Magic Fountain of Montjuic

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc is a fountain located on the Montjuïc mountain, on the Avenida Reina Maria Cristina street, right by the National Art Museum of Catalonia, close to the Plaza Espana. It was built by the engineer Carles Buigas to celebrate the 1929 Universal Exhibition. Throughout a year, the fountain attracts thousands of tourists from all around the world who can watch a magnificient specatcle of water, light and music.

The construction of the fountain took less than a year and involved over 3000 workers. It was in the same place where the four columns designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch stood. Because the columns were regarded as the symbol of Catalan independence movement, the dictator Primo de Rivera commissioned them to be demolished just before the Universal Exposition in 1929. However, they were re-erected in 2010 very close to their original location.

The fountain was working until the outburst of the Spanish Civil War, during which it was badly damaged. It was repaired in 1955 by its original designer Carles Buigas. In the 1990s, the fountain was renovated for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Today, it is one of the main tourist attractions of the city. In the summer months, from May till the end of September, the night shows begin every 30 minutes from 9:30 p.m. till 11 p.m. In the winter months, from August till the end of April, the shows can be admired from 7 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.