Poble Espanyol

The open-air museum Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village) is the way to discover a miniature version of Spain. As you walk through this artificial village, you’ll quickly become acquainted with the various architectural styles and cultural diversity of Spain: from the white Andalusian streets to a small Romanesque monastery. Additionally, you’ll be treated to a range of experiences in areas such as gastronomy, art, crafts, and music. In short, for those who want to see and discover more of Spain, Poble Espanyol is a must-visit. It is also a very child-friendly attraction in Barcelona.

What to See and Do at Poble Espanyol

Discover Spain in a day! At Poble Espanyol, you can playfully acquaint yourself with various Spanish regions; their customs and cultural traditions, as well as their architectural gems. Moreover, the view from the mountaintop is breathtakingly beautiful.

Architecture

One of the main elements of the Spanish Village is its architecture. There are as many as 117 buildings adorning the museum. Additionally, Poble Espanyol is built like any other Spanish village and thus has a central square (Plaza Mayor), a town hall (ayuntamiento), city walls (muralla), a church (iglesia), and even a small church atop the mountain (ermita). The reproductions of buildings from various Spanish regions (Catalonia, Madrid, Murcia, Galicia, Navarre, Aragon, Valencia, Extremadura, Castile and Leon…) complete the experience. One moment you might find yourself in the white streets of Cadiz and the next in Mallorca.

Gastronomy

There is a wide range of restaurants and bars at Poble Espanyol. This showcases the diversity and richness of Spanish cuisine. Enjoy a good paella, tasty tapas, or other local dishes in this unique setting. And in good weather, you can always sit outside on one of the many terraces.

Crafts and Merchandise

In the workshops of Poble Espanyol, you can watch craftsmen at work. The glass studio Sanjuán is particularly worth a visit. There are also shops selling pottery, embroidery, leather goods, jewelry, paintings, woven baskets, handmade musical instruments, espadrilles, and much more!

Contemporary Art

Art enthusiasts will also be pleasantly surprised by the art halls of Espacio Guinovart (by artist Josep Guinovart) and the Museu Fran Daurel, with a large collection of contemporary art. Here you will find works by world-famous Spanish artists such as Picasso, Dalí, Miró, Tàpies, Barceló, and Chillida. There is also an outdoor sculpture garden to visit with 36 sculptures by various contemporary artists.

Poble Espanyol in the evening

For a unique experience, visit the Spanish Village in the evening to participate in one of its many clubs and special events. For example, you can buy tickets for a flamenco show at El Tablao de Carmen, experience a burlesque dinner show at Upload, or go out in the summer at La Terrrazza, a unique open-air club.

Special Events

In addition to regular flamenco performances, other exciting events take place at Poble Espanyol, such as the annual New Year’s party or the Brunch in the City festival.

Special events for kids include the Carnival, Diada Gegantera (Day of the Giants), Festival de Titelles (Puppet Festival), Revetlla de Sant Joan (Catalan Midsummer Night Festival), Fira Medieval (Medieval Fair), Halloween, and the Christmas market.

Every Sunday, family activities are organized: from theater and dance to music, circus, and games.

History of Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol was created for the 1929 World Exposition on Montjuïc. The idea was promoted by Catalan architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch and conceived as a village where reproductions of Spain’s most emblematic buildings would be brought together.

The project was designed by architects Ramon Reventós and Francesc Folguera and artists Xavier Nogués and Miquel Utrillo. The four professionals traveled around the peninsula to collect visual material. What you now find at Poble Espanyol is the result of all their work: a real village with replicas of 117 buildings from different Spanish regions.

After the World Exposition, this village was supposed to be dismantled, but that never happened, as the public loved Poble Espanyol.

During the Civil War, its function changed: it became an internment camp for prisoners.

But 50 years after the war, the museum reopened and remains one of Barcelona’s most fun and versatile attractions to this day: it’s not just a museum, but also a venue for frequent events and concerts for a wide audience.

Poble Espanyol Tickets

Due to the popularity of Poble Espanyol, it’s recommended to buy your tickets in advance to avoid long queues. Children up to 4 years old enter for free. There are different types of admission tickets, depending on whether you visit the Spanish Village during the day or in the evening after 8:00 PM.

How to Get to Poble Espanyol

Poble Espanyol is located at Avinguda de Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia number 13, on Montjuïc. There are various ways to reach Poble Espanyol, such as by bus 13 and 150 from Plaça Espanya. Or with the hop-on and hop-off buses, which also have a stop here. Walking from Plaça Espanya is also an option, although it’s uphill.