Park Guell is a popular tourist attraction in Barcelona, and even throughout Spain. Both tourists and locals love to come here on vacation. The Gaudi Park in Barcelona is located on the Carmel hill, its area is 17.2 hectares. The landmark was built in the first half of the last century, its author is Antonio Gaudi, and the customer is Eusebi Güell. The park complex is a huge territory with residential buildings, comfortable relaxation areas, picturesque gardens, shady alleys, fancy terraces, bright flower beds, grottoes and gazebos. Today, the attraction is included in the list of the most beautiful places on the planet and is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Photo: Gaudi Park in Barcelona
Historical excursion
The idea of the Park Guell in Barcelona from the very beginning was to create for the wealthy and influential people a residential complex in an ecologically clean place in Spain. In 1900, construction work was carried out, well, after 14 years they were stopped. The main reason is a difficult landscape, remoteness from city communications. These two factors complicated the construction process. However, after the death of Eusebi Güell, the followers returned to the project and in 1922 proposed the park to the Spanish government, and after 4 years the attraction was opened to everyone.
Interesting fact! The name of the attraction in all sources is indicated in English. There are two explanations for this fact. First, Guell dreamed of recreating classic English gardens in Spain. Second, the authorities banned registering the name in the local dialect.
When working on the project, Antonio Gaudi was inspired by the beauties of nature, picturesque landscapes. The mountain topography was taken into account – this is especially noticeable along the paths stretching across the entire park – they were not specially cut to preserve the natural topography. Support pillars and beams are decorated under palm trees. The height difference is 60 m and its architect defeated, indicating the desire of each person from the earthly to the sublime. At the top, as planned by the architect, a chapel was to be erected, but it was not installed. However, instead of it, a monument to Golgotha was installed.
Interesting to know! The gates to the Park Guell in Spain symbolize the entrance to Paradise, here nothing violates the tranquility and silence.
Love for nature can be seen not only in the design and architecture of the park. The attraction is built on the “Bald Mountain”. Indeed, before the start of construction there was no vegetation here, but Gaudi brought in a variety of plants that successfully adapted to the climate and topography. Today, cypress, pine, eucalyptus, olives, palm trees grow here.
The master was guided by the rule of modernism – there are no straight lines in nature, so curved and wavy lines prevail in the park.
Construction work can be conditionally divided into three stages:
- strengthening hills and slopes, arranging terraces;
- the laying of paths, the construction of walls. Construction of a market colonnade and mansion;
- the construction of a bench in the shape of a snake, several mansions.
It is noteworthy that almost all the objects of the complex have been preserved in the form in which the architect intended them.
Good to know! In the park complex today there are only three houses suitable for living – Triasso i Domeneca, there are still belly descendants of the famous Catalan lawyer, Guell’s house has a local school, and his mansion has been converted into a museum.
What to see
It is safe to say that Gaudi Park is stunning at first sight, literally falling in love with itself. Guests are greeted by two famous houses that resemble gingerbread fairy houses. Their walls are lined with ceramic fragments of trekandis. The larger house belonged to the guard (gatekeeper), and the smaller one belonged to the park administration. Externally, the buildings resemble a fabulous sculptural composition. On the facade of each building there are medallions with the inscriptions “Park Güell”. Look at the exquisite decor of each pavilion, all the elements are thought out to the smallest detail – curly towers and frames, chimneys in the form of mushrooms, openwork balconies. Forged gates complement the composition. The entrance is decorated with a metal pattern in the shape of an opened sunflower – a similar fragment can be seen on the Vicenza’s house in Barcelona, by the way, this is also a Gaudi project.
Today, the gatekeeper’s house is closed to visitors, they can only be admired from the outside, and a souvenir shop operates in the administration’s house.
Right at the entrance to the Park Guell is the main staircase, through which guests pass to the center of the composition. The lower part is decorated with a bright flower garden, a fountain is built here and a sculpture of a salamander is installed – this is the favorite character of the architect’s mythology. In the center of the stairs you will see a medallion that depicts the flag of Catalonia, as well as the head of a snake.
