The extensive green area of the Park Güell presents natural values and a diversity of species that make the visit very attractive. Thus, in addition to the cultural and architectural tourism related to the work of Gaudí, there are many places and itineraries for discovering urban and forestry in the park.
The place which is now Park Güell used to be known as the Muntanya Pelada[Bare Mountain], because of its barren land. The botanical studies carried out on the site indicate that the original vegetation consisted of holm oaks, viburnum and mastic in its hollows and Aleppo pine and thickets of broom, gorse and false-brome on steeper, drier slopes.
For a long time it was an agricultural area with vineyards, olive groves and fruit orchards. It was all dry-farming land, as the soil was shallow and there was little water available. The area of the park closest to El Carmel hill still has some plots and terraces for cultivation which recall this agricultural past.
The land was progressively abandoned due to difficult access and working conditions, its low productivity and the onset of phylloxera, in the case of vineyards. Furthermore, the wealthier residents of nearby towns (Sant Gervasi de Cassoles, Gràcia, Horta, etc.) built second homes and summer houses on the nearest hills.
The only known written record on the Park Güell plantations, drafted by municipal experts when the City Council bought it in 1921, speaks of plantations of carob trees, olive trees, pines, various fruit trees (such as almond trees), acacias, oleanders, she-oaks, cypresses and cedars. It also describes other species, including geraniums, boxwood, wisteria, European fan palms, agaves, prickly pears, and mastics. In total, there were around 3,300 trees, of which over 2,200 were pines, mostly small ones.
As a footnote, it should be said that in 1900, at the start of building work on the park, the remains of fauna Pleistocene animals were found, including rhinoceros, elephants and deer. These specimens are displayed at the Barcelona Museum of Natural Sciences.
It was recognised as an artistic monument in 1969 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Why a restricted area?
Park Güell is one of Barcelona’s iconic landmarks due to its architectural and historical heritage, as well as its value as a natural and biodiversity site. The park contains two large areas:
The monumental area, declared as a world heritage site. 1.7 of which are in the restricted area (only 9% of the total surface area).
The adjacent woodland area covering 8 more hectares.
All of Park Güell is open and freely accessible to Barcelona residents, but since 2013, entrance to part of the monumental area has been restricted, to avoid overcrowding by tourists.
The restriction limits the maximum number of people allowed inside to 800 visitors per hour, and requires an entrance ticket to get in. Visitors must pay for this ticket, except for members of the Gaudir Més programme; registering for this programme allows free entrance, without having to pay the corresponding entrance fee.
The Park is open all the year round at the following times (Outside of these hours access to regulated area is free, although visibility cannot be guaranteed due to the lack of artificial lighting in the Monumental Core.):
Opening times:
The restricted area of Park Güell is open every day of the year. The time-bands are:
(*) Timetable Expanded (Low Season)
If you need information about the visit, contact with us.
Check here:
https://parkguell.barcelona/en/planning-your-visit/faqs
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