Montjuic: a beautiful hill in Barcelona

Montjuic – “the mountain of museums”

Montjuic is a hill located near Barcelona. The development of Montjuic as a tourist attraction started in 1929, when the first large construction began. Today, this hill offers history, culture and leisure to its visitors. It is often said that Montjuic is “the mountain of museums”. Its history is very old – thousands of years ago, Celts settled in this place. Later on, the hill was a ceremonial place for the Romans.

How to reach Montjuic

For those who like walking, reaching the top of Montjuic on foot can be a real satisfaction. If you are not in this category, the best way to get to the top is by cable car or a tram. Using the cable car can provide you a magnificent view of Barcelona.

What to visit

The Palau Nacional was built in 1929. This neo-baroque building was built for an International Exhibition. Then it was renovated in 1992 for the summer Olympics held in Barcelona. This magnificent building, with a central dome surrounded by many towers, was designed by architect Josep Puig I Cadalfach.

The Magic fountain is another project built for the International Exhibition. It was designed by the engineer Carles Buïgas i Sans. Furthermore, it consists of many cascades and fountains placed between Palau Nacional and the main exhibition center. The best time to see the fountain is in the evening. All your senses will enjoy the variety of lights, music and water coming out of the fountain.

Mies van der Rohe Pavilion was also built for the International Exhibition in 1929. This project was originally designed by German architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe – the main trendsetter of modern architecture at that time. The building is made of glass, marble and steel with a pool in it. In the pool you can see a bronze statue of a woman.

A beautiful sample of Spanish architecture built for the International Exhibition is the Spanish Village. It consists of 116 buildings – original and reproductions of existing buildings (Puerta San Vicente, the Town Hall of Valderrobres and clock tower of Utebo).

Olympic Stadium was built for the Olympic Games held in Barcelona in 1992. The stadium is a part of the so called, “Anella Olímpica” – number of sports facilities. One of the most beautiful facilities is the Montjuic Communications tower, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Montjuic is a place with many lovely gardens. Some of them have more than 2000 different plants. One of the most popular gardens to visit is “Nou Jardí Botànic” – botanic garden.

Castell de Montjuic is the oldest building on the hill. This fortress built in the 17th century, was created as a wall to defend Barcelona. Today, this fortress is a popular museum – Military Museum.