The History Of Montjuc Castle In 1 Minute

Located on the edge of the city of Barcelona, Montjuïc hill as an iconic feature of Barcelona’s landscape and has played an important role throughout the city’s history. On the very top of the hill sits the castle, know as the Castell de Montjuïc in Catalan, today open to the public for visits, exhibitions and shows throughout the year.
The history of human settlements on Montjuïc dates back to at least pre-historic times, and as far back as 1073 there are records of a look-out point on the hill. This was probably due to it being a great spot to see the entire city and the sea. But it wasn’t really until the 17th century that the structure took on a military function, laying the foundations for the castle as we know it now.

It was during the Catalan Revolt, a popular uprising against the Spanish crown, that the local municipality opted to use Montjuïc fortress as a base for their operations against the army lead by Pedro Fajardo on order of the King of Spain. The fortification became the centre of an important battle known as the Battle of Montjuïc in which the popular Catalan army was victorious against the Spanish army.

Montjuïc Castle © Librarygroover / Flickr

Given the importance the make-shift fortress had taken on, plans were made in the 18th century to demolish and rebuild the castle so as to increase its functionality and enhance its defence system. The plans were finalized in 1751 and construction began in 1753 under the supervision of military engineer Juan Martín Cermeño. When construction finished in 1779, the castle resembled very much the structure as it still presents itself today. Since then, the castle has played an important role in most of the major battles that occurred in the area, from the Napoleonic wars of the 19th century through to the Spanish Civil War of the 20th century. It has been used as a military base, prison and torture cell. In 1963, General Franco inaugurated the Military Armour Museum within the castle, which has since 2010 been closed for renovation.

Today the museum is a popular attraction for visitors and locals alike, running a program of exhibitions and shows throughout the year both indoors and out.

📅 Nov-Mar: Mon-Sun 10am-6pm
Apr-Oct: Mon-Sun 10am-8pm

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.