Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe
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Photo: Ashley Pomeroy, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Paid, inexpensive ticket
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Daily
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 40 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Highlights
- The onyx wall, the pools, the Morning statue
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Barcelona chair
- Designed for the pavilion
- Nearby
- The Magic Fountain, MNAC
- Location
- Montjuïc, Espanya metro (L1, L3)
Key facts
1929built for the International Exposition
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English Wikipedia1930dismantled after the exposition
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English Wikipedia1983–1986the pavilion was rebuilt
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English WikipediaMies van der Roheand Lilly Reich designed it
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English WikipediaAbout the Barcelona Pavilion
It was built as Germany's national pavilion at the 1929 International Exposition. The architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich didn't design a hall full of exhibits but made the building itself the exhibit: a space for rest and receptions, all about light, materials and emptiness.
After the exposition it was taken down in 1930, but photographs and drawings made it a legend. In 1983–1986 it was faithfully rebuilt on the same site from the original plans. Every architecture student studies it today, as the clearest early expression of 'less is more'.
Inside the pavilion
The pavilion looks very simple: a thin flat roof rests on eight cruciform chrome columns, and the walls carry no load, standing freely to divide the space. So there are no rooms inside; you drift from one zone to the next as walls close and open views.
It's all about the materials: pale Roman travertine underfoot, green Alpine marble, tinted glass and the famous wall of golden onyx, its veining like a painting. Beside it lie two pools: the large one mirrors the sky, while in the small one, lined with green marble, stands Georg Kolbe's bronze statue *Morning*.
What to see at the pavilion
- The onyx wall — golden stone with natural veining.
- Chrome columns — slender cruciform supports.
- The large pool — a mirror for the sky and the building.
- The Morning statue — a bronze figure in the small pool.
- The Barcelona chair — a design classic made for the pavilion.
- The free plan — walls that never form rooms.
The Barcelona chair and its legacy
For the pavilion, Mies and Reich created the Barcelona chair, with a slim X-shaped steel frame and leather cushions. It's still made today and sits in hotel lobbies and offices around the world, and here you can see the space it was designed for.
The pavilion shaped the whole of 20th-century architecture, from glass skyscrapers to private houses with picture windows. It's home to the Mies van der Rohe Foundation, which awards one of Europe's leading architecture prizes, and it sometimes hosts exhibitions and installations by contemporary artists.
How to get to the pavilion
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Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Magic Fountain of Montjuïc is about 3 min away on foot.
- National Art Museum of Catalonia is about 7 min away on foot.
- Plaça d'Espanya is about 10 min away on foot.
More tips
- Metro Espanya (L1, L3), then up the avenue towards the Magic Fountain; the pavilion is on the left, 10 minutes.
- From the fountain, a 2-minute walk towards the Poble Espanyol.
- Bus 150 stops by the pavilion.
- From the Palau Nacional, 5 minutes down the steps.
Tips for your visit
The pavilion is easy to miss: it's low and tucked behind trees beside the Magic Fountain. If architecture isn't your thing, 20 to 30 minutes is enough, but design lovers should take their time, walking round several times to see how views and reflections shift.
It combines easily with the Magic Fountain, the Palau Nacional and the Poble Espanyol, all on the same slope of Montjuïc. Photography is allowed throughout. The open terraces have little shade, so bring water and sunglasses on a hot day.
Before you go
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| Camp Nou | 63 | 1 h 45 min | Paid | 44 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Batlló | 55 | 1 h 15 min | Paid | 2.6 km |
| Barcelona Pavilionyou are here | 43 | 40 min | Paid | — |
| Casa Vicens | 39 | 1 h | Paid | 3.7 km |
| Casa Milà | 37 | 1 h 15 min | Paid | 2.9 km |
| Picasso Museum | 36 | 1 h 45 min | Paid | 3.0 km |
| National Art Museum of Catalonia | 34 | 2 h 30 min | Paid | 6 min walk |
| Dalí Theatre-Museum | 27 | 2 h | Paid | 120.2 km |
Montjuïc in half a day
The Palau Nacional, the Barcelona Pavilion and the hill.
- Montjuïc3 h · Free
- 11 min walk from the previous stopNational Art Museum of Catalonia2 h 30 min · Paid
- 6 min walk from the previous stopBarcelona Pavilionyou are here40 min · Paid
3 places · about 6 h 27 min with walks · 17 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
National Art Museum of Catalonia
Barcelona, Spain
Plaça d'Espanya
Barcelona, Spain
Montjuïc
Barcelona, Spain
How to do it right
- Easy to miss, by the fountain.
- Best light in the morning or evening.
- 30–45 minutes is enough.
- The fountain and MNAC are close.
Questions
What is the Barcelona Pavilion?
Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich's famous building for the 1929 International Exposition.
How long do you need at the pavilion?
30 to 45 minutes.
Is it the original building?
It was dismantled in 1930 and faithfully rebuilt in 1983–1986.
Where is the Barcelona Pavilion?
On Montjuïc, next to the Magic Fountain; Espanya metro.
Why is the pavilion so famous?
It became a model of modernism: a free plan, slender columns, glass and precious stone.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia: Barcelona Pavilion
- Mies van der Rohe Foundation, miesbcn.com
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