-level areas that have added to this speculation. While it is not always clear how extensive these spaces are, their presence has played a major role in the ongoing mystery surrounding the building.

View from mountain side of one of the tunnels

View from Ocean side of the tunnel

Questions and theories

Despite the number of investigations and accounts over the years, many questions about Villa Winter remain unanswered. The combination of its remote location, unusual features and historical context has led to a wide range of theories.

While some are based on documented history, others remain speculative, and the full story of the villa may never be completely known.

Article By Luisa Follano with The Voice Fuerteventura