Barcelona tours: Montjuic’s Magic Fountain

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Visit the previous Barcelona Tour page: Diagonal Mar Park

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: Montjuic's Magic Fountain shots cool water into the crisp blue sky in between performances. Montjuic's Magic Fountain shots cool water into the crisp blue sky in between performances. The sun has just begun its final decent. Montjuic's Magic Fountain was built in 1929 and restored in 1992 for the Barcelona Olympic Games. The fountain spurts, shoots and sprays water to the sound of music and a mixture of colorful lights.

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: A column of water reaches for the clouds during one of the early shows. A column of water reaches for the clouds during one of the early shows.

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: One of the many smaller fountains that mark the path from Plaza Espanya to the Palau National. One of the many smaller fountains that mark the path from Plaza Espanya to the Palau National.

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: A series of smaller fountains line the steps leading to the next level of the Palau National. A series of smaller fountains line the steps leading to the next level of the Palau National.

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: A group of street performers play with fire in between shows. A group of street performers play with fire in between shows.

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: These two towers mark the beginning of the path leading up to the Magic Fountain and the Palau National. These two towers mark the beginning of the path leading up to the Magic Fountain and the Palau National.

Montjuic’s Magic Fountain

Images and Text by Gaston Magrinat. Click on any image for a larger version.

Lights, colour, music, water…action! Montjuic’s Magic Fountain has it all. Soft tones of coloured lights bathe the mist in shades of reds, greens and yellows as the Magic Fountain sprays and shoots water in all directions to the sounds of Mozart, Queen and Whitney Houston. The water and the lights are like a young couple dancing the night away, changing their pace and rhythm to match that of the music. When Freddy Mercury reaches his highest note, a single stream of water suddenly shoots upwards to astonishing heights before vanishing in a cloud of purple mist.

Barcelona’s Magic Fountain, located at the foot of the steps up to the Museum of Catalan Art (Museo National del Arte de Catalunya) on Montjuic mountain, was built in 1929 for the Barcelona World's Fair. After many years of decay and disuse the city restored this little known attraction for the 1992 Olympic Games; thrilling, spraying and entrancing visitors and citizens ever since.

The Magic Fountain is really a series of smaller fountains that begin at the door to the Palau Nacional, home to the Museum of Catalan Art, that cascade and flow down the various levels that lead to Plaza Espanya. This makes finding your way to both the central fountain and the Museum of Catalan Art a simple matter of following the water!

The best time to take in the show is as the sun makes its final descent, just before disappearing into the night. The various views afforded from the many levels leading to the Museum of Catalan Art make this a wonderful place to watch the sun set over the city. The soft reds and yellows provide a beautiful backdrop to the Palau Nacional and its Magic Fountain.

Operating times: Times vary according to season. However, shows generally take place in the evening.

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barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: Onlookers take it all in on one of the many levels leading to the Palu National (behind the columns of water) Onlookers take it all in from one of the many levels leading to the Palu National (behind the columns of water), home of the Museum of Catalan Art, built in 1929 for the Barcelona World's Fair. A series of smaller fountains and waterfalls mark the path down the various levels of the Palau National to Plaza Espanya.

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: A couple of visitors enjoy the soothing effects of the water up close. A couple of visitors enjoy the soothing effects of the water up close.

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: A moment of climax! Long slender columns of water shoot skywards to the sound of Queen's "Barcelona". A moment of climax! Long slender columns of water shoot skywards to the sound of Queen's "Barcelona".

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: Now that night has fallen, the light show has begun. Soft tones of reds and yellows penetrate the mist. Now that night has fallen, the light show has begun. Soft tones of reds and yellows penetrate the mist.

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: A view from the highest level of the Palau National looking toward Barcelona and Plaza Espanya. A view from the highest level of the Palau National looking toward Barcelona and Plaza Espanya. Can you find the Tibidabo?

barcelona picture of magic fountain, caption reads: The Magic Fountain bathed in reds and yellows. The Magic Fountain bathed in reds and yellows.