The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc

The magic fountain of Montjuïc is a spectacular fountain which, for some 90 years, has enchanted spectators with its stunning displays.

Designed by Carles Buigas for the Universal Exhibition of 1929, it is a fountain which, from the first moment, has fascinated its public. If you find yourself in Barcelona, paying a visit to the Fuente de Montjuïc is a must!

You will be rendered speechless by the beauty of this majestic fountain and its wonderful multi-colored aquatic displays with music in the background. So many people make a point of visiting the fountain and those who are in the know, generally arrive well in advance because finding somewhere to sit or a spot with a good view can be quite difficult. There is an exiting wait for the spectacle to begin and this is accentuated by the voices of the street vendors who pass around the area selling water or beer, (a chilled Estrella beer from Barcelona, naturally). A few minutes before the spectacle is due to start, the mini-fountains which decorate the entire street as far as the Venetian columns, are lit up. At this moment, the crowd starts shouting as they are caught up in the moment, but it is also fascinating to notice the complete silence that falls over them when the first lights of the magic fountain are illuminated. The crowd is so delighted, most of them forget to speak! Are you ready? Put your head up for a sight that will delight your eyes. We wish you all a happy show!

How to get there

The Montjuïc Fountain is situated in the elegant district of Montjuïc, between the very famous Plaça de Espanya and the Catalan Museum of National Art. In order to reach the fountain, you can use the Metro's Green Line L3 and the Red Line L1. When you get to the stop called Espanya, the exit is right on the square of the same name and you'll just have to walk in the opposite direction to the square, past the Venetian columns and continue until just before the Catalan National Museum of Art. You can't go wrong as the structure is really huge and quite imposing, so much so that it will immediately attract your attention.

The Magic Fountain at Christmas

Timetable

The timetable for the shows at the Magic Fountain vary depending on the time of year:

From 6th January to 16th February: it is closed;
From the 17th February until the 31st March: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 20:00 hours;
From the 1st April until the 31st May: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 21:00 hours;
From the 1st June until the 30th September: from Wednesday to Sunday from 21:30 hours;
From the 1st October until the 31st October: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 21:00 hours;
From the 1st November until the 5th January: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 20:00 hours;
On the 31st December, from 21:30 until 23:30 hours.

If you want to see the lights show with the sounds and colors of the fountain, we would recommend that you arrive early so that you can find a good spot among the crowd. The show lasts for 30 minutes and isn't on every day so it is worth checking the up to date timings on the council's website: the city council of Barcelona. In addition to this, on the 31st December, the display is on from 21:30 until 23:30 hours and is a real hot-spot for a lot of the New Year's Eve celebrations. And even on this special day of the year, the show is free, as it is throughout the rest of the year.

Interesting information about Barcelona's Magic Fountain and the surrounding area

As we have already mentioned, the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc was built in 1929 to celebrate the Universal Exhibition. But, perhaps you didn't know that its creator, Carles Buïgas, had wanted to situate it exactly where the Four Columns by Josep Puig i Cadafalch were demolished in 1928 by the dictator Primo de Rivera in order to eradicate any symbolism of Catalonia's independence. But something doesn't add up? Don't worry! In fact, since 2011, at the foot of the Mountain of Montjuïc, the famous four columns are standing again, but these are a replica of the originals. The powerful symbolism evoked by this monument is Catalonia's history: each column represents one of the four strips that make up the Catalan flag. And the fountain? Its location, but above all, the spectacular light shows for which the fountain is the stage and which amplify the symbols of Catalan identity which the numerous spectators will have seen every day and every year but which they are still happy to admire in this place. Another interesting fact, of which you might not be aware, is that the music which accompanies the water displays, was only incorporated into the show in 1980. Prior to that, the great elliptical fountain was "limited" to showing off about thirty water features, with particular focus on the combination of five colors: yellow, blue, green, red and white.

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