Montjuïc Historic Botanic Garden | Sensorial Garden Barcelona

About Montjuïc Historic Botanical Garden

Barcelona's first botanical garden, the Jardí Botànic Històric, was created in a disused Montjuïc quarry for the 1929 International Exposition. This peaceful space is now known as the Montjuïc Sensorial Garden, offering a unique blend of history, nature, and tranquility.

Note: The historic botanical garden is a separate site from the modern Montjuïc Botanical Garden.

The 1929 Expo aimed to integrate Montjuïc into Barcelona’s urban landscape, transforming the mountain into a vast public park. After quarrying stone for the construction of the Palacio Nacional (now the Museo Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – MNAC), several abandoned quarries remained. One became the Greek Theatre, while another was transformed into this historic botanical garden in Barcelona.

In 1930, Catalan botanist Pius Font i Quer began assembling a collection of endemic and rare plants from the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, and Morocco. In 1940, Antonio de Bolòs y Vaireda expanded the garden with species from the Pyrenees and Balearics, and the Botanical Institute of Barcelona was relocated here, establishing one of the best botanical libraries and herbaria in Catalonia.

The garden officially opened to the public on 17 July 1941. Despite wartime challenges, it successfully cultivated rare species, including the endangered Menorca Loosestrife (Lysimachus minoricensis), which was reintroduced to its natural habitat in 1954.

In 1986, construction for the Olympic facilities compromised the garden’s stability, leading to its closure. Restoration efforts followed, and the garden reopened in October 2003. Since 2004, it has been maintained by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB).

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Visiting Montjuïc Historic Botanical Garden

The Montjuïc Historic Botanical Garden is a free-entry gated park nestled in a former quarry, offering a peaceful retreat within the Montjuïc gardens. Known as the Montjuïc Sensorial Garden, it’s a quiet space ideal for nature lovers and those interested in Barcelona’s botanical heritage.

Because the garden is enclosed by steep slopes and located on the shady side of Montjuïc, cold air tends to accumulate at its lowest levels. This creates a unique microclimate where temperatures can be up to four degrees cooler at the bottom than at the top, allowing for the cultivation of Euro-Siberian plant species typical of colder climates.

This historic botanical garden in Barcelona is a great spot for a slow walk, photography, or quiet reflection. It’s less crowded than the modern botanical garden and offers a more intimate experience with rare and endemic plants.

Montjuïc Historic Botanical Garden Opening Hours

November, December, January: All days 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
February, March: All days 10:00 am to 18:00 pm
April, May, September, October: All days 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
June, July, August: All days 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Note: last admission half an hour before closing time
Closed: 1st January, 1st May, 24th June & 25th December

Historic Botanical Garden Homepage

Accessibility & What to bring for Montjuïc Historic Botanical Garden

The Montjuïc Historic Botanical Garden, also known as the Montjuïc Sensorial Garden, offers step-free access throughout most of its paths. The gentle ramps and terraced layout make it a suitable option for an accessible nature walk in Montjuïc.

This step-free botanical garden in Barcelona is ideal for visitors with reduced mobility or families with strollers. While the terrain is mostly smooth, some areas may have slight inclines due to the garden’s quarry origins.

There is no drinking water fountain inside the garden, so I recommend bringing a water bottle. However, a cafeteria kiosk is available nearby next to the Museo Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC), just a short walk from the garden entrance.

Montjuïc Historic Botanical Garden Summary of Prices

Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Train/Bus Fare Entry Ticket Additional Information Adult Zone 1 T-casual FREE Child € 1.25 FREE

Getting to Montjuïc Historic Botanical Garden

Address: Avenida dels Montanyans 26, Barcelona, 08038

The Montjuïc Historic Botanical Garden, also known as the Montjuïc Sensorial Garden, is easily accessible by public transport or on foot. It’s located near the Museo Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) and forms part of the broader Montjuïc gardens network.

The Barcelona Bus Touristic Red Route stops in the Montjuïc Olympic Zone in front of the Olympic Stadium. From here, follow signs toward MNAC for a 200m walk to the garden entrance.

The TMB 150 bus also stops at the Olympic Stadium. Follow signs toward MNAC for a short 200m walk to the garden gate.

Walking from Plaça Espanya: Take the TMB Metro on the green (L3) or red (L1) lines. Walk toward the MNAC Palau Nacional building, using the escalators to ascend the terraced levels. The garden entrance is next to the final escalator, near a kiosk bar (approx. 1.2km).

Walk from TMB Metro Foc: On the light blue (L10) line, follow Carrer de Foc to the stadium (1.6km), then continue 200m toward MNAC.

Walk from Montjuïc TMB Funicular: Exit at Avenida d'Estadi and walk 800m, following signs for MNAC and the historic botanical garden near MNAC.

For maps of bus routes and Montjuïc mountain paths, visit the Montjuïc page documents section.

Use a T-Casual or Hola-Barcelona travel card for bus and metro services.

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