Pedralbes and the Monastery

How to get to Pedralbes

You can get to Pedralbes from the center of Barcelona, for example, from the Plaza Catalunya where you can take the Line L6 on the Ferrocarril (the railway) to the stop called Sarrià and then carry on to Reina Elisenda on the L12 Line.  Alternatively, you can take the number 66 or 68 bus.  To get to this neighborhood, you will need to travel in a westerly direction.  Pedralbes is also one of the scheduled stops on Barcelona's tourist bus: and you can also get here with the city's Hop on Hop Off Tour which is offered on this web page! 

Visiting Pedralbes

The neighborhood of Pedralbes will surprise and delight you with its tranquility and elegance.  The palatial buildings along its streets are mainly large villas with their own gardens which are protected by high walls with advanced security systems.  There is also a luxury clinic in Pedralbes as well as the American consulate which is housed in two palatial villas that are quite impressive.  This elegant neighborhood is the perfect place in which to relax and pass half a day in a different environment as you stroll up and down its streets so that you can admire the sea from on high or go for a jog in one of the various parks which help to purify the air in this attractive suburb.  We would definitely recommend that you visit the Parc de l'Oreneta which is to the north of the Monastery.

The Monastery of Pedralbes

The Monastery of Pedralbes is a silent and commanding presence which has watched over the city of Barcelona from its privileged position for over 700 years.  The bell tower that can be seen between the cappuccino colored walls is part of the church which was consecrated in 1327 and whose beauty is surprising in view of the rapidity with which it was built.  Because of this, the buildings didn't undergo numerous changes in style over time and retained their original Gothic-Catalan style which represents great sobriety and an imposing image to the world.  The tomb of Queen Elisenda is located in the church as well as the chapels which were financed by the aristocracy of the time and in which Mass was said and specific saints were venerated. The monastery kitchen is one of the most interesting parts of the building when it comes to providing a glimpse into the history and customs of the time.  It still contains a range of domestic instruments and utensils that were used for cooking, an activity that continued here until 1983.  This is an important place because it reflects the rules by which the Monastery lived with its religious calendar which resulted in the alternation between periods of fasting and times of celebration (such as Christmas and Easter.  Bread was baked in the kitchen's oven.  In some of the rooms in the Monastery, 6 interesting exhibitions have been organized which cover the building's history with the help of paintings and also some of the plants that came from the medieval garden inside the Monastery's walls. 

Visiting the Monastery of Pedralbes

You can visit the Monastery in winter from 10:00 until 14:00 from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 until 17:00.  In the summer, the opening times are increased until 17:00 on holidays and until 19:20 at the weekends.  The price of an entry ticket is normally €5.00 whereas on a Sunday, from 15:00 onward, entry is free.  You can also request a private guide from Barcellona.shop who will be able to accompany you on your visit to this magical place!

Interesting information about Pedralbes

Pedralbes is undoubtedly the most elite neighborhood of Barcelona, par excellence - closely followed by the neighborhood of Sarrià. Both are part of the larger district of Les Corts which is where many consulates are based, among which is that of the United States. What you may be unaware of but which you will notice quite quickly when you visit this area is that this is also the residential neighborhood that is regularly chosen by famous millionaires, particularly football players. The private villas (many of which are protected by high walls and state of the art security systems) are numerous and are really beautiful.  But not only this, Pedralbes is also home to the most exclusive sports complexes in the city: the Royal Tennis Club of Barcelona (at Bosch i Gimpera, 5) and the Royal Polo Club of Barcelona (at Av. Dr. Marañón, 19-31). It almost goes without saying that membership to one of these clubs has an extraordinarily high price tag. And lastly, as is common in most residential neighborhoods, with the exception of some hotels and restaurants, there aren't many commercial premises. Nevertheless, the local residents won't struggle to find somewhere to cool off with a dip in the pool and a refreshing drink.  Would you like to have the chance to get to see one of the most luxurious areas of the city?  In spring time, you could take part in the Pedralbe Jardins Reials Festival! This would provide you with the opportunity to attend a first class concert in refined surroundings and, who knows, you might even get to meet some of the local VIPs!