Each of the buildings of the Spaniard Antoni Gaudi is the greatest work of art. The fact is that the Catalan architect goes far beyond construction. He thinks over whole projects of the unity of God, nature and man. One of these projects was Park Guell.
History of the park
Eusebi Guell was a deputy and senator for the province of Catalonia. In 1901, he commissioned his close friend Antoni Gaudí to design an extraordinary garden city in which the most influential people of Barcelona could live. The project was conceived in the style of Catalan modernism, which was popular at that time. The settlement was named after the customer - Park Güell.
Gaudi approached the choice of the construction site with the utmost responsibility. 15 hectares of land were purchased on an elevated position with stunning views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, this place is constantly blown by a light sea breeze, so there is always a pleasant air temperature.
The project was designed for 62 houses. It was assumed that the good location and unconventional approach to architecture would attract many wealthy clients. But the village was too far from the center of Barcelona, and the transport network was still underdeveloped. As a result, of all the plots for sale, only two were bought: one house was bought by a close friend of Gaudi, the lawyer Trias y Domenech, and the second was bought by Gaudi himself. He lived in this house until his death. Another model house was built for future buyers, but when the unpopularity of the garden city became apparent, Eusebi Güell redesigned this house for himself.
Thus, the Gaudí Park in Barcelona ceased to be built already in 1914. His heirs could not afford the maintenance of such property and gave it to the state. In 1926, the city park was opened to visitors. In 1894, it was recognized as a cultural heritage site of mankind.
Description of the park
On both sides of the main entrance, there are two pavilions lined with broken ceramics typical of Gaudí. The house on the left was conceived as a room for the park administration, on the right - the house of the gatekeeper. Now these buildings house a souvenir, a bookstore and a museum.
Directly opposite the entrance, you can see a majestic monumental staircase, in the center of which rises a fountain in the shape of a snake's head with the coat of arms of Catalonia. The staircase leads to the hypostyle hall, formed by eighty-six columns. In a large plaza above the pillars, a long curved bench can be found that overlooks the entire park.
Three houses built on the territory of the garden city are still there. The lawyer's house still belongs to his family, Gaudí's house became a museum, and Güell's residence opened as a municipal school named after teacher Baldiri Reisak.
Tours
Since 2013, the entrance to the park has become paid. There are four options for entrance tickets: a simple ticket (you explore the park on your own), a guided tour, a complex ticket to Park Guell and Sagrada Familia, a city bus tour with an entrance to the park. The cost of tickets and the schedule of excursions can always be viewed on the official website.
Due to the architectural features of the stairs and roads in the park, the full route is difficult for people with disabilities. But there is a special route on which it will not be possible to see absolutely all the sights, but it is absolutely safe and adapted for people in wheelchairs.
How to get there
Park Guell in Barcelona is located at Carrer d'Olot, 5. It has three entrances:
- on Olot street (main entrance);
- in the Plaza de la Nature (Carretera del Carmel, from the side of the bus depot);
- Passatge de Sant Josep de la Muntanya
The nearest metro station is called Lesseps and is on the green line (L3). From it you will need to walk 15 minutes to the main entrance. Vallcarca Station is also on the Green Line, a 15-minute walk from the escalator on San Josep de la Muntagna. Buses H6 and 32 go to the Travessera de Dalt stop in 10 minutes. But the best way to get to the park is by taking a guided tour. Tourist buses stop right at the parking lot by the Nature Square.
