Castell de Montjuïc

About the museum

On the summit of Montjuïc there has long been a lookout point over the coast: the Torre de Guaita is documented from 1073 and warned the city of the arrival of ships. The first small fort was built in 1640, during the Reapers’ War (Guerra dels Segadors), and the mountain was the scene of the Battle of Montjuïc in 1641.

The present castle began to be built in 1672 and was completed to the design of Juan Martín Cermeño, carried out between 1753 and 1779, following the bastioned fortification system. During the 19th century it was used as an instrument of control and repression of the city. It is associated with the bombardments of Barcelona, such as that of 1842, and with the detention and torture of prisoners after the anarchist attacks at the end of the century. In 1909, after the Tragic Week, Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia was executed there, an event that consolidated the castle’s dark reputation.

After the coup of 1936 and the Civil War, the castle served as a military prison until 1950. There Lluís Companys, president of the Generalitat, was executed in 1940, as was General Antonio Escobar. In time it returned to the citizens, and today it is a city facility of Barcelona, visited through the grounds, the viewpoint on the terrace of the patio de armas and the interpretation centre, which occupies seven rooms and traces the history of the mountain and the castle from prehistory to the present day.

Highlights

• 360° viewpoint from the terrace of the patio de armas
• Interpretation centre in seven rooms on the castle’s history
• Bastioned 18th-century fortress with bastions and a patio de armas
• Torre de Guaita, documented from 1073
• Arrival by the Montjuïc cable car or by bus 150
• Optional audio guide and guided tours at weekends

Permanent exhibitions

• Centro de Interpretación del Castell de Montjuïc – Seven rooms accessible from the patio de armas, reviewing the history of the mountain and the castle from prehistory to the Franco regime and the castle’s return to civilian use.
• Mirador Barcelona 360º – The terrace of the patio de armas offers views over the city, the port, the Mediterranean and the coast.

Founded

1641

Operated by

Ajuntament de Barcelona – Institut de Cultura de Barcelona

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every Sunday from 15:00, and the first Sunday of each month all day; open-day events (for example, 24 September, the La Mercè festival).

The castle only sells tickets online, through its own website. Admission includes the interpretation centre and the temporary and permanent exhibitions; it is not refunded except in cases of force majeure. The castle takes part in the Bono Cultural Joven programme.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All areas are accessible except the upper terrace, which is reached by stairs. The uneven cobbled paving may nonetheless make it difficult for people with reduced mobility to get around. There are accessible toilets, a rest area on floor 0 and a car park reserved for people with reduced mobility. Assistance dogs are admitted in all spaces. There is an induction loop at the ticket offices, and guided tours are offered in sign language (Catalan or Spanish) and for people with intellectual disabilities, with advance booking for groups.

Kids & families

Under-16s enter free. The castle offers a treasure-hunt game and educational programmes for schools.

Getting there & parking

The walk up is long and on a constant incline, passing mountain gardens such as the Joan Brossa garden and the Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer garden.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check

There are lockers for leaving scooters and other electric means of transport. The site may not be entered on bicycles, skateboards or roller skates.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 50 guests.

The patio de armas, the bastions, the terrace, the revellin and interior rooms can be hired for meetings or courses of up to 50 people; contact producciocastell@bcn.cat.

Plan your visit