Montjuïc Castle, Barcelona, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

Montjuïc Castle (Castell de Montjuïc) is a hilltop fortress in Barcelona, high above the port and the Mediterranean. A fortress was first built on the hill in 1640, and the star-shaped castle you see today largely dates from the 18th century. It is remembered for its military role and for its later use as a prison, where the Catalan president Lluís Companys was executed in 1940.

The story behind it

The hill's first fortress went up in 1640, during the Reapers' War, when Catalonia rose against the Spanish crown. In January 1641 a Spanish royal army marched on Barcelona and attacked Montjuïc, but it was beaten back by Catalan and French forces. The fortress became an early symbol of Catalan resistance.

After Barcelona fell in the early 18th century, the castle was rebuilt as a larger fortress, and from then on it was used by the state to keep watch over the city below. In the 20th century it served as a prison. In 1940, under the Franco regime, Lluís Companys was shot here, and the castle remains a heavy place in Catalan memory. It was handed back to the city of Barcelona in the early 21st century and is now a municipal site that is open to visitors.

What to look for

• The thick star-shaped bastions and the dry moat around the castle, which show how the fortress was designed to be defended from every side.
• The cannons on the ramparts, still pointing out over the harbour and the city.
• The view from the walls, which takes in the port, the sea and the grid of the Eixample district on a clear day.
• The large central courtyard, where the plain stone buildings give a sense of the garrison life that once filled the castle.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 1 to 2 hours if you want to walk the ramparts, see the courtyard and take in the views without rushing.
• Late afternoon is a good time to go, as the light over the port is softer and the walls are less hot in summer. Check current opening hours and entry rules before you set off.
• You can reach the hill by cable car, by bus, or on foot through the parks. The walk up is a pleasant part of the visit, so wear comfortable shoes.
• The castle sits among the gardens and museums of Montjuïc, so it combines easily with other stops on the hill.

See it on a quest

Try Magical Barcelona: Witchcraft at Montjuic Castle, a self-guided walk that takes you to the castle on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the fortress more closely than you would on a quick visit. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.