Jardins de Joan Maragall

Jardins de Joan Maragall is a quiet garden on Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, tucked between the Olympic Stadium and the National Palace (Palau Nacional). It's one of those spots most visitors never hear about, overshadowed by far more famous neighbors — which is a shame, because the garden has an interesting backstory and offers a calm contrast to the crowds at the Montjuïc fountain or the National Museum of Catalan Art next door.

Where does the name come from?

The garden is named after Joan Maragall, one of the most important Catalan poets of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That's no coincidence: this part of Montjuïc holds a whole cluster of gardens dedicated to Catalan poets — alongside Jardins de Joan Maragall sit the gardens of Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, Mossèn Costa i Llobera, and Joan Brossa. This literary thread gives the whole area a distinct, contemplative character, designed for quiet strolling rather than mass tourism.

How was the garden created?

The site's history goes back to the 1929 International Exposition. Around the Royal Pavilion (today's Palauet Albéniz), the French landscape architect Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier designed a garden layout that became the seed of today's Jardins de Joan Maragall. Decades later, in 1970, the garden was expanded — a decision tied to the Palauet Albéniz becoming a residence for the Spanish royal family, since Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón preferred it over the Royal Palace of Pedralbes. The expansion project was led by Joaquim Maria Casamor, chief architect of the city's parks and gardens department.

What's worth seeing there?

The garden's layout blends classic French geometry with elements typical of Mediterranean park design: symmetrical paths, trimmed hedges, calm open squares and viewpoints. Because the garden sits right next to Palauet Albéniz, a walk through it also means admiring the architecture of one of the few Exposition-era buildings on Montjuïc that has kept its original ceremonial function.

Who is this place for?

It's a good stop for travelers who've already covered Montjuïc's main highlights — the National Palace, the Olympic Stadium, the Joan Miró Foundation — and want a moment of shade and quiet away from queues and tour groups. It also appeals to anyone interested in landscape architecture, since it illustrates how 20th-century Barcelona blended French garden traditions with local design.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the garden free? Montjuïc's municipal gardens, including Jardins de Joan Maragall, are typically open to the public and free of charge, as part of the city's public park network.

How do you get there? The garden sits right next to the National Palace and the Olympic Stadium, so the easiest way to reach it is on foot as part of a walk through Montjuïc's main sights, for example starting from Plaça Espanya.

Is it a good spot for photos? Yes — the combination of trimmed greenery, symmetrical paths and the view of Palauet Albéniz makes it a photogenic, if less crowded, corner of Montjuïc.

How much time should you set aside? A short 20-30 minute walk is enough to explore the garden and rest between visiting Montjuïc's other attractions.