On the walls of the park complex there are various figures and sculptures of animals, but the mythical salamander is recognized as a symbol, located in such a way that it seems that it rises. The salamander is made of bricks, decorated with fragments of ceramics. The length of the sculpture is 2.4 m. It is believed that this salamander guards the Gaudi Guell Park.
Interesting fact! The salamander symbolizes the huge snake Python from Greek mythology. According to one version, this figure is a crocodile, it is applied to the shield of the city of Nimes, where Guell grew up.
Another famous symbol of the park is the snake head, which is surrounded by the Catalan flag, since Gaudi was a Catalan. Imaginative tourists see a medical sign in the snake.
If we talk about other animal figures in the park, the list of the most popular is supplemented by the head of a lion, used to drain the water, and the octopus, located next to the columns, it also belongs to the drainage system.
Pay attention to how naturally the hall fits into the landscape of the hill. This object of the park was conceived as the main meeting place for local residents of a prestigious area, namely as a market square. The hall is an impressive terrace, where not one hundred columns are installed, as indicated in the name, but 86, each 6 meters high, their function is to maintain a ceiling that, like many objects in the park, has a bizarre shape. It is interesting that the storm system is hidden in the columns, and the bench located on top is a huge drainage channel. The vault is decorated with mosaics; four massive shades representing the sun are mounted in it.
Interesting to know! The hall has excellent acoustics, therefore, today it is often used for concerts.
It was built over the Hall of one hundred columns, it was on this terrace that the inhabitants were to gather and boil trade. Unfortunately, Antonio Gaudi did not have time to implement this part of the project, instead of the retail space on the roof there was a comfortable walking area with a huge bench in the shape of a snake.
Photo: Park Guell
The bench is officially recognized as the longest, its length is 110 meters. It is decorated with the most ordinary waste that remained after construction work – these are fragments of ceramics, glass, gravel. Waste was brought from many construction sites in Barcelona. The author of the patterns and collages placed on the “body of a sea serpent” is Juzel Jujol (student of Antonio Gaudi). Many of the motifs used to decorate the bench became popular only after more than a dozen years. Zhuzhol far ahead of his fellow tribesmen and knew how to see the world and art for many years to come.
Interesting fact! The bench is recognized as not only the longest, but also the most comfortable. The fact is that the entrepreneurial Gaudi during its construction on soft clay, which has not yet dried, seated builders. Thus, a natural imprint of the back was preserved, comfortable for sitting. Initially, it was planned to hold theatrical shows and performances on this terrace.
At the last stage, the architect acquired the site where he built the mansion, it was this building that was the model. The master himself lived here with his father, as well as his niece. In the last years of his life, the architect left his creation to settle next to the church of Sagrada Familia, here he worked until his tragic death. In the summer of 1926, Gaudi hit a tram, and in 1963 his house received the status of a museum.
The house-museum is a small pink mansion with a beautiful multi-level roof and an annex in the form of a turret. The author of this work was a student, a friend of the master – Francesco Berenguer-Mestres.
- Ground floor – furniture designed by the architect is presented here, after his death, the products were bought from the residents of Barcelona.
- Second floor – rooms where the master lived, his close relatives (living room, bedroom), here you can visit the workshop of Gaudi, where his models are preserved. The architect lived in almost ascetic conditions, did not attach importance to the interior, he, like a real master, was completely immersed in creativity.
- Third floor – here is a library, quite extensive, with a capacity of about 30 thousand books.
Around the house there is an amazing garden, there is a collection of figures authored by the architect himself.
Park alleys are not just walking paths, but a complex single system that unites all parts of the park. The bizarre shape of the path, folding into an amazing pattern, the architect called “bird nests.” They lead to all corners of the park, richly decorated with plants, fountains, fancy grottoes and arbors.
Good to know! The area of interest in Barcelona is divided into two parts. Free entrance to Park Guell and free for walking areas are marked on the map in green, but the part marked in yellow is paid, the main tourist sites are concentrated here.
