Magic Fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic in Barcelona, Spain (Fuente mágica de Montjuic, Font màgica de Montjuïc) is one of the main attractions of the city. It was opened in 1929 specifically for the World Exhibition held in the capital of Catalonia.

History and description of Montjuic fountain

The architect Carles Buïgas, who already had experience creating illuminated fountains, was responsible for the project. The massive construction, which lasted less than a year, involved 3,000 workers to be in time for the exhibition. In the 1930s, during the Civil War, the facility was damaged and remained closed until 1955.

In the 1980s, the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona became a singing fountain when a music and light show was added to it. Before the 1992 Summer Olympics, another large-scale reconstruction was carried out.

The show is a unique combination of light, water movement, music, and color elements. During the performance, viewers can hear melodies from their favorite films, as well as classical and modern works. The song “Barcelona” by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe is on the fountain’s permanent tracklist.

Every 3 seconds, about 2600 liters of water flows through the fountain’s concentric basin. There are four dozen water elements of different sizes in total. Control is carried out by a modern center that generates choreography. A special application can analyze a piece of music in three minutes, create a show in the editor, and preview it in a 3D simulator before launching the fountain.

Where is the Montjuic fountain?

One of the most famous fountains in Barcelona, the dancing Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, is located in Plaza de Carles Buïgas on a hill also called Montjuïc. On this site, from 1919 to 1928, stood the Four Columns of the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, symbolizing Catalanism. In 2010, a copy of them was installed a few meters from the original location.

Within walking distance of the fountain are Plaza de España, the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, the Archaeological Museum of Catalonia, the Botanical Garden of Barcelona, and the Montjuïc Cable Car.

How to get to the Montjuic Fountain

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic can be reached in different ways:

• Espanya metro station is 400 meters north of the attraction.
• 500 meters south is the Museu Nacional — Museu Etnològic stop, where the tourist bus and city route 55 stop.

Address and opening hours of the Montjuic fountain

A visit to the Magic Fountain of Montjuic in Barcelona is completely free, no tickets are required. It is located at Pl. de Carles Buïgas, Sants-Montjuïc, 08038. It is better to check the opening hours and timetable of the Magic Fountain show in Barcelona in advance on the official city resources.

As of February 2024, the fountain is not operational due to the current drought protocol. The expiration date of the ruling is unknown.

View of the Montjuic fountain

Several locations offer the best views of the dancing water fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona:

• Steps of the National Museum of Art of Catalonia.
• Restaurant Oleum in the same museum. It is located in the former throne room, and if you take a seat near the window, you can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine with a wonderful panorama of the center of Barcelona.
• Observation deck on the roof of the Las Arenas shopping center on Plaza España
• Parapet at the Four Columns.

It is worth considering that a lot of people come to watch a music show, so you need to take the best seats at least an hour before the start of the performance.

Where to eat near the Montjuic fountain

There are several good establishments within a one-kilometer radius of the musical Magic Water Fountain of Montjuïc in Barcelona.

• Xemei is a Venetian restaurant run by the Colombo twin brothers. The menu is rich in seafood, a variety of pastas, and natural wines.
• RíasKRU is an establishment specializing in seafood. It has been operating for over 30 years and offers both classic dishes and creative ones.
• OchoBcn is a gastro bar that serves meat tapas by weight. Argentinean and Mediterranean cuisine are mixed here, which are unexpectedly combined with Creole motifs. The bar sells Argentine wine.
• La Gastronomica (Burgers&Beers) — specializes in burgers served with carefully selected beer. There are only three types of dishes on the menu — a burger with beef, with pork ribs, and a vegan one.
• laLola is a restaurant located in Plaza España on the observation deck of the Las Arenas shopping center. It serves classic tapas, and paella, as well as various types of meat and seafood.
• La Terraza Miró is a cute little establishment whose interior was created by visitors. The menu here is not very extensive, but everyone can find a dish to their liking. Thanks to the marks, guests immediately understand if specific items contain gluten, lactose, meat, hot peppers, peanuts, soy, nuts, and eggs.

Where to stay near the Montjuic fountain

Since the Montjuic fountain is located in the center of Barcelona, there are no problems with hotels here.

Five-star hotels

InterContinental Barcelona is a five-star hotel within walking distance of the fountain. It captivates with its views of the center of Barcelona, Michelin-starred restaurants, and a luxurious spa complex. Of course, there is an outdoor terrace with a great bar and swimming pool.

Four-star hotels

• Hotel Catalonia Barcelona Plaza. Four star hotel in Plaza España. As is customary in Barcelona, on its territory there is a terrace with a swimming pool and a bar for those who want to sunbathe under the Spanish sun. There are several restaurants at guests’ disposal, and the rooms offer an impressive panorama of the city.
• Pestana Arena Barcelona. Four-star boutique hotel near the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. It has a restaurant, a bar, and, of course, a terrace. Visitors can also work out in the gym and relax in the sauna or Turkish bath.

Three-star hotels

• Hotel Onix Fira. Three-star hotel within walking distance of the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. On its roof, there is an open area with a lounge zone and a small swimming pool. Guests can also play billiards in the common room and buy snacks from the vending machines.
• chic&basic Velvet Hotel. Designer boutique hotel with an abundance of velvet, wood, gold decor, and posters in the interior. Its terrace is distinguished from others by the presence of a lawn, changing cabins, and an open shower. All this creates ideal conditions for sunbathing. The hotel has several areas with food and drinks, among which the Honesty Bar stands out the most for its concept. Here, guests can pour themselves a drink at any time and write down their room number in a journal.

Hostels

• Onefam Paralelo. Hostel, part of an international chain. It features an outdoor rooftop terrace and a recreation room with a pool table and games console. It is a 12-minute walk from Barcelona’s main train station and is also near Camp Nou Stadium and Montjuïc Park.
• HelloBCN Hostel Barcelona. Another hostel near the Montjuic fountain. It offers not only multi-bed rooms but also rooms designed for two people. In the common areas, visitors will find a bar with a TV and vending machines with food and drinks, and there is an outdoor terrace on the second floor.

Montjuic Fountain on the map

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