DK Travel : Barcelona : Montjuïc

Montjuïc : Overview & Top 10

Named the “Jewish mountain” , after an important Jewish cemetery that existed here in the Middle Ages, this sizeable and mountainous park rises 213 m (700 ft) above the port. The park itself was first landscaped for the 1929 International Exhibition, when the elegant Palau Nacional and the strikingly modern Mies van der Rohe Pavilion were also built. During the following decade, the area fell into general disuse and soon became synonymous with decline. Together with the grim shadow cast over the hill by the castle, which for years acted as a slaughterhouse for Franco’s firing squads, it is little short of miraculous that Montjuïc is now one of Barcelona’s biggest tourist draws. However, as the main site for the 1992 Olympics, held on its southern slopes, Montjuïc was given a comprehensive face-lift and the area was transformed into a beautiful green oasis, with two fabulous art museums and a host of stunning sports facilities. All these elements are interconnected by a network of exterior escalators and interlaced with quiet, shady gardens, which offer dazzling views over Barcelona and a welcome respite from the bustle of the city.

For more on Barcelona’s history see Stages in Barcelona's History The funicular connects Metro Paral·lel with the Fundació Joan Miró and the cable cars that continue up to the Castell de Montjuïc. You can hop on and off the Tren Turístic (Tours & Trips), which ferries visitors up the hill from Plaça d’Espanya and back. (April to October). 13th-century altar frontal, Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya