The Backpackers Hostel Blog

Sun 15 Jun

View of Montjüic (Barcelona) from Park Güell

Castle of Montjuïc in Barcelona. (Photography by: J. M. Jerez)

11am – 7pm Free buses from Plaza España every 5 minutes (from 10am to 11pm) Telepheric Free

The top of Montjuic* hill (a height of 173 metres) was the site of several fortifications, the latest of which -the Castell de Montjuic remains today. The fortress largely dates from the 17th century, with 18th century additions. In 1842 the garrison (loyal to the Madrid government) shelled parts of the city following disturbances. It served as a prison, often holding political prisoners, until the time of General Franco. The castle was the site of numerous executions.

At its entrance there are two engraved stones bearing the dates 1679 and 1704. By the road up to the castle there is a winged victory sculpture on a pedestal, which commemorates the aviator Juan Manuel Durán, one of the heroes of the seaplane Plus Ultra which in 1926 made a non-stop Transatlantic flight from Spain to Argentina.

This Sunday 15 of June there is going to be the Castle of Montjuïc’s Festival that consist of a day of open doors to all the citizens, so they will be able to see some spaces that up to now were closed to the public, like the snail stairs that are on the wall and that conduct to the ditch of Saint Eulalia or the rain water cistern excavated under the castle.

There they will be diverse activities and spectacles of music, dance and circus, giants “Pasacalle” and bestiary figures, five workshops and at 12 hrs “fideuá” will be served. At 6pm Raimon (famous singer from Valencia) will offer a concert.

The exposition “¡Barcelona has castle!” will show the future project to locate the Center of Peace at the Castle of Montjuïc. This institution will be in charge of teaching the citizens about how to build the world’s peace from the cities, and also will promote the respect by the human rights and will form professionals to work for the peace and in the conflict resolution. (Taken from www.wikipedia.org, www.euro-senders.com, http://w3.bcn.es & www.bcn.es/turisme/ )
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* Montjuïc is translated as Hill of the Jews in the medieval Catalan language, or as a corruption of Latin Mons Jovicus (that is, hill of Jupiter).