Castell del Montjuic
Castell del Montjuic
Castell del Montjuïc
FORTRESS, PRISON, MUSEUM
The Castell de Montjuïc sits enthroned on Barcelona’s local mountain: a place steeped in history with a great view. In the museum, you can find out everything about the defense system.
My Rating
The positives:
The view from the Castell is amazing – 360 degrees of Barcelona! And, while you’re up there, you might as well visit the museum.
The negatives:
Since September 2015, this view is no longer free. Too bad.
Top Tip:
Free on Sundays after 3:00 p.m.!
Last Modified: 02.02.2024 | Céline
Castell del Montjuïc
Ticket
The details
at a glance
What is there
to see?
The defense system from the 17th century served as a prison under Franco and is now used as a museum. In the many small halls you can look at different weapons or learn about the uses of the facility and its diverse history.
However, the real reason to come and visit is the view! You have a 360 ° view from the airport over the cargo port, the port with the huge cruise ships, further over the old town of Barcelona, the Eixample over to Sants and back to the airport.
The admission was free when I started this page… now, you have to pay for the access. On the one hand, understandable, since the building has to be maintained. However, I think this change is a shame. After Park Güell, you now have to pay admission to another Barcelona attraction, which was once one of the few free places.
Castell del Montjuïc
A bit of History
The Montjuïc is Barcelona’s local mountain, meaning it’s part of the city, and has a lot to offer all by itself. It doesn’t only host the Castell, it also used to secure Barcelona’s port, and nowadays, there are several museums, parks, and former sports facilities, the latter of which are currently used as concert venues as well.
The Montjuïc was home to 1929’s World’s Fair, and the Olympic Summer Games of 1992 were held here, too.
The Montjuïc quarry also provided the stones used in the construction of the Sagrada Família, for the sandstone found in the Montjuïc has a rather special structure.
The castle itself was built in the 17th century and played an important role in the War of the Spanish Succession. From here the city was defended, the Castell was taken and lost again and again until Catalonia finally lost its independence in 1714.
Since then, the castle has been regarded as the seat of foreign rule. First because of the occupation by Madrid in the War of Succession, later also by the occupation by Franco. Under his rule the Castell de Montjuïc had the inglorious fate of serving as a prison and also as a place of execution for anti-Frankists. Franco himself erects the first museum here – with glorification of his deeds.
Official website of the Castel del Montjuic (EN): ajuntament.barcelona.cat/castelldemontjuic/en/visit/planning-your-visit
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