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Carmel Bunkers - Barcelona's Best City Viewpoint

Spectacular viewpoint and night hangout that has the ruins of an anti-aerial bombardment gun battery from the civil war

Updated: Jul 18, 2023 by: Barcelona Travel Hacks Views: 1.6k

About Carmel Bunkers

Turó de la Rovira, in Parc del Guinardó, Barcelona is a hill adjacent to the Parc Güell hill and one of the best Barcelona city viewpoints to enjoy the amazing 360-degree panorama.

Carmel Bunkers History

The anti-aircraft battery at the bunkers of Carmel are the remains of a concrete structure built in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War to protect Barcelona city from aerial bombardment.

During the Spanish Civil War, the Italian air force was flying from an airfield in Mallorca to bombard the city. The Barcelona Government placed gun batteries on the Turó de la Rovira in an attempt to try and shoot down the aircraft, but the guns were not very accurate or effective against the dive bombers.

After the Spanish Civil War, the area became a shanty town and the bunkers were transformed into squatter housing. That is why some of the concrete slabs have been tiled over. The squatters were relocated before the 1992 Olympics.

Visiting Carmel Bunkers

At the moment the concrete remains of the bunkers is freely accessible and is a good spot to watch the sun set. However, the Catalan Government has decided that it does not want people having drinking parties at the bunker summit and is working to enclose the space with fencing and deny access at night. As yet a date when this restriction will come into force has not been announced so enjoy it while you can.

Carmel Bunkers viewpoint Opening Hours in 2023

UPDATE: Since May 2nd 2023 access to the bunkers and viewpoint is closed at night because of neighbours complaining about it becoming a party area with load music and noisy people as well as a location for Botellónes, a local term used to describe street parties where people bring bottles of drink.

The local police patrol the site and eject people that try to remain there after closing time.

This situation will be reviewed in October 2023 but I do not imagine a reversal of this decision so Barcelona looses its best sunset and lunar eclipse viewpoint.

MUHBA Turó de la Rovira Opening Hours (Interior Museum Spaces)

There is a free history museum in the bunkers (MUHBA Turó de la Rovira) which has irregular opening hours. The content of this free exhibition is in Catalan and Spanish and contains a lot of historic photos of the bunkers and surrounding area as well as details of its role during the Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939).

Summary of Prices

Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Adult Zone 1 T-casual FREE Child T-familiar FREE Notes Interior of bunker free entry Wed 10h-14h, Sat & Sun 10h-15h.

Getting to Carmel Bunkers

Address: Carrer de Maria Labernia s/n, Barcelona. 08032

Carmel Bunkers are on the top of Turó de la Rovira, a small hill in the middle of the city. They are surrounded by parkland so getting there involves a bit of walking.

If all this walking seems like too much work, The TMB bus route 24, V19 and 86 stop at Ctra del Carmel - Mühlberg.

Documents for Carmel Bunkers

Click on any one of the 2 PDFs to view in full screen and download.

\'Street

Street Map Parc Guell and Carmel Bunker

Author: Barcelona Travel Hacks

\'Metro

Metro Map Carmel Bunker

Author: www.tmb.cat

Wikiloc Trail for Carmel Bunkers

BCN06 - Parc Guell and Carmel Bunkers

City walk in Barcelona from Plaza Leseps in Gracia to Parc Guell then on to Carmel bunkers and park Guinardo finishing at Alfonso X Metro.

Distance: 5.82 Km

Difficulty: Easy

Return Travel Fare: T-Casual Zone 1

Transport Network: Barcelona Metro

Weather for Barcelona

1 Attraction Nearby

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