One of our favorite parks in Europe is Park Güell in Barcelona. Yes, it is a touristy park but the design, vision and green space behind it, make the park worth a visit when you are in Barcelona!
The park was designed by the famous Antoni Gaudí. In 1900 he was commissioned by his friend and count Eusebio Güell to design this park. Güell, one of the richest men in Catalonia had a vision.
Eusebio was inspired by the English bourgeoisie. He was an industrial and traveled often to England where many wealthy families lived in houses with beautiful gardens. His dream was to create a similar, park-like residential area on the green mountainside in Barcelona. The intention was to create a completely private village here. The fence and entrance gate was supposed to give the wealthy residents a safe and special feeling. In the end, only three houses were completed. Not many wealthy people showed an interest and few investors were found.
After the first World War ended, the construction phase came to an end and the park remained private property of the Güell family. After Eusebio’s passing away, the heirs donated it to the community and it became a public park.
Antoni Gaudí was the mastermind behind the Park. If you take a deeper look at the roads, the gingerbread house and the fence of the Guell house, you see once again the intention of this creative architect to use as many natural elements as possible. The nice winding roads were made with the help from his assistant Berenguer. He did the calculations, executed and designed Casa Gaudí, where Gaudí lived during the construction of the village. Another assisant, Jujol designed the colorful fountain, dragon and … the famous benches. Jujol’s contribution to Park Guell is often underestimated. The dragon symbolizes the Python, the guardian of the subterranean waters. The benches were shaped after the human body. It took five years to form, build and decorate the benches. “Jujol brought colour and life to Gaudí’s work,” says the Japanese architect Yuji Morieda.
Gaudí wanted to create the winding roads and paths through the village to make traffic flow as smooth as possible. The gardens and public spaces were supposed to be full of plants, trees and shrubs. And on top of that, until today, you can admire great views over the city from Park Güell.
The beautiful white house in the park is Casa Trias and together with Gaudi’s pink house the only two houses built for the original purpose. Becoming a residential area for the wealthy Barcelonese bourgeoisie.
The large central square, which is covered, was intended to serve as a marketplace. Cultural and social events would take place on the upper part where the benches are. Below this area, where the market would be installed, 100 Greek Doric columns have been placed which also serve as water reservoirs to store up to 12,000 liters.
It is a short climb to the park but on the way you will find souvenir shops on the left and right and the park is definitely worth the climb! Once you have reached the top, you immediately see Gaudi’s beautiful mosaic designs on the wall of the park. It can look very busy and especially the entrance is the most crowded, but once you go left and right, the calm athmosphere returns.
At the entrance of the park, you can admire the wall with mosaics on which stands Park Guëll. Park should be written as Parque in Spanish or as parc in Catalan, but because the inspiration came from the client Eusebio Guell from England he also wanted to write it in English.
Take the time to take beautiful pictures of this overwhelming park! Often there are musicians in the park playingg beautiful music.
Walk along the beautiful, pleasantly landscaped paths where much has been done with plants and processing of walls and pillars. Everything is in natural colors and materials. Around the parental house of Gaudi you can see jigs and pieces of fence that were used throughout the city in its architecture. Since 2013, Park Guell is no longer free. The entrance fee is 8, – p.p. With this money the park can be maintained.
Want to see more and get explanations from an expert? Take a private e-bike tour and visit the park during the tour!