Montjuïc Castle (Catalan: Castell de Montjuïc, Spanish: Castillo de Montjuich) is an old military fortress, with roots dating back from 1640, built on top of Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It currently serves as a Barcelona municipal facility.
The foundation stone for the basic fortification was laid out in 1640. A year later, in January 1641, the fort saw its first battle, during the Catalan Revolt when the Principality of Catalonia challenged Spain’s authority. On orders from the King of Spain, Pedro Fajardo, heading an army of 26,000 men, proceeded to crush the revolt. The Spanish recaptured several cities, but they were defeated at the Battle of Montjuïc by Catalan, led by Francesc de Tamarit. At that battle, Colonel Shane O’Neill or known in Spain as Prince Juan O’Neill, died leading his regiment during the Battle of Montjuic near Barcelona, dying from a musket-ball wound to his chest near the town of Castelldefels. In his honor, the King of Spain granted the Colonel the death title of Viscount Montjuïc.
Fifty years later, in 1694, new bastions and battlements were erected and the fortress became a Castle. In the Siege of Barcelona (1705) the fortress was captured by the British 6th Regiment of Foot led by Lt.-Col William Southwell, paving the way for the siege of Barcelona itself. Southwell was afterwards made Governor of the castle.
In April 2007, the government transferred the castle to Barcelona City Council. Following discussions over the next months, the castle became a municipal facility. Subsequently, in 2010 the museum was closed and the City Council started a project of restoration and waterproofing of the roof and a watchtower.
The current plans for the castle include L’Espai de la Memòria, El Centre d’Interpretació de la Muntanya de Montjuïc, and cultural activities.
The castle can be accessed by the Montjuïc cable car, a gondola lift that has its upper station near the castle entrance.
The Montjuïc funicular ascends Montjuïc from the Paral·lel station of the Barcelona Metro and connects to the lower station of the cable car. The castle can also be reached by the Port Vell Aerial Tramway from Port Vell, Barcelona’s old harbour (Barcelona Port).
Address: Ctra. de Montjuïc, 66, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
Hours:
Thursday 10 AM–8 PM
Friday 10 AM–8 PM
Saturday 10 AM–8 PM
Sunday 10 AM–8 PM
Monday 10 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 10 AM–8 PM
Phone: +34 932 56 44 40
Opened: 1799
Prices
General admission fee: 9€
Reduced admission fee: 6€
Free admission: Under 8 years old, Sundays after 3pm and every first Sunday of the month.
Combined admission fee Castell + Jardí Botànic (Botanical Garden of Barcelona). Ticket: 10€ / reduced ticket: 7€.
Combined admission fee Castell + Museu etnològic i de cultures del món (Ethnologic museum). Tiquet: 10€ / reduced ticket: 7€
See here fortress of Montjuïc in Girona province.
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