About this place
Jardins de Laribal are among the oldest and most picturesque garden complexes on Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, spreading across terraces between the Fundació Joan Miró and the Teatre Grec. It was here, in the years leading up to 1929, that the plan to turn a once-wild hillside into one of the city's great green landmarks first took shape.
Where does the name come from?
The land now occupied by the gardens once belonged to Josep Laribal, a respected lawyer and journalist who co-directed the popular newspaper "El Diluvio". The City Council purchased the estate in 1908 and founded a forest school there, the Escola del Bosc. The former owner's surname, however, stuck with the site permanently.
Who designed the gardens?
Serious landscaping work began after Barcelona was chosen to host the International Exposition of 1929. The gardens were built between 1917 and 1924, led by French civil engineer and landscape architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, working alongside Catalan architect Nicolau M. Rubió i Tudurí, then the director of the city's parks and gardens department. Together they set out to create a new Mediterranean landscape style, drawing inspiration from historic Arab gardens and the "cármenes" of Granada — traditional hillside houses with private gardens in the Albaicín quarter.
How were the gardens built on such a steep slope?
Rather than fighting the natural terrain, the designers let it dictate the layout. Laribal was structured as a series of terraces at different levels, connected by paths and stairways that follow the mountain's natural contours. The flatter sections were shaded from the sun with pergolas, while the whole complex was decorated with ceramic tiles, small water features, and potted flowers lined up along the railings — hallmarks of the Mediterranean style Forestier championed.
What can visitors see in the gardens?
At the heart of the complex sits the rose garden of the Colla de l'Arròs, a cypress-lined patio covered by a pergola resting on terracotta columns, home to rectangular flower beds filled with different rose varieties. This section is considered the first public rose garden ever created in Barcelona, and Laribal itself is regarded as the first public park established on Montjuïc. Visitors can also find small cascades, mosaic-decorated staircases, and viewpoints looking out over the city and the port below.
What is the historical significance of the gardens today?
Although largely completed by 1922, the Laribal gardens became permanently tied to Montjuïc's transformation ahead of the 1929 International Exposition, alongside landmarks such as the Palau Nacional and the Magic Fountain. Today they offer a quieter alternative to the hill's more crowded attractions — a place to walk, rest in the shade of the pergolas, and take in a planting design conceived nearly a century ago.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly are the Jardins de Laribal located? On Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, between the Fundació Joan Miró and the Teatre Grec.
Who designed the gardens? French landscape architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, together with Catalan architect Nicolau M. Rubió i Tudurí.
What is the Colla de l'Arròs garden known for? It is the rose garden within Jardins de Laribal, considered the first public rose garden ever built in Barcelona.
Is entry to the gardens free? Yes, the gardens are a public city park with no admission fee.
Nearby places
Earn badges for the places you visit
Download NextOnTrip, discover new places and check off your trails.