Jardins de Joan Brossa

Jardins de Joan Brossa is a public park set on Montjuïc hill, in Barcelona's Sants-Montjuïc district. Built on the grounds of a former amusement park, it is now one of the more unusual green spaces in the city, combining sweeping views with open areas for play and relaxation.

Getting there

The gardens sit on the upper part of Montjuïc, right next to other parks on the hill, including the Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer Gardens. The easiest ways to get there are the Montjuïc cable car (Telefèric de Montjuïc) or a city bus heading up to the top of the hill, both of which stop close to the park entrance. Because of the elevated position, reaching the gardens involves some uphill walking, but visitors are rewarded with views over the city and harbour.

What you'll find

The site's history is tied to Montjuïc's long military use: between 1898 and 1965, this part of the hill belonged to the army. In 1964 Barcelona City Council requested that the land be handed over to the city, and the military installations were demolished the following year. An amusement park opened on the cleared land in 1966 and reached its peak in the 1980s, when it featured more than thirty rides along with an open-air amphitheatre that hosted concerts every summer.

By the late 1990s the amusement park was in decline, and the municipal concession for running it came to an end. Attempts to find a new operator failed, and the Montjuïc amusement park closed for good in 1998. The city council then decided to turn this part of the hill into public gardens, an opportunity that also allowed a large section of upper Montjuïc to be reorganised and renovated.

The new public gardens opened in 2003, occupying the exact site of the former amusement park. Today the area functions as a quiet park, while still carrying traces of its unusual entertainment past in the layout and character of the grounds.

Where the name comes from

The gardens are named after Joan Brossa, a Catalan poet who died in 1998 and is regarded as one of the leading figures of the Catalan avant-garde in the second half of the 20th century. Dedicating the park to him follows a long-standing Montjuïc tradition of naming its gardens after Catalan poets, as with the neighbouring Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer Gardens.

When to visit

Given the open, elevated terrain, spring and early summer are the best times to visit, when temperatures are comfortable for longer walks and the vegetation is at its most lush. In summer, midday heat can be intense, so mornings or late afternoons tend to be more pleasant. The gardens pair well with a visit to other Montjuïc attractions, such as the neighbouring gardens or the cable car station.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Jardins de Joan Brossa? A public park on Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, opened in 2003 on the site of a former amusement park that operated there from 1966 to 1998.

Why was there an amusement park here before? The land had previously been used by the military (1898–1965); after the army installations were demolished in 1965, the city turned it into an amusement park that opened the following year.

Where does the gardens' name come from? The park is named after Joan Brossa, a Catalan poet who died in 1998, continuing Montjuïc's tradition of naming its gardens after Catalan poets.

How do you get to the gardens? The most convenient options are the Telefèric de Montjuïc cable car or a city bus heading to the top of the hill, both stopping close to the park entrance.