The part of the park for which you need to purchase a ticket is fenced with a ribbon. Of course, you can admire the architectural sights while being on the free part of the park, but you should not save on visiting such a miracle. By the way, bird nests are located in the free part of the park.
Features of Park Guell
The park is deservedly recognized as the property not only of Barcelona, but throughout Spain. Believe me, a few hours to explore the park will not be enough for you, so plan to walk at least half a day. Pay attention to how naturally the park is inscribed in the relief of the hill – the hilly landscape was used by the master to create an architectural ensemble, this is how galleries, terraces, grottoes, columns appeared on the territory. Pay attention to the skillful facing of facades, mosaics, and the architect also used pieces of ceramics for decoration. Everything in this park is sustained in natural, natural forms, lines that are inherent in nature – oval, roundness, waves.
- This is a landmark attraction not only of Barcelona, but also of Spain.
- The park area is very beautiful, created and designed specifically for walking.
- The park has many places related to the life and work of the great master Antonio Gaudi.
Practical information
Tickets are best purchased in advance, on the official website – https://parkguell.barcelona/.
Ticket price:
- full – 10 €;
- children (7-12 years old) – 7 €;
- retirement (over 65 years) – 7 €;
- for persons with disabilities, the visit is free, and for those who accompany them – 7 €;
- up to 6 years free admission.
Important! Tickets do not entitle you to visit Gaudi’s house.
You can go to the park for free with a fingerprint, for this you need to take part in the Gaudir Més program. Fingerprints are taken during registration with city services. At the entrance to the park, special scanners are installed for reading personal data.
Want to save time and avoid the queue before entering the park? Buy a ticket with a guide:
- total – 22 €
- children (7-12 years old) – 19 €
- retirement (over 65 years) – 19 €
- for persons with disabilities – 12 €, and for people who accompany them – 19 €.
You can also plan a private visit, a full ticket costs 55 €, a child and pension – 52 €, for tourists with disabilities – 45 €.
Good to know! Since 2019, in the high season, tickets have been sold exclusively online; at other times, ticket offices work at the entrance.
The ticket price includes a ride on a tourist bus that runs from Alfons X metro to the sights.
The entrance is tied to the time indicated on the ticket, that is, it remains valid for another half hour after the time of the visit. If the ticket says 10-00, then it is allowed to enter the park until 10-30. With the printed entry ticket and QR code on your smartphone, immediately go to the entrance. If the ticket is paid, but not printed, you need to print it, you can do this at the box office.
Good to know! Tickets can also be bought at vending machines near the entrance to attractions or at subway stations.
- from 01.01 to 15.02 – from 8-30 to 18-15;
- from 16.02 to 30.03 – from 8-30 to 19-00;
- from March 31 to April 28 – from 8-00 to 20-30;
- from 29.04 to 25.08 – from 8-00 to 21-30;
- from 26.08 to 26.10 – from 8-00 to 20-30;
- from 27.10 to 31.12 – from 8-00 to 18-15.
Exact address: Calle Olot, 08024 Barcelona.
Metro Stations Near Attractions:
- Vallcarca;
- Lesseps;
- Joanic
- Alfons X.
You will have to go about 1300 m, the road rises, and the climb can be tiring.
Buses:
- No. 116 – follows from the metro Lesseps and Joanic, the traffic interval is about 10 minutes, the schedule is from 7-00 to 21-00;
- Bus Güell – the route runs from April 1 from the Alfons X metro stop, if you have a ticket to the park, bus travel is free, the journey takes about a quarter of an hour;
- No. 24 – follows from the area of Catalonia;
- V19 – flight from Barceloneta.
There are several parking lots near the park, so you can safely travel in a rented car.
Park Guell, created by Antonio Gaudi, is not just a relaxation area, but a fabulous space in which it will be pleasant to spend time not only for children, but also for adults.
Prices on the page are for November 2019.
What you need to know before visiting the Park Guell:
