Jardí dels Drets Humans

Jardí dels Drets Humans (Human Rights Garden) is a public park in the Marina-Zona Franca neighborhood of the Sants-Montjuïc district in Barcelona, tucked between the SEAT housing estate and the border with L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. The plot covers more than 12,500 m², bounded by Passeig de la Zona Franca and the streets of Amnistia Internacional, Jane Addams and Foneria (address: Carrer de la Foneria 19). It's a small green pocket where the city's industrial past meets a human-rights theme, and a full walk through it rarely takes more than half an hour.

Where does the name come from and what's the history?

The land once belonged to the Philips factory, which moved its production here from the city centre (around Gran Via and Carrer Méxic) in the 1950s. In the following decade, the wife of the factory's then director, Mrs. Van der Harst, designed a recreational garden for the workforce, bringing back seeds and cuttings from her own travels abroad so staff could relax during breaks. When the plant declined in the late 1990s along with the fading cathode-ray-tube technology it produced, the grounds sat waiting for a new purpose. Architect Jaume Graells carried out the renovation in 2004, and the garden opened to the public in 2007, keeping a large part of the original tree collection intact.

What is there to see in the garden?

The main draw is the variety of trees and plants gathered from different continents, including lime trees, jacarandas, palms and hackberries. A silky oak (Grevillea robusta) standing over 24 metres tall has been listed as a local heritage tree since 2010, and is one of the most striking specimens in the city. Remnants of the factory's old recreational facilities survive too: a former skating rink (around 268 m²) and a small lake (around 139 m²), both now landscape features rather than working amenities.

Why is it called the "Human Rights Garden"?

The name isn't incidental — 30 illuminated panels are placed along the paths, each corresponding to one of the 30 articles of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A 31st panel carries a fragment of the poem "Como la cigarra" by Argentine poet María Elena Walsh, referencing the people who disappeared under the military dictatorships in Chile and Argentina. It's an unusual combination in Barcelona of a recreational space that doubles as a memorial.

What else is on the site besides greenery?

Alongside the garden, the former factory grounds now host neighbourhood public facilities: a health clinic (CAP), a library, a civic centre and a few commercial premises. The garden therefore functions both as green breathing space for local residents and as an everyday meeting point.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Jardí dels Drets Humans? In the Marina-Zona Franca neighbourhood (Sants-Montjuïc district), at Carrer de la Foneria 19, between Passeig de la Zona Franca and the streets of Amnistia Internacional and Jane Addams.

Is entry free? Yes, it's an open, free-of-charge municipal park.

What's worth seeing besides the plants? The 30 illuminated panels bearing articles of the Human Rights Declaration, the extra panel with María Elena Walsh's poem, a protected silky oak over a century old, and the remains of the factory's old skating rink and lake.

What's the history behind the site? It belonged to the Philips factory (1950s-1990s); the garden was laid out in the 1960s by the factory director's wife, and after the plant closed the space was renovated and opened to the public in 2007.

How long does a visit take? Given its modest size (around 12,500 m²), walking through the whole garden usually takes 20-30 minutes.

Is it suitable for families with children? Yes — its quiet character, tree shade and lack of traffic make it a good spot for a short break while exploring Barcelona.