Description of Forum, Besos & Poblenou
This page is all about attractions in the adjacent neighbourhoods of Fòrum, Sant Adrià de Besòs and Poblenou.
These neighbourhoods are around the Besòs River on the north side of Barcelona and historically were the light (textile processing and metal workshops) and heavy (electricity Generation) industrial areas of Barcelona being the location for most of the city's factories until the mid 1950's. The 1992 Olympics was an opportunity to redeveloped what was derelict factory buildings, railway sidings and wasteland into Olympic venues, city Beaches and new residential areas.
Parc del Fòrum is a paved space next to Port Fòrum and is where a lot of the Barcelona live music events are held like Primavera Sound, Brunch Festival 2023 / Brunch Electronik 2023, weekender festival 2023, B-Festival 2023 and Festival Cruïlla.
Port Fòrum is where you can hire jet ski's while the Port Olímpic is being redeveloped. On the far side of Port Fòrum you will find a park and secret beach that is really only known about by locals.
Sant Adrià de Besòs is home to the Barcelona power station and a now old abandoned and decommissioned coal fired power station. There are plans to redevelop the three Chimneys site but no plans have been finalised yet.
Poblenou, literal translation, new village, is an up and coming residential area that was a small village for the factory workers but has now grown into a thriving community with a central pedestrianised boulevard from Avenida Diagonal all the way to the beach. Here you will find some low cost restaurants for terrace dining near to the beach.
Architecturally speaking this area is a mix of refurbished old buildings and modern new build apartments with the end of Avenida Diagonal Fòrum area now being filled with multiple high rise apartments and hotels and containing a shopping centre.
Tourism wise there are a lot less attractions than in the centre of Barcelona but there is enough to see over multiple visits to the beach.
Poblenou is the location of the famous Razzmatazz Concert hall and nightclub, being a former factory warehouse building that has been converted into this discoteca.
Happy Exploring